Crossword Genius

Mean to change gear behind short avenue (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

average

'mean' is the definition.
(I know that mean can be written as average)

'change gear behind short avenue' is the wordplay.
'change' indicates an anagram.
'behind' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'short avenue' becomes 'ave' ('short' indicates an abbreviation).
'gear' is an anagram of 'rage'.
'rage' after 'ave' is 'AVERAGE'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for average that I've seen before include "Normal amount" , "It's common" , "Usual - mediocre - mean" , "just like any other" , "Mean - typical" .)

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