Scruffy lie-abeds let themselves down (8)
I believe the answer is:
abseiled
'scruffy lie-abeds let themselves down' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'scruffy lie-abeds' is the wordplay.
'scruffy' indicates anagramming the letters.
'lie'+'abeds'='lieabeds'
'lieabeds' with letters rearranged gives 'ABSEILED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abseiled that I've seen before include "descended using rope" , "Daringly dropped" , "Lowered oneself with a rope from a mountain" , "Descended rock face" .)