Crossword Genius

Meet one losing representation, after long absence it's said (4,4,2,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

long time no see

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'long absence it's said' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'meet one losing representation' is the wordplay.
'representation' indicates an anagram.
'meet'+'one'+'losing'='meetonelosing'
'meetonelosing' anagrammed gives 'LONG TIME NO SEE'.

'after' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for long time no see that I've seen before include "It's ages since we met" , ""I have missed you"" , "Finally we meet again!" , "one repeatedly denied preferment?" , "Haven't met you for ages!" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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