Crossword Genius

Does nothing with papers in case, in short (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

idles

'does nothing' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'with papers in case in short' is the wordplay.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'papers' becomes 'id' (identification papers).
'in case' becomes 'lest' (I've seen this before).
'in short' means to remove the last letter.
'lest' with its last letter taken away is 'les'.
'id' put next to 'les' is 'IDLES'.

(Other definitions for idles that I've seen before include "Wastes time" , "Does little, just ticks over" , "Lazes about, just ticks over" , "Avoids working" , "Lazes around" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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