Crossword Genius

Like the clappers are striking: without end? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rapidly

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

'like the clappers' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'striking without end?' is the wordplay.
'striking' becomes 'rap' (rap is a kind of striking).
'without end?' becomes 'idly' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'rap'+'idly'='RAPIDLY'

'are' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rapidly that I've seen before include "With great speed" , "Quickly" , "Speedily" , "At a great rate" , "right off the bat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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