Cryptic crossword clue
Very sensitive atmosphere feeds high tension on boat 4-7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word HAIR-TRIGGER

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
H
A
I
R
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T
R
I
G
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R

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Very sensitive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case very sensitive = hair-trigger.
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 HAIR-TRIGGER mean?

HAIR-TRIGGER noun
  1. A trigger that will set off a firearm when even a very small pressure is applied
HAIR-TRIGGER adjective
  1. Unstable, in a situation that could be worsened by the slightest mistake
  2. Easily angered, having a short temper

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