Crossword Genius

Insulting a coach before quarter past four (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abusive

'insulting' is the definition.
('abusive' can be a synonym of 'insulting')

'a coach before quarter past four' is the wordplay.
'coach' becomes 'bus' ('bus' can be a synonym of 'coach'**).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'quarter' becomes 'e'.
'past' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'four' becomes 'iv' (roman numeral).
'e' put after 'iv' is 'ive'.
'bus'+'ive' is 'busive'.
'a'+'busive'='ABUSIVE'

(Other definitions for abusive that I've seen before include "Prone to mistreat" , "scathing" , "Reviling with coarse language" , "Given to hurling insults" , "Insulting, being harshly critical or offensive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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