Crossword Genius

Fateful day during which learner fritters time away (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

idles

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'fritters time away' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'fateful day during which learner' is the wordplay.
'fateful day' becomes 'ides' (ides of March, date of Caesar's assassination).
'during which' is an insertion indicator.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'ides' placed around 'l' is 'IDLES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for idles that I've seen before include "Wastes time" , "Of engine, just ticks over in neutral" , "Lazes about, just ticks over" , "Does little, just ticks over" , "Spends time doing nothing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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