Crossword Genius

Comes close to breaking out of a snare (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nears

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

'comes close to' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'of a snare' is the wordplay.
'of' is an anagram indicator (the answer comes from or 'of' the letters).
'snare' with letters rearranged gives 'NEARS'.

'breaking out' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nears that I've seen before include "advances" , "Draws closer to" , "Comes closer" , "Draws close" , "Gets closer" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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