A number lead the union in time-wasting action (9)

I believe the answer is:

dalliance

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'time-wasting action' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a number lead the union in' is the wordplay.
'a' becomes 'an'.
'number' becomes 'd' (D is an example).
'lead the union' becomes 'allice' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'd'+'allice'='dallice'
'an' placed within 'dallice' is 'DALLIANCE'.

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(Other definitions for dalliance that I've seen before include "Affair" , "amorous play" , "Toying - trifling - delay" , "A casual romance" , "time-wasting action" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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