Cryptic crossword clue
Tried to influence lout, one not up yet? 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word LOBBIED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
O
B
B
I
E
D


Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Tried to influence" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tried to influence = lobbied.
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 LOBBIED mean?

LOBBIED verb
  1. To attempt to influence (a public official or decision-maker) in favor of a specific opinion or cause.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations