Crossword Genius

I'm into drink, time an illusion (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chimaera

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

'i'm into drink time' is the wordplay.
'into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'drink' becomes 'cha' (cha can mean tea).
'time' becomes 'era' (an era is a period of time).
'im' going inside 'cha' is 'chima'.
'chima'+'era'='CHIMAERA'

'an' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for chimaera that I've seen before include "Illusory goal; monster" , "illusion" , "grotesque thing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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