They may finish up in the soup, dear (5)
I believe the answer is:
ducks
'they' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ducks that I've seen before include "Evades" , "More than one aquatic bird" , "Eg, mallards" , "Teal, wigeon etc" , "Mallards, for example" .)