Crossword Genius

Wife takes a long time to get pay (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wages

'pay' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'wife takes a long time' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'takes' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a long time' becomes 'ages' (I've seen this before).
'w'+'ages'='WAGES'

'to get' is the link.

(Other definitions for wages that I've seen before include "Carries on" , "Worker's income" , "Salaries" , "Reward" , "Earnings for work - or of sin" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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