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Seriously hot and dread taking top off near home (2,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in earnest

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'seriously' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'hot and dread taking top off near home' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'in' (both can mean fashionable).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'dread' becomes 'fear' (synonyms).
'taking top off' means to remove the first letter.
'near home' becomes 'nest' (a bird's home. I am not sure about the 'near' bit.).
'fear' with its initial letter removed is 'ear'.
'in'+'ear'+'nest'='IN EARNEST'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for in earnest that I've seen before include "resolutely" , "Sincere in intention" , "Not joking" , "With serious intentions" , "seriously" .)

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