Crossword Genius

Timepiece always keeping hour? How’s it going? (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

what cheer

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'how's it going?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'timepiece always keeping hour?' is the wordplay.
'timepiece' becomes 'watch' (watch is a kind of timepiece).
'always' becomes 'eer' (poetic way of saying ever).
'keeping' is an insertion indicator.
'hour?' becomes 'h'.
'watch'+'eer'='watcheer'
'watcheer' going around 'h' is 'WHAT CHEER?'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for what cheer that I've seen is " welcome".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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