Ben follows drunk sailor, but not literally (2,2,5)
I believe the answer is:
so to speak
'not literally' is the definition.
(phrase used to show one is speaking figuratively)
'ben follows drunk sailor' is the wordplay.
'ben' becomes 'peak' ('ben' is a Scottish term for peak, as in Ben Nevis).
'follows' says to put letters next to each other.
'drunk' becomes 'sot' (synonyms).
'sailor' becomes 'os' (ordinary seaman).
'sot'+'os'='sotos'
'peak' put after 'sotos' is 'SO TO SPEAK'.
'but' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for so to speak that I've seen before include "In a way" , "If one may use that expression" , "as one might say" .)