Dilly-dallies about taking retinol back from north to south (7)
I believe the answer is:
loiters
'dilly-dallies' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'taking retinol back from north to south' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'from' could be 'o' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'o' is found within the answer.
'south' could be 's' (abbreviation) and 's' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'liter' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'about' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for loiters that I've seen before include "Hangs around" , "Waits idly" , "Hangs about idly" , "Hangs about with toilers" , "Fails to move on" .)