The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word HOIST
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More clues leading to the result HOIST
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "lift" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case lift = hoist.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 HOIST mean?
HOIST noun- A hoisting device, such as pulley or crane.
- The act of hoisting; a lift.
- The perpendicular height of a flag, as opposed to the fly, or horizontal length, when flying from a staff.
- The vertical edge of a flag which is next to the staff.
- The height of a fore-and-aft sail, next the mast or stay.
- To raise; to lift; to elevate (especially, to raise or lift to a desired elevation, by means of tackle or pulley, said of a sail, a flag, a heavy package or weight).
- To lift a trophy or similar prize into the air in celebration of a victory.
- To lift someone up to be flogged.
- To be lifted up.
- To extract (code) from a loop construct as part of optimization.
- To steal, to rob.