Crossword Genius

Meat off, duck the issue (7,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chicken out

'duck the issue' is the definition.
(to chicken out of something is to avoid it)

'meat off' is the wordplay.
'meat' becomes 'chicken' (chicken is a kind of meat).
'off' becomes 'out' (both can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'chicken'+'out'='CHICKEN OUT'

(Other definitions for chicken out that I've seen before include "Get scared off" , "Back down" , "turn yellow" , "Be too scared to do something" , "vegetarian's decree?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app