Crossword Genius

Fail to show up a hairdresser? (4,1,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

come a cropper

'fail' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'show up a hairdresser?' is the wordplay.
'show up' becomes 'come' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hairdresser?' becomes 'cropper' (someone who crops hair).
'come'+'a'+'cropper'='COME A CROPPER'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for come a cropper that I've seen before include "Fall heavily and unexpectedly" , "Suffer a defeat" , "Fail spectacularly" , "Fail badly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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