Like a tug-of-war rope (4)
I believe the answer is:
taut
'like a tug-of-war rope' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for taut that I've seen before include "Tense, stretched tight" , "On the slope" , "Held in tension" , "Fully stretched" , "Stretched tight or disciplined" .)