Failed lads with ego shattered have an unhappy existence (4,1,4,4)

I believe the answer is:

lead a dogs life

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'an unhappy existence' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'failed lads with ego shattered' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'shattered' is an anagram indicator.
'failed'+'lads'+'ego'='failedladsego'
'failedladsego' anagrammed gives 'LEAD A DOGS LIFE'.

'have' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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