Crossword Genius

Swift kiss following time away (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

breakneck

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'swift' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'kiss following time away' is the wordplay.
'kiss' becomes 'neck' (neck can informally mean to kiss).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'time away' becomes 'break' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'neck' after 'break' is 'BREAKNECK'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for breakneck that I've seen before include "Dangerously fast" , "high speed" , "rash" , "This speed is recklessly dangerous" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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