Crossword Genius

Old buildings with nothing left but flies around (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

follies

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'old buildings' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'nothing left but flies around' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'O' (looks like zero - 0).
'left but' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'but' bit.).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'o'+'l'='ol'
'ol' inserted inside 'flies' is 'FOLLIES'.

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for follies that I've seen before include "Idiocies" , "Ornamental buildings with no practical purpose" , "Silly acts or ornamental buildings" , "Rash actions" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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