Crossword Genius

Fails to hold secret, separate, social occasions (6,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dinner parties

'social occasions' is the definition.
(a dinner party is a type of social occasion)

'fails to hold secret separate' is the wordplay.
'fails' becomes 'dies' ('die' can be a synonym of 'fail').
'to hold' indicates putting letters inside.
'secret' becomes 'inner' (I've seen this before).
'separate' becomes 'part' (both can mean to split or break apart).
'inner'+'part'='innerpart'
'dies' enclosing 'innerpart' is 'DINNER PARTIES'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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