Lois managed to get the dirt (4)
I believe the answer is:
soil
'the dirt' is the definition.
('soil' can be a synonym of 'dirt')
'lois managed' is the wordplay.
'managed' indicates an anagram.
'lois' with letters rearranged gives 'SOIL'.
'to get' is the link.
(Other definitions for soil that I've seen before include "Loose upper layer of earth" , "refuse" , "In which plants grow" , "Earth; make dirty" , "Sully with earth" .)