Having a rest - going abroad, perhaps, though not France (5)
I believe the answer is:
lying
'having' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lying that I've seen before include "Deceit" , "Fabrication" , "Mendacious; recumbent" , "Telling falsehoods" , "Telling untruths" .)