Female sick, not going to make it (7)

I believe the answer is:

failing

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'not going to make it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'female sick' is the wordplay.
'female' becomes 'f' (common abbreviation).
'sick' becomes 'ailing' (similar in meaning).
'f'+'ailing'='FAILING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for failing that I've seen before include "Flunking" , "Defect" , "becoming frail" , "conking out" , "Character weakness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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