Crossword Genius

Manifest expectancy in stands ringing large field (2,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

be all ears

'manifest expectancy' is the definition.
(to be all ears is to show eagerness to listen)

'stands ringing large field' is the wordplay.
'stands' becomes 'bears' ('bear' can be a synonym of 'stand').
'ringing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'large' becomes 'L' (eg in clothes sizes).
'field' becomes 'lea' (lea can mean a meadow or field of grass).
'l'+'lea'='llea'
'bears' going around 'llea' is 'BE ALL EARS'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for be all ears that I've seen before include "Attend exclusively" , "Listen intently" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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