Crossword Genius

One Direction getting brute to lose face (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

east

'one direction' is the definition.
(compass direction)

'brute to lose face' is the wordplay.
'brute' becomes 'beast' (synonyms).
'to lose face' means to remove the first letter (I've seen 'losing face' mean this).
'beast' with its first letter removed is 'EAST'.

'getting' is the link.

(Other definitions for east that I've seen before include "Player in deal" , "major point" , "Bidder after North (bridge)" , "An opponent of North" , "Direction of the Orient" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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