Crossword Genius

Get away from Eastern mischief-maker, retreating (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

flee

'get away' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'eastern mischief-maker retreating' is the wordplay.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'mischief maker' becomes 'elf' (mischievous folk lore creature).
'retreating' is a reversal indicator.
'e'+'elf'='eelf'
'eelf' back-to-front is 'FLEE'.

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for flee that I've seen before include "Do a runner" , "Run (from danger)" , "rush" , "Turn tail" , "Take to one's heels" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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