Tough and mean right through (7)
I believe the answer is:
stringy
'tough' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'mean right through' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'right' could be 'r' (common abbreviation) and 'r' is found in the answer.
'mean' could be 'stingy' (both can mean miserly) and 'stingy' is found within the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stringy that I've seen before include "Old runners can be so" , "(Of food) tough, fibrous" , "Tall, wiry, thin" .)