Crossword Genius

Great time to leave study in real mess (6,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

golden era

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'great time' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'leave study in real mess' is the wordplay.
'leave' becomes 'go' (to go is to depart or leave).
'study' becomes 'den' (term for a study or office).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'mess' indicates anagramming the letters.
'real' anagrammed gives 'lera'.
'den' placed within 'lera' is 'ldenera'.
'go'+'ldenera'='GOLDEN ERA'

'to' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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