Unhappy condition of fox after goose narrowly escaped? (4,2,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
down in the mouth
'unhappy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'condition of fox after goose narrowly escaped?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'of' could be 'o' and 'o' is found within the answer.
'escaped?' could be 'out' (I've seen this before) and 'out' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for down in the mouth that I've seen before include "Duck meals: you might get this" , "then spitting feathers?" , "Disheartened" , "consequence of eating unprepared duck?" , "depressed" .)