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In retreat about dropping one who can't say it honestly(4)LIA?
'Liar' is the obvious answer, but what is the wordplay please?

Can see 'Lair' as a retreat and change the middle two letters....other than that.....

It seems to me that this is a [\b clue] and the word play and definition overlap in the word [\b] one.

Retreat is [\b lair] and about is [\b ]a. Thus, if about = a drops one position in the [\i vertical] lair, [\b liar] is obtained which is one who can't tell it honestly.

Sorry about that. I was trying to do boldface and italic, but alas failed. Here goes again.

It seems to me that this is a down clue, and that the word play and definition overlap in the word one.

Retreat is 'lair' and about is 'a'. Thus, if about = a drops one position in the vertical lair, liar is obtained which is one who can't tell it honestly.

Thanks rogerjw-I think you're right. I'm a bit hidebound, thinking 'about' is 'c' or 'ca' or 're' etc(?). There are a lot of 'rare' abbreviations in mephisto!