Get ready to eat? (5)

I believe the answer is:

ripen

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'get ready to eat?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'ready to eat?' is the wordplay.
'ready' becomes 'ripe' (similar in meaning).
'to eat?' becomes 'n' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ripe'+'n'='RIPEN'

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(Other definitions for ripen that I've seen before include "Become ready to pick" , "Grow mature like fruit" , "Become ready for harvesting" , "Mature, develop" , "Get ready to open" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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