Crossword Genius

One not turning up to eat? That hurts! (2,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

no-show

'one not turning up' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'eat? that hurts' is the subsidiary indication.
'eat?' becomes 'nosh' (noshing is a kind of eating).
'that hurts' becomes 'ow'.
'nosh'+'ow'='noshow'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for no-show that I've seen before include "One who fails to arrive" , "Individual neither using nor cancelling a ticket" , "One not turning up" , "Failure to appear" , "Non-attender" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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