Crossword Genius

Leaves child accepting a flower declines (4,2,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

goes to pot

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'declines' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'leaves child accepting a flower' is the wordplay.
'leaves' becomes 'goes' (I've seen this before).
'child' becomes 'tot' (term for a young child).
'accepting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are accepted).
'a flower' becomes 'Po' (Italian river).
'tot' going around 'po' is 'topot'.
'goes'+'topot'='GOES TO POT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for goes to pot that I've seen before include "loses form" , "Become ruined" , "Deteriorates" , "Approaches the snooker table" , "Becomes ruined" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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