Miss the mark with spoonerisms out of professionalism (4)

I believe the answer is:

fail

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'miss' is the definition.
(failing is a kind of missing)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for fail that I've seen before include "Break down" , "Be unsuccessful, say in exam" , "collapse" , "Stop working properly" , "Let down" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).

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