Crossword Genius

Keep one's hand in and scrape it off (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

practise

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'keep one's hand in' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'scrape it off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'scrape'+'it'='scrapeit'
'scrapeit' anagrammed gives 'PRACTISE'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for practise that I've seen before include "Contrive by some means" , "Drill" , "Do something to improve skill, train" , "Rehearse" , "Train by repetition" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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