Crossword Genius

Leave drink, taking in small talk (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gossip

'talk' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Malicious talk' mean 'gossip' so perhaps 'talk' could also mean 'gossip')

'leave drink taking in small' is the wordplay.
'leave' becomes 'go'.
'drink' becomes 'sip' (I've seen this before**).
'taking in' is an insertion indicator.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'sip' placed around 's' is 'ssip'.
'go'+'ssip'='GOSSIP'

(Other definitions for gossip that I've seen before include "Blatherskite" , "Casual talk about other people" , "Hearsay" , "gas" , "Type of column" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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