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Absolute majority of hat-trick? (3-3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

out-and-out

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

'absolute' is the definition.
(I know that absolute can be written as out-and-out)

'majority of hat-trick?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is found in the answer.
'hat' could be 'out' (I have seen 'Old hat' mean 'out' so perhaps 'hat' could also mean 'out') and 'out' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for out-and-out that I've seen before include "In every respect" , "Utter, absolute" , "Thorough, surpassing" , "Definitely" , "Utter and thorough - never in" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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