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Beginning from scratch without being lazy (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slacking

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'being lazy' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are present participle verbs, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'beginning from scratch without' is the wordplay.
'beginning from scratch' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'without' becomes 'lacking' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'lacking'='SLACKING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for slacking that I've seen is " Slick nag (anag.)".)

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