Sensitive, like a tightrope walker? (6,6)
I believe the answer is:
highly strung
'sensitive' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'like a tightrope walker?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'like' could be 'ly' (similar in meaning) and 'ly' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'highstrung' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for highly strung that I've seen before include "like the violino piccolo" , "Very sensitive" , "Nervous, easily upset" , "Tense and easily upset" , "Very nervous or volatile" .)