Crossword Genius

Licence to flog shiny material (6,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patent leather

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

'shiny material' is the definition.

'licence to flog' is the wordplay.
'licence' becomes 'patent' (I've seen this before).
'to flog' becomes 'leather' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'patent'+'leather'='PATENT LEATHER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for patent leather that I've seen before include "it will present a varnished surface" , "shiny skin" , "Tanned animal skin made hard and glossy" , "Varnished hide" , "Glossy shoe material" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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