Crossword Genius

Popular extract, basically (2,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in essence

'basically' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'popular extract' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'extract' becomes 'essence' (I've seen this before).
'in'+'essence'='IN ESSENCE'

(Other definitions for in essence that I've seen before include "Fundamentally" , "Substantially" , "Basically" , "at bottom" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Times.
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