Recognise power draws in sort without real engagement (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
skin-deep
'without real engagement' is the definition.
(with only superficial engagement)
'recognise power draws in sort' is the wordplay.
'recognise' becomes 'see' (both can mean to notice).
'power' becomes 'p'.
'draws in' is an insertion indicator.
'sort' becomes 'kind' (synonyms).
'see'+'p'='seep'
'seep' going around 'kind' is 'SKIN-DEEP'.
(Other definitions for skin-deep that I've seen before include "Superficial, barely penetrating" , "Superficial as beauty is said to be" , "The depth of beauty" , "Develop" , "Superficial (like beauty?)" .)