The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word NOSINGS
N
O
S
I
N
G
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "cautious advances" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cautious advances = nosings.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does NOSINGS mean?
NOSINGS noun- An animal's pushing or exploration with the nose.
- That part of the treadboard of a stair that projects over the riser.
- Any similar projection, such as the projecting edge of a moulding.