Crossword Genius

Rip out almost all the face for her (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

april

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

'for her' is the definition.

'rip out almost all the' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'rip' is 'pri' which is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'face' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for april that I've seen before include "TS Eliot's 'cruelest month'" , "4th month" , "Part of spring" , "Traditionally showery month" , "Eliot's 'cruellest month'" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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