The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word OILS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
O
I
L
S
More clues leading to the result OILS
- Struggles to take top off paint
- First off, makes dirty picture
- Taking time off from works and paints
- More than one painting topless works
- Rings about the Italian art exhibits perhaps
- Paintings, works initially wiped
- Art of a kind, works primarily timeless
- Paintings in works defaced
- Well-produced paintings?
- Reduces friction in Socialism that’s oddly deficient
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Reduces friction" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case reduces friction = oils.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 OILS mean?
OILS noun- Liquid fat.
- Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.
- An oil painting.
- Oil paint.
- To lubricate with oil.
- To grease with oil for cooking.