The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word BUMMER
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
B
U
M
M
E
R
Buddy explains!

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 BUMMER mean?
BUMMER noun- A forager, especially in Sherman's March to the Sea of November to December 1864.
- An idle, worthless fellow, without any visible means of support; a dissipated sponger.
- A lamb (typically the smallest of a multiple birth) which has been abandoned by its mother or orphaned, and as a consequence is raised in part or in whole by humans.
- Of poor quality or highly undesirable.
- Unfair.
- Injured and without the possibility of full repair, defective.
- Unpleasant or unhappy.
- A disappointment, a pity, a shame.
- Exclamation of annoyance or frustration at a bummer (disappointment).
- Homosexual male