"Unfortunately ..."

IFEAR

This phrase often follows a sigh when someone anticipates bad news or a difficult outcome. Think of a common two-word expression starting with "I."

The clue plays on the phrase "Unfortunately, I fear..." which is often used to introduce bad news. Here, "I fear" is treated as a standalone phrase to form the answer. The ellipsis ("...") hints that the rest of the sentence is implied, leaving just "IFEAR" as the solution. It’s a straightforward cryptic-style clue where the answer is hidden in plain sight within the phrasing.