Couple taken in some time after retirement (4)
I believe the answer is:
item
'couple' is the definition.
(a romantic couple are 'an item')
'in some time after retirement' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'after retirement' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'meti' can be found hidden inside 'some time'.
'meti' backwards is 'ITEM'.
'taken' is the link.
(Other definitions for item that I've seen before include "Time (anag.)" , "Single article on a list" , "One thing on a list" , "Individual object" , "Romantic couple" .)