As a beggar maybe, better to get home help (3,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
cap in hand
'as a beggar maybe' is the definition.
(as in coming 'cap in hand')
'better to get home help' is the wordplay.
'better' becomes 'cap' (both can mean to beat somebody else's attempt).
'to get' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'help' becomes 'hand' (hand is a kind of help).
'cap'+'in'+'hand'='CAP IN HAND'
(Other definitions for cap in hand that I've seen before include "Go . . . . . . . . . to beg humbly, clutching headgear?" , "seeking favour" , "unassumingly" , "showing deference" , "with humility" .)