Cryptic crossword clue
Made a mess of the cod, awfully black on top

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word BOTCHED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
B
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T
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Made a mess of" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case made a mess of = botched.
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 BOTCHED mean?

BOTCHED verb
  1. To perform (a task) in an unacceptable or incompetent manner; to make a mess of something
  2. To do something without skill, without care, or clumsily.
  3. To repair or mend clumsily.
BOTCHED adjective
  1. Made or repaired in a clumsy or incompetent manner.

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