Crossword Genius

The lads may be shy about getting out (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

youths

'the lads' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'shy about getting out' is the wordplay.
'about' says the letters should be written backwards.
'getting' is an insertion indicator.
'shy' in reverse letter order is 'yhs'.
'yhs' going around 'out' is 'YOUTHS'.

'may be' is the link.

(Other definitions for youths that I've seen before include "Youngsters" , "Young people" , "Males between childhood and maturity" , "Adolescents" , "Young men" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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