Pull it for progress (3)

I believe the answer is:

oar

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'pull' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for oar that I've seen before include "Rowing device" , "Boat propellant" , "propellor" , "Bladed pole" , "Sweep" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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