Couple, in time, tidying up (4)
I believe the answer is:
item
'couple' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in time tidying up' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'up' says the letters should be written backwards (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'meti' is hidden in the letters of 'time tidying'.
'meti' written backwards gives 'ITEM'.
(Other definitions for item that I've seen before include "Individual object" , "two with a link" , "'One thing, poor mite (4)'" , "date" , "Individual thing" .)