Crossword Genius

Damaged elastic wears thin (2,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in the wars

'damaged' is the definition.
(something that's been 'in the wars' is damaged)

'elastic wears thin' is the wordplay.
'elastic' indicates an anagram (the anagram stretches or twists into a new form).
'wears'+'thin'='wearsthin'
'wearsthin' with letters rearranged gives 'IN THE WARS'.

(Other definitions for in the wars that I've seen before include "Knocked around" , "Hurt or knocked about" , "suffering" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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