The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word POKY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
P
O
K
Y
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Far from expansive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case far from expansive = poky.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 POKY mean?
POKY noun- A gambling device based on the card game poker.
- Slow.
- Stupid; mentally dull.
- Jail.
- (of a room or other enclosed space) Small and cramped, and often shabby.