Crossword Genius

Such oral abuse makes a mortifying rebuff (1,4,2,3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

a kick in the teeth

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

'such oral abuse' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'a mortifying rebuff' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'kickintheteeth' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'makes' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for a kick in the teeth that I've seen before include "may knock the smile off one's face!" , "Such a hurtful rebuff" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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