Initiative to rise and leave (3,2,3,2)
I believe the answer is:
get up and go
'initiative' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'rise and leave' is the wordplay.
'rise' becomes 'get up' (synonyms).
'leave' becomes 'go' (to go is to depart or leave).
'getup'+'and'+'go'='GET-UP-AND-GO'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for get up and go that I've seen before include "show initiative?" , "Vim" , "zip" , "Given energy" , "walk out" .)