Crossword Genius

Hot drink princess sent back could be thus (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

insipid

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

'could be thus' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'hot drink princess sent back' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'in' (both can mean fashionable).
'drink' becomes 'sip' (sipping is a kind of drinking).
'princess' becomes 'di' (Princess Diana).
'sent back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'di' reversed gives 'id'.
'in'+'sip'+'id'='INSIPID'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for insipid that I've seen before include "flat" , "Jejune" , "Lacking 10" , "Colourless" , "without taste" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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