Didn't stand one's ground either and got nowhere (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
also ran
'didn't stand one's ground either' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'and got nowhere' is the wordplay.
'and' becomes 'also'.
'got nowhere' becomes 'ran' (running is a kind of getting. I am not sure about the 'nowhere' bit.).
'also'+'ran'='ALSO-RAN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for also ran that I've seen before include "One failing to gain a place" , "loser" , "one that didn't win" , "failure?" , "Unplaced horse" .)