Things going wrong when one gets back? (8)

I believe the answer is:

reverses

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'things' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reverses that I've seen before include "Defeats" , "Goes backwards" , "Backs up" , "Moves backwards" , "Setbacks" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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