Crossword Genius

US soldier about to enter drop breathed deeply (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sighed

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

'breathed deeply' is the definition.
'sighed' can be an answer for 'breathed' (sighing is a kind of breathing). I am not certain of the 'deeply' bit.

'us soldier about to enter drop' is the wordplay.
'us soldier' becomes 'gi' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' is a reversal indicator.
'to enter' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'drop' becomes 'shed' ('shed' can be a synonym of 'drop'**).
'gi' written backwards gives 'ig'.
'ig' put inside 'shed' is 'SIGHED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sighed that I've seen before include "Exhaled softly and sadly" , "expressed resignation, say" , "fed up" , "Sounded dejected" , "Made sad sound" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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