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23d - Growth in the use of self-employed builders (4) L*M*

This is the shortest and possibly easiest clue today but I just can't get it. LUMP would fit as a GROWTH but how does the rest of the clue work.

Maybe I started this late in the day but it seemed harder than usual (and different) in some of the cryptic logic employed.

Thanks anyway

Apparently the term for a self employed builders job is on the lump - probably coming from the lump sum payable up front.

According to the Oxford dictionary, the lumo is 'the state of being self-employed and paid without deduction of tax, especially in the building trade.'

For 'lumo' read 'lump'!

I know some of the boys in our local talk about being "on the lump".

Thanks everyone. I will go to bed a wiser man.

thanks re lump - was going mad trying work out WHY it was lump