Cryptic crossword clue
Failed to bid spades, surprisingly 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PASSED

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
P
A
S
S
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Failed to bid" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case failed to bid = passed.
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 PASSED mean?

PASSED verb
  1. To change place.
  2. To change in state or status
  3. To move through time.
  4. To be accepted.
  5. In any game, to decline to play in one's turn.
  6. To do or be better.
  7. To take heed.
PASSED adjective
  1. That has passed beyond a certain point (chiefly in set collocations).
  2. That has passed a given qualification or examination; qualified.

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