Eccentric socialist, before getting the signal to leave (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
red card
'the signal to leave' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.
'eccentric socialist before' is the wordplay.
'eccentric' becomes 'card' (I've seen this before).
'socialist' becomes 'red' (socialism is often associated with the colour red).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'card' after 'red' is 'RED-CARD'.
'getting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for red card that I've seen before include "Football punishment" , "maybe footballers would dispute it?" , "It signals a serious rule infringement" , "Referee's sanction" , "sign of dismissal" .)