Crossword Genius

Vagrant knocked unconscious? (4-3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

down-and-out

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'knocked unconscious?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'unconscious?' could be 'out' ('out' can be similar in meaning to 'unconscious') and 'out' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for down-and-out that I've seen before include "Impoverished (and unconscious?)" , "Impoverished - destitute person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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