Crossword Genius

Makes the mistake of pursing the lips to drink (5,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slips up

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

'makes the mistake' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'pursing the lips to drink' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'lips' is 'slip' which is located in the answer.
'drink' could be 'sup' (to sup is to drink) and 'sup' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for slips up that I've seen before include "Makes a mistake" , "falls over" .)

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