Crossword Genius

Pollutant in a Jersey ditch? (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

acid rain

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'pollutant' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'a jersey ditch?' is the wordplay.
'jersey' becomes 'ci' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ditch?' becomes 'drain' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'ci'+'drain'='ACID-RAIN'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for acid rain that I've seen before include "that pollutes" , "Damaging precipitation" , "Polluted water" , "it's bad for the environment" , "Devastating drop" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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