Crossword Genius

Quiet fairy started to go bad (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

perish

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'go bad' is the definition.
'perish' can be an answer for 'go' (synonyms). I am unsure of the 'bad' bit.

'quiet fairy started' is the wordplay.
'quiet' becomes 'sh' (both can be said to tell someone to be quiet).
'fairy' becomes 'peri' (Persian mythological being).
'started' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'sh' put after 'peri' is 'PERISH'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for perish that I've seen before include "Lose one's life" , "Wither or die" , "Die; decay" , "Pass away" , "come to grief" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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