Graduate to loiter and swing the lead (8)
I believe the answer is:
malinger
'and swing the lead' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'graduate to loiter' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'MA' (abbreviation for Master of Arts).
'to loiter' becomes 'linger' ('linger' can be a synonym of 'loiter').
'ma'+'linger'='MALINGER'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for malinger that I've seen before include "Pretend to be ill to avoid work" , "skive off school, maybe" , "Slack in germinal fashion" , "Loaf or procrastinate" , "Pretend to be sick" .)