Crossword Genius

Late, avoid failure (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dead duck

'failure' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'late avoid' is the wordplay.
'late' becomes 'dead' (similar in meaning).
'avoid' becomes 'duck' (ducking is a kind of avoiding).
'dead'+'duck'='DEAD DUCK'

(Other definitions for dead duck that I've seen before include "Something useless or unsuccessful, like expired mallard" , "It's useless or failed, like moribund mallard" , "one certain to fold" , "Moribund mallard as failure" , "Something unsuccessful, like moribund mallard" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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