Crossword Genius

I feed Ben crackers as required (2,4,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

if need be

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'required' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'i feed ben crackers' is the wordplay.
'crackers' indicates anagramming the letters (informal term for mad).
'feed'+'ben'='feedben'
'feedben' anagrammed gives 'fneedbe'.
'i'+'fneedbe'='IF NEED BE'

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for if need be that I've seen is " Should it come to that".)

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