Delay date when one is expected home (6)
I believe the answer is:
detain
'delay' is the definition.
(I know that delay can be written as detain)
'date when one is expected home' is the wordplay.
'date' becomes 'd' (common abbreviation eg in DOB, date of birth).
'when one is expected' becomes 'ETA' (estimated time of arrival).
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'd'+'eta'+'in'='DETAIN'
(Other definitions for detain that I've seen before include "Sing to (someone)" , "Hold or keep back, maybe for questioning" , "Imprison" , "Hold (someone) back" , "Hold back, perhaps for questioning" .)