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It's barely OK to be repeated thus (2-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

so-so

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'it's barely ok to' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'repeated thus' is the wordplay.
'repeated' indicates the doubling of some letters.
'thus' becomes 'so' (synonyms).
'so' doubled is 'SO-SO'.

'be' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for so-so that I've seen before include "Fair to middling" , "Informally, only moderately good or well" , "just about adequate" , "'Passable, middling (2-2)'" , "Of middling quality" .)

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