English in dire trouble, getting a duck (5)
I believe the answer is:
eider
'a duck' is the definition.
(eider is a kind of duck)
'english in dire trouble' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'trouble' indicates an anagram.
'dire' anagrammed gives 'eidr'.
'e' inserted inside 'eidr' is 'EIDER'.
'getting' is the link.
(Other definitions for eider that I've seen before include "Reed I make into a duck" , "Species of duck" , "Duck noted for down" , "Duck providing fine down" , "Quilt- furnishing duck" .)