Cryptic crossword clue
Leader’s abandoned guiding rule in ‘tardy’ smear 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LUBRICATE

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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "smear" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case smear = lubricate.
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 LUBRICATE mean?

LUBRICATE verb
  1. To make slippery or smooth (normally to minimize friction) by applying a lubricant.

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