Crossword Genius

Shyly and lazily following a boy (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

timidly

'shyly' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'lazily following a boy' is the wordplay.
'lazily' becomes 'idly' (synonyms).
'following' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a boy' becomes 'Tim' (short for Timothy).
'idly' after 'tim' is 'TIMIDLY'.

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for timidly that I've seen before include "Without much confidence" , "Fearfully" , "In faint-hearted manner" , "'Bashfully, shyly (7)'" , "In shy, nervous manner" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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