Cryptic crossword clue
Big shots fail in competitions 5-3

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CLOSE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
L
O
S
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Big shots" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case big shots = close.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does CLOSE mean?

CLOSE noun
  1. An end or conclusion.
  2. The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction.
  3. A grapple in wrestling.
  4. The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence.
  5. A double bar marking the end.
  6. (travel) The time when checkin staff will no longer accept passengers for a flight.
CLOSE verb
  1. (physical) To remove a gap.
  2. (social) To finish, to terminate.
  3. To come or gather around; to enclose; to encompass; to confine.
  4. To have a vector sum of 0; that is, to form a closed polygon.
CLOSE noun
  1. (chiefly Yorkshire) An enclosed field.
  2. (chiefly British) A street that ends in a dead end.
  3. A very narrow alley between two buildings, often overhung by one of the buildings above the ground floor.
  4. The common staircase in a tenement.
  5. A cathedral close.
  6. The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not enclosed.
CLOSE adjective
  1. Closed, shut.
  2. Narrow; confined.
  3. At a little distance; near.
  4. Intimate; well-loved.
  5. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude.
  6. (Ireland, England, Scotland) Hot, humid, with no wind.
  7. (of a vowel) Articulated with the tongue body relatively close to the hard palate.
  8. Strictly confined; carefully guarded.
  9. Out of the way of observation; secluded; secret; hidden.
  10. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced.
  11. Short.
  12. Dense; solid; compact.
  13. Concise; to the point.
  14. Difficult to obtain.
  15. Parsimonious; stingy.
  16. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact.
  17. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict.
  18. Marked, evident.

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