Crossword Genius

Leading lady rejected thermos left out, bizarrely, since the beginning (4,3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

from the outset

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'leading lady rejected thermos left out bizarrely' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'since the beginning' is the wordplay.
'since' becomes 'from'.
'beginning' becomes 'outset' (synonyms).
'from'+'the'+'outset'='FROM THE OUTSET'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for from the outset that I've seen is " Effective going right back to the start (of something)".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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