Crossword Genius

Nothing blocks machine, all wrecked, attaining the dumps (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

melancholia

'the dumps' is the definition.
(both can mean moodiness or sadness)

'nothing blocks machine all wrecked' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'O' (looks like zero - 0).
'blocks' means one lot of letters goes inside another (the inside letters form a 'blockage').
'wrecked' indicates anagramming the letters.
'machine'+'all'='machineall'
'machineall' anagrammed gives 'melanchlia'.
'o' put inside 'melanchlia' is 'MELANCHOLIA'.

'attaining' is the link.

(Other definitions for melancholia that I've seen before include "Black dog" , "Depressed state" , "Feeling of deep sadness" , "Pensive sadness" , "Deep long-lasting sadness" .)

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