During plague, libertine gives sign of easing up (5,5)

I believe the answer is:

brake light

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'sign of easing up' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'during plague libertine' is the wordplay.
'during' is an insertion indicator.
'plague' becomes 'blight' (synonyms).
'libertine' becomes 'rake' (rake is a kind of libertine).
'blight' placed around 'rake' is 'BRAKE LIGHT'.

'gives' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for brake light that I've seen is " Device that signals when a car is slowing".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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