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Trying to get flat just before bedtime? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

evening

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

'before bedtime?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'trying to get flat' is the wordplay.
'trying' becomes 'ing' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to get' says to put letters next to each other.
'flat' becomes 'even' (level).
'ing' after 'even' is 'EVENING'.

'just' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for evening that I've seen before include "Hours before bedtime" , "Levelling late in the day" , "The close of a day; a word used in the first ever 2 dn" , "Late time of day" , "Later part of day" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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