Utterly forward, from the beginning (3,5)

I believe the answer is:

all along

'from the beginning' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'utterly forward' is the wordplay.
'utterly' becomes 'all' (I've seen this in another clue).
'forward' becomes 'along' (I've seen this in another clue).
'all'+'along'='ALL ALONG'

(Other definitions for all along that I've seen before include "From the outset" , "What across answers have always been" , "Consistently over a period of time" , "Covering the entire distance" , "From the beginning" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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