Crossword Genius

Let down when fed up and not in time (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deflate

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

'fed up and not in time' is the wordplay.
'up' says the letters should be written backwards (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'not in time' becomes 'late' (I've seen this in another clue).
'fed' in reverse letter order is 'def'.
'def'+'late'='DEFLATE'

'when' is the link.

(Other definitions for deflate that I've seen before include "Cause to shrink or collapse" , "Let air out of, like balloon" , "Puncture, collapse like balloon" , "Release gas from" , "Let the wind out of, braggart or balloon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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