Shortly slip home (4)
I believe the answer is:
gaff
'home' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'shortly slip' is the wordplay.
'shortly' means to remove the last letter.
'slip' becomes 'gaffe' (both can mean an error or blunder).
'gaffe' with its last letter taken off is 'GAFF'.
(Other definitions for gaff that I've seen before include "Pole for landing fish" , "Angler's pole - it can be blown" , "Blow the - means to reveal a plot or secret" , "Iron hook for landing big fish" , "Pole with hook used by anglers" .)