It's fair to use the same word twice (2-2)

I believe the answer is:

so-so

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'it's fair' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for so-so that I've seen before include "Of average quality" , "'Passable, middling (2-2)'" , "Fair to middling" , "Tolerable, indifferent" , "OK, but nothing special" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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