Manifest reluctance as fiery type set out to claim payment (4,4,4)
I believe the answer is:
drag ones feet
'manifest reluctance as fiery' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'type set out to claim payment' is the wordplay.
'type' becomes 'dragon' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'out' indicates anagramming the letters (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'to claim' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are claimed or taken in).
'payment' becomes 'fee' (payment for a job).
'set' anagrammed gives 'est'.
'est' placed around 'fee' is 'esfeet'.
'dragon'+'esfeet'='DRAG ONES FEET'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drag ones feet that I've seen before include "Be reluctant" , "Slug" , "Act with reluctance" , "Hang back" , "Be deliberately slow to act" .)