What does the cryptic crossword clue "Cocktail fruit dropping on needle shortly (7)" mean?

The definition is "Cocktail". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). MEL (deletion) + ANGE (deletion) = MELANGE; definition: "Cocktail" The answer is MELANGE.

Cocktail fruit dropping on needle shortly (7)

Guardian Cryptic #28981 | 27 Across | 2023-01-31 flower

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