Crossword Genius

Start to slip before fall? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stumble

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'before fall?' is the definition.
'stumble' can be an answer for 'fall?' (thesaurus). I am not sure about the 'before' bit.

'start to slip' is the wordplay.
'start to' becomes 's' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'slip' becomes 'tumble' (tumble is a kind of slip).
's'+'tumble'='STUMBLE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stumble that I've seen before include "blunder" , "Slip - fall" , "Falter" , "Come near to falling while walking" , "Trip and nearly fall" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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