Crossword Genius

Very, very average (2-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

so-so

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

'very very' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'so' (both can mean 'extremely').
'very' becomes 'so' (both can mean 'extremely').
'so'+'so'='SO-SO'

(Other definitions for so-so that I've seen before include "Informally, only moderately good or well" , "Mediocre" , "Of average quality" , "Barely passable" , "Only moderately good in repetitive way" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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