Cryptic crossword clue
Rail bent badly across one in situation marked by tension 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word NAILBITER

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
N
A
I
L
B
I
T
E
R

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "situation marked by tension" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case situation marked by tension = nailbiter.
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 NAILBITER mean?

NAILBITER noun
  1. One who bites or chews his or her fingernails
  2. A nervous or uncomfortable situation
  3. An engaging or exciting cliffhanger.

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