Say you're too unhappy to participate in? (3,3)
I believe the answer is:
cry off
'say' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are verbs in their base form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cry off that I've seen before include "Drop out or withdraw - in tears?" , "Back out (from an agreement)" , "Pull out" , "Scratch" , "Withdraw from engagement - in tears" .)