Crossword Genius

Jolliest hotel applies heartlessly to evict Oscar (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

happiest

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'jolliest' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are superlative adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'hotel applies heartlessly to evict oscar' is the wordplay.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'applies heartlessly' becomes 'appies' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'evict' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'oscar' becomes 'O' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'to' with 'o' taken away is 't'.
'h'+'appies'+'t'='HAPPIEST'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for happiest that I've seen before include "Most gay" , "extremely contented" , "Gladdest" , "Most content" , "Most contented and satisfied" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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