Miss out with date, without this for protection? (7)
I believe the answer is:
exclude
'miss out' is the definition.
'exclude' can be an answer for 'miss' (excluding is a kind of missing). I am unsure of the 'out' bit.
'date without this for protection?' is the wordplay.
'date' becomes 'd' (common abbreviation eg in DOB, date of birth).
'without' is an insertion indicator (some letters go outside or 'without' others).
'this' becomes 'clue' (the clue referring to itself!).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'protection?' becomes 'ex' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'd' put into 'clue' is 'clude'.
'clude' put after 'ex' is 'EXCLUDE'.
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exclude that I've seen before include "Deny access to" , "Omit - ban" , "Ostracise" , "Bar -- omit" , "Omit or shut out" .)