Lois managed to get the dirt (4)
I believe the answer is:
soil
'the dirt' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'lois managed' is the wordplay.
'managed' is an anagram indicator.
'lois' is an anagram of 'SOIL'.
'to get' acts as a 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" .)