Make slow progress, getting wife keys (4)
I believe the answer is:
wade
'make slow progress' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'wife keys' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'keys' becomes 'ade' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'w'+'ade'='WADE'
'getting' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wade that I've seen before include "Proceed with difficulty" , "Move through sea" , "Walk with effort through water" , "Paddle" , "Stride through water" .)