Feign illness to avoid work (5,3,4)

I believe the answer is:

swing the lead

(Other definitions for swing the lead that I've seen before include "Invent specious excuses to evade duties" , "Malinger (colloq.)" , "Malinger -- make excuses" , "as a carefree dog walker might?" , "slack" .)

I've seen this clue in the L.A. Times Daily, The Telegraph, The Washington Post, the Universal, The Times and The Guardian.

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