The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word GADS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
G
A
D
S
Buddy explains!

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 GADS mean?
GADS noun- One who roams about idly; a gadabout.
- To move from one location to another in an apparently random and frivolous manner.
- A greedy and/or stupid person.
- A sharp-pointed object; a goad.
- A metal bar.
- A pointed metal tool for breaking or chiselling rock.
- An indeterminate measure of metal produced by a furnace, perhaps equivalent to the bloom, perhaps weighing around 100 pounds.
- A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling.
- A rod or stick, such as a fishing rod, a measuring rod, or a rod used to drive cattle with.