The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word TUG-OF-WAR
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
T
U
G
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O
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W
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More clues leading to the result TUG-OF-WAR
- A weak mist in depression held up sporting contest
- Tight contest in which the winners manage to pull back
- Contest about crude spirit old fellow entered
- Game of upper classes in Hogwarts played endlessly — involving quaffle in the middle
- Eventually, you grow fat playing this game
- Unprepared for mostly stomach-turning contest
- Chill gloom returns after trade union contest
Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TUG-OF-WAR mean?
TUG-OF-WAR noun- A game or competition in which two teams pull or tug on opposite ends of a rope trying to force the other team over the line which initially marked the middle between the two teams.
- A dispute between two parties, particularly an entrenched, back-and-forth dispute.