Passed on what's not working (4)
I believe the answer is:
dead
'passed on' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dead that I've seen before include "Exhausted -- layabout" , "Stiff - bereft of life" , "Six feet under" , "Lookalike" , "dull" .)