What does the cryptic crossword clue "Looked for a free ride as difficulty increased (5-5)" mean?

The definition is "L". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). HITCH (synonym="snag=”difficulty”") + HIKED (synonym="”increased” (as in price hikes") = HITCHHIKED The answer is HITCHHIKED.

Looked for a free ride as difficulty increased (5-5)

Guardian Cryptic #29316 | 3 Down | 2024-02-27 flower

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