Crossword Genius

The odds of deals being turned down (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sad

'down' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'the odds of deals being turned' is the wordplay.
'the odds of' indicates alternate letters (the letters in odd-numbered positions are used).
'being turned' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
The alternating letters of 'deals' are 'das'.
'das' in reverse letter order is 'SAD'.

(Other definitions for sad that I've seen before include "grey" , "Mournful - sorry" , "Mournful and depressed" , "Winter blues, initially" , "Gloomy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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