It's why we don't slip right into fantasy (8)
I believe the answer is:
friction
'fantasy' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'it's why we don't slip right into' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'right' could be 'r' (common abbreviation) and 'r' is located in the answer.
an anagram of 'into' is 'tion' which is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for friction that I've seen before include "Retarding factor - discord" , "State of conflict, clash" , "The rubbing of one object against another" , "A rubbing between two surfaces" , "animosity" .)