Might one have got tied up at work? (12)
I believe the answer is:
escapologist
'might one have got tied up at work?' is the definition.
(someone who might escape being tied up)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for escapologist that I've seen before include "Houdini's trade" , "Entertainer skilled at getting free from confinement" , "Eg, Harry Houdini" , "One called Harry" , "Houdini, for example" .)