The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word SKIN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
K
I
N
More clues leading to the result SKIN
- Son and relations hide
- Making a good escape, requesting cover
- Initially sweet family film
- Hide from relations after first hint of scandal
- Clinging drunk associated with southern family
- Hide runner approaching end of marathon
- Superficial need to be thrown into large bin
- Hide from southern relatives
- Middle part of classic family film
- Removing silver plating, asking to reveal surface
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "film" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case film = skin.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 SKIN mean?
SKIN noun- The outer protective layer of the body of any animal, including of a human.
- The outer protective layer of the fruit of a plant.
- The skin and fur of an individual animal used by humans for clothing, upholstery, etc.
- A congealed layer on the surface of a liquid.
- A set of resources that modifies the appearance and/or layout of the graphical user interface of a computer program.
- An alternate appearance (texture map or geometry) for a character model in a video game.
- Rolling paper for cigarettes.
- A subgroup of Australian aboriginal people; such divisions are cultural and not related to an individual′s physical skin.
- Bare flesh, particularly bare breasts.
- A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids.
- That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole.
- The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing.
- A drink of whisky served hot.
- Person, chap
- To injure the skin of.
- To remove the skin and/or fur of an animal or a human.
- To high five.
- To apply a skin to (a computer program).
- To use tricks to go past a defender.
- To become covered with skin.
- To cover with skin, or as if with skin; hence, to cover superficially.
- To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use cribs, memoranda, etc., which are prohibited.
- To strip of money or property; to cheat.
- Someone with a shaved head.
- Member of the skinhead subculture arising in late 1960s England or its diaspora, often incorrectly associated with violence and white-supremacist or anti-immigrant principles.