Crossword Genius

Ready to get beer right before time (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alert

'ready' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'beer right before time' is the wordplay.
'beer' becomes 'ale' (I've seen this before).
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'time' becomes 't'.
'ale'+'r'+'t'='ALERT'

'to get' is the link.

(Other definitions for alert that I've seen before include "Vigilant, watchful" , "Watchful and bright" , "Watchful, sharp" , "Wakeful, observant" , "Put on guard, warn" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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