Temporarily suspends covers over middle of scaffold (4,3)

I believe the answer is:

lays off

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'temporarily suspends' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'covers over middle of scaffold' is the wordplay.
'covers' becomes 'lays' (as in laying something down on something else).
'over' becomes 'o' (cricket abbreviation).
'middle of' says to take the centre.
The centre of 'scaffold' is 'ff'.
'lays'+'o'+'ff'='LAYS OFF'

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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