They're protected by lids (4)
I believe the answer is:
eyes
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">they're protected by lids</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for eyes that I've seen before include "The first things children open on Christmas Day" , "Narrowly watches" , "Peepers" , "Marks on potatoes" , "Regards -- features of a potato" .)