Silly dog smothering me: throw it down? (9)

I believe the answer is:

lamebrain

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'silly' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'dog smothering me throw it down?' is the wordplay.
'dog' becomes 'lab' (short for labrador).
'smothering' is an insertion indicator.
'throw it down?' becomes 'rain' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'lab' placed around 'me' is 'lameb'.
'lameb'+'rain'='LAMEBRAIN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lamebrain that I've seen before include "Idiot" , "Nelly" , "turkey" , "two [TOMFOOL] ..." , "fool" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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