Doesn’t work, but possibly lies around a lot (5)
I believe the answer is:
idles
'doesn't work but' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'possibly lies around a lot' is the wordplay.
'possibly' indicates an anagram.
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a lot' becomes 'd' (**).
'lies' is an anagram of 'iles'.
'iles' going around 'd' is 'IDLES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for idles that I've seen before include "Spends time doing nothing" , "Lazes about, just ticks over" , "Of engine, just ticks over in neutral" , "Wastes time" , "Lazes around" .)