Crossword Genius

Slowly get shut of heaps, apparently? (5,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

phase out

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

'slowly get shut of' is the definition.
(to phase out is to slowly get rid of something)

'heaps apparently?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'heaps' is 'phase' which is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'out' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for phase out that I've seen before include "Withdraw (something) gradually" , "Bring gradually to an end, discontinue" , "Get rid off gradually" , "Terminate gradually" , "Diminish and cease use gradually" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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