The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TUTTING
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
U
T
T
I
N
G
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 TUTTING mean?
TUTTING verb- To make a tut tut sound of disapproval.
- To work by the piece; to carry out tut-work.
- The act of making a tut sound in disapproval.