Hopeless plan to take late dip (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
dead duck
'hopeless plan' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'late dip' is the wordplay.
'late' becomes 'dead' (similar in meaning).
'dip' becomes 'duck' (ducking is a kind of dipping).
'dead'+'duck'='DEAD DUCK'
'to take' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dead duck that I've seen before include "Person or thing doomed to failure" , "Useless thing or person" , "Something unsuccessful, like moribund mallard" , "non-starter" , "Something useless or unsuccessful, like expired mallard" .)