It's clever to reduce middle-men (4)
I believe the answer is:
cute
'it's clever' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'reduce middle-men' is the wordplay.
'reduce' becomes 'cut' (synonyms).
'middle' indicates the central letters.
The middle of 'men' is 'e'.
'cut'+'e'='CUTE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for cute that I've seen before include "Attractive or quaint, as in America" , "Daintily pleasing" , "Endearing" , "Shrewd" , "Daintily pretty" .)