Listener in tears hits back (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
rear-ends
'hits back' is the definition.
'rear-ends' can be an answer for 'hits' (rear-ending is a kind of hitting). I am not sure about the 'back' bit.
'listener in tears' is the wordplay.
'listener' becomes 'ear' (body part which hears or listens).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'tears' becomes 'rends' (rending is a kind of tearing).
'ear' placed inside 'rends' is 'REAR-ENDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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