Modest lift from liquid thimbleful (6)

I believe the answer is:

humble

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'modest' is the definition.
(I know that modest can be written as humble)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for humble that I've seen before include "Aware of one's failings" , "kind of pie" , "Of low rank" , "Lowly - modest - unpretentious" , "Conscious of one's shortcomings" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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