Paid idler as a drunk (8)
I believe the answer is:
salaried
'paid' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'idler as a drunk' is the wordplay.
'drunk' indicates anagramming the letters.
'idler'+'as'+'a'='idlerasa'
'idlerasa' with letters rearranged gives 'SALARIED'.
(Other definitions for salaried that I've seen before include "Earning a living" , "Paid monthly for work" , "Paid regularly" .)