Talk reflectively how ruminants masticate (4,3,3)

I believe the answer is:

chew the cud

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'masticate' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for chew the cud that I've seen before include "Ruminate" , "Ponder reflectively" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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