One might go down to this wage or start to look for work (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
low gear
'one might go down to this' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'wage or start to look for work' is the wordplay.
'start to' suggests taking the first letters.
'for work' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'for working' mean this).
The initial letter of 'look' is 'l'.
'wage'+'or'+'l'='wageorl'
'wageorl' with letters rearranged gives 'LOW GEAR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for low gear that I've seen before include "Maxi-skirt" , "one crawls along in?" , "It may describe footwear" , "It's needed on steep hill" , "It's engaged while driving up or down a steep hill" .)