Like fox driven underground, extremely exhausted, heart fluttering (7)

I believe the answer is:

earthed

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'like fox driven underground' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'extremely exhausted heart fluttering' is the wordplay.
'extremely' suggests removing the centre (only the extremes of the word are used).
'fluttering' indicates anagramming the letters.
'exhausted' with its centre taken out is 'ed'.
'ed'+'heart'='edheart'
'edheart' with letters rearranged gives 'EARTHED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for earthed that I've seen before include "grounded" , "protected from shock" , "attached to the ground" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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