Attempt to get smart at the meeting (8)
I believe the answer is:
trysting
'the meeting' is the definition.
(a tryst is a secret meeting between lovers)
'attempt to get smart' is the wordplay.
'attempt' becomes 'try' (synonyms).
'to get' says to put letters next to each other.
'smart' becomes 'sting' (both can mean to burn or hurt).
'try'+'sting'='TRYSTING'
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for trysting that I've seen before include "Agreeing to meet" , "meeting" .)