Crossword Genius

Dragged one's heels and kicked the bucket with everything in it (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dallied

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'dragged one's heels' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'kicked the bucket with everything in it' is the wordplay.
'kicked the bucket' becomes 'died' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with everything' becomes 'all' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in it' is an insertion indicator.
'died' going around 'all' is 'DALLIED'.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dallied that I've seen before include "moved slowly" , "Hung about" , "Dialled up, having delayed" , "Held back" , "Idled, loitered" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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