Crossword Genius

Plan quietly to crush man with salty wife (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

plot

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

'plan quietly' is the definition.
'plot' can be an answer for 'plan' (plotting is a kind of planning). I am unsure of the 'quietly' bit.

'crush man with salty wife' is the wordplay.
'crush' becomes 'p' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'man with salty wife' becomes 'lot' (I've seen this before).
'p'+'lot'='PLOT'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for plot that I've seen before include "Conspiracy, secret plan" , "Machination" , "Chart - area" , "Patch of ground" , "Story or piece of land" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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