Cryptic crossword clue
Not playing well after scoring?

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SCRATCHY

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Not playing well after scoring" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case not playing well after scoring = scratchy.
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 SCRATCHY mean?

SCRATCHY adjective
  1. Characterized by scratches.
  2. (chiefly of a sore throat) Annoying, irritating, itchy.
  3. (of an analogue radio transmission) Noisy, lossy; marred by white noise or static as a result of poor or low signal, interference or unfavourable atmospheric conditions.
  4. (of a phonograph record) Having popping and/or crackling sounds due to excessive wear, especially from scratch marks.

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