Crossword Genius

Awkward pause, in the end, after a last lie went astray (3-2-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ill-at-ease

'awkward' is the definition.
(ill at ease can mean awkward or uncomfortable)

'pause in the end after a last lie went astray' is the wordplay.
'in the end' suggests the final letters.
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'went astray' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'goes astray' mean this).
The last letter of 'pause' is 'e'.
'a'+'last'+'lie'='alastlie'
'alastlie' anagrammed gives 'illateas'.
'e' put after 'illateas' is 'ILL-AT-EASE'.

(Other definitions for ill-at-ease that I've seen before include "Allies eat while feeling awkward" , "Uneasy" , "Uncomfortable, embarrassed - sick and relaxed" , "Unsure and constrained in manner" , "Uncomfortable with a situation" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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