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Unlucky occasion when not on duty? (3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

off-day

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'unlucky occasion' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'not on duty?' is the wordplay.
'not on' becomes 'off' ('off' is the opposite to 'on').
'duty?' becomes 'day' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'off'+'day'='OFF-DAY'

'when' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for off-day that I've seen before include "Time when things aren't going too well" , "Period when one is not at one's best" , "Time when one is not at oneOs best" , "Not one's best time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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