Short coil can, when twisted (7)
I believe the answer is:
laconic
'short' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'coil can when twisted' is the wordplay.
'when twisted' indicates anagramming the letters.
'coil'+'can'='coilcan'
'coilcan' with letters rearranged gives 'LACONIC'.
(Other definitions for laconic that I've seen before include "'Curt, terse (7)'" , "Col Cain (anag) - expressed in a few words" , "Concise - terse" , "without many words" , "without verbosity" .)