Grovels so awkwardly in attempt to cover up (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
gloss over
'attempt to cover up' is the definition.
'grovels so awkwardly' is the wordplay.
'awkwardly' indicates an anagram.
'grovels'+'so'='grovelsso'
'grovelsso' anagrammed gives 'GLOSS OVER'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for gloss over that I've seen before include "Cover up mistake - with varnish?" , "Hide under a deceptively attractive surface" , "Try to conceal (something)" , "put nice disguise on?" , "Explain away" .)