Cryptic crossword clue
Bloke largely innocent, on reflection, but keeping the truth hidden 5-2

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word COVER-UP

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "keeping the truth hidden" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case keeping the truth hidden = cover-up.
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 COVER-UP mean?

COVER-UP noun
  1. An attempt to conceal or disguise something, especially a wrongdoing or a mistake.
  2. An item of clothing to be worn over a swimsuit while not in the water.

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