Crossword Genius

He’ll come a cropper in the end? (4,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

grim reaper

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cropper in the end?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'he'll come a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'per' (eg 'one a day' means 'one per day') and 'per' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for grim reaper that I've seen before include "which represents curtains?" , "Name for death" , "Death personified as Old Father Time" , "Death in person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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