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Still having work briefly, English leftie's unlikely to lose it (4-8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

even-tempered

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'unlikely to lose it' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'still having work briefly english leftie's' is the wordplay.
'still' becomes 'even' (synonyms).
'having' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'work briefly' becomes 'temp' (temp can mean to work somewhere temporarily).
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'leftie' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean a political leftwinger).
'even'+'temp'+'e'+'red'='EVEN-TEMPERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for even-tempered that I've seen before include "Imperturbable" , "Calm, equable" , "Placid - not easily angered" , "Of calm disposition" , "Placid, calm" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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