Crossword Genius

Honest, not rotten sinner in the appropriate place? (2,3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

on the level

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'honest' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'not rotten sinner in the appropriate place?' is the wordplay.
'rotten' is an anagram indicator.
'sinner' becomes 'Eve' (Biblical figure).
'in the' indicates putting letters inside.
'appropriate place?' becomes 'hell' (I have seen 'Infernal place' mean 'hell' so perhaps 'place' could also mean 'hell'. I am not sure about the 'appropriate' bit.).
'eve' inserted into 'hell' is 'helevel'.
'not' is an anagram of 'ont'.
'ont'+'helevel'='ON THE LEVEL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for on the level that I've seen before include "Honest - genuine" , "Honest, truthful (colloq.)" , "Some horse racing is" , "No tipping" , "Fair; honestly speaking" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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