Crossword Genius

Pass by failing to fail (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

collapse

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

'pass by failing' is the wordplay.
'pass' becomes 'col' (col is a term for a mountain pass).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'failing' becomes 'lapse' (I've seen this before).
'col'+'lapse'='COLLAPSE'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for collapse that I've seen before include "Fall down or lose strength suddenly" , "Slump" , "Give way, fail suddenly" , "Fall or disintergrate" , "Disintegration" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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