Crossword Genius

Seal fate: explorer soon goes travelling east (4,4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cook ones goose

'seal fate' is the definition.
(to cook one's goose is to seal one's fate)

'explorer soon goes travelling east' is the wordplay.
'explorer' becomes 'Cook' (18th-century explorer Captain James Cook).
'travelling' indicates an anagram.
'east' becomes 'e' (synonyms).
'soon'+'goes'='soongoes'
'soongoes' anagrammed gives 'onesgoos'.
'cook'+'onesgoos'+'e'='COOK ONES GOOSE'

(Other definitions for cook ones goose that I've seen before include "Spoil a person's plans" , "Scupper plans" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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