The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word HOODWINKING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
H
O
O
D
W
I
N
K
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result HOODWINKING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Taking in" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case taking in = hoodwinking.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 HOODWINKING mean?
HOODWINKING verb- To deceive by disguise; to dupe, bewile, mislead.
- To cover the eyes with a hood; to blindfold.
- To overshadow something in a way that one is blind or oblivious to it.
- To hide or obscure.
- An act of deception.