Crossword Genius

Progressed quickly in skill, being thorough (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arrant

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'thorough' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'progressed quickly in skill' is the wordplay.
'progressed quickly' becomes 'ran' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'skill' becomes 'art' (both can mean a talent).
'ran' put inside 'art' is 'ARRANT'.

'being' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arrant that I've seen before include "Extreme or flagrant, perhaps nonsense" , "Utter; downright" , "Out-and-out, notorious" , "Downright, out-and-out - say nonsense" , "Out-and-out, utter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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