Crossword Genius

Kicked ratbag in the ear (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

toed

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'kicked' is the definition.
(hit with one's toe)

'ratbag in the ear' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'oed' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for toed that I've seen before include "inferior terminal projections" , "Kicked" .)

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