Strong Asian currency achieved by effort (4-3)
![Ross](/clue/static/ross-mug.min.png)
I believe the answer is:
hard-won
'effort' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'strong asian currency' is the wordplay.
'strong' becomes 'hard' (synonyms).
'asian currency' becomes 'won' (I have seen 'Eastern currency' mean 'won' so perhaps 'currency' could also mean 'won'. I am not sure about the 'asian' bit.).
'hard'+'won'='HARD-WON'
'achieved by' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hard-won that I've seen before include "Gained after much work and effort" , "Gained with difficulty" , "Having been obtained with effort" , "Not easily achieved, took a lot of effort" .)