Crossword Genius

Was very upset about deer eating large spruce (4-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

well-kept

'spruce' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'was very upset about deer eating large' is the wordplay.
'was very upset' becomes 'wept' (was weeping).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'deer' becomes 'elk' (type of deer).
'eating' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'large' becomes 'L' (eg in clothes sizes).
'elk' going around 'l' is 'ellk'.
'wept' going around 'ellk' is 'WELL-KEPT'.

(Other definitions for well-kept that I've seen before include "Carefully looked after" , "Carefully maintained" , "Maintained or supported in good condition" , "Shipshape" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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