Neglected flat has mat lowered in respect (2,4,4)

I believe the answer is:

at half mast

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'lowered in respect' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'neglected flat has mat' is the wordplay.
'neglected' is an anagram indicator (allowed to grow wild, as a garden).
'flat'+'has'+'mat'='flathasmat'
'flathasmat' anagrammed gives 'AT HALF-MAST'.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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