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Worked out class total without fail (2,3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

at all costs

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'without fail' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'worked out class total' is the wordplay.
'worked out' is an anagram indicator.
'class'+'total'='classtotal'
'classtotal' anagrammed gives 'AT ALL COSTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for at all costs that I've seen before include "come what may" , "no matter what the consequences may be" , "Regardless of expense" , "Regardless of what needs to be paid" , "Regardless of the price" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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