It shows popular autocrat taking first time off (9)
I believe the answer is:
indicator
'it shows' is the definition.
'popular autocrat taking first time off' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'popular' could be 'in' and 'in' is present in the answer.
'first' could be 'i' (I in Roman numerals eg Elizabeth I) and 'i' is found within the answer.
'time' could be 't' and 't' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Other definitions for indicator that I've seen before include "Gauge; information board" , "shower" , "Pointer" , "Flashing car light" , "Station information board" .)