Crossword Genius

Run off as rest act badly (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scatter

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'run off' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'rest act badly' is the wordplay.
'badly' is an anagram indicator.
'rest'+'act'='restact'
'restact' with letters rearranged gives 'SCATTER'.

'as' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scatter that I've seen before include "Dissipate" , "Disperse, strew" , "Throw around; disperse" , "Throw in various directions" , "Sprinkle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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