The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word DRAWBRIDGE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
D
R
A
W
B
R
I
D
G
E
More clues leading to the result DRAWBRIDGE
- Failure to win game that’s raised to shut one out
- Evenly-matched situation ahead of game? One’s up for the attack?
- Retractable spanner?
- Moving entrance from child in care returning to connect
- Cross after selection, very old opener?
- Don’t win game that’s hinged on castle?
- Type of spanner?
- Opener once in abstract game
- Up-and-down opener in no-win situation, some fiddle
- Opener cross after deadlock
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Up-and-down opener" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case up-and-down opener = drawbridge.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 DRAWBRIDGE mean?
DRAWBRIDGE noun- A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).