Crossword Genius

Influence fool around university (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

clout

'influence' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'fool around university' is the wordplay.
'fool' becomes 'clot' (I've seen this before**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'university' becomes 'u'.
'clot' going around 'u' is 'CLOUT'.

(Other definitions for clout that I've seen before include "Box" , "Old-fashioned garment" , "weight" , "Swipe" , "Punch; influence" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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