Crossword Genius

Post-war lunch reported bit by bit (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

piecemeal

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'bit by bit' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'post-war lunch' is the wordplay.
'post war' becomes 'piece' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'lunch' becomes 'meal' (I've seen this in another clue).
'piece'+'meal'='PIECEMEAL'

'reported' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for piecemeal that I've seen before include "Gradually, little by little" , "by degrees" , "Bit by bit; unsystematic" , "A bit at a time" , "Unsystematically" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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