Crossword Genius

Occasionally Real get large crowd (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ragtag

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'crowd' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'occasionally real get large' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters.
'real'+'get'+'large'='realgetlarge'
The alternating letters of 'realgetlarge' are 'RAGTAG'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ragtag that I've seen before include "Incongruously varied in character" , "Disparaging term for the common people" , "Mob" , "Common people, riff-raff - ...... and bobtail" , "Untidy, disorganised" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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