| Clue | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Not as slack | USA Today | 17 Feb 2023 |
| Not as relaxed | Universal | 09 Aug 2021 |
| Less lax | The Washington Post | 17 Feb 2019 |
| Less lax | LA Times Daily | 17 Feb 2019 |
| Less lax | ||
| More high-strung | Newsday | 05 Aug 2018 |
| Less slack | Premier Sunday | 26 Mar 2017 |
| With less slack | Universal | 23 Dec 2016 |
| Having less slack | Universal | 08 Dec 2016 |
| Not as slack | Universal | 21 Nov 2016 |
| With less slack | ||
| Having less slack | ||
| More high-strung | ||
| More high-strung | ||
| More tightly stretched | ||
| Less lax | ||
| Less slack | ||
| Less lax | ||
| Creating more tension | ||
| Having less slack | ||
| Creating more tension | ||
| Having less slack | ||
| More tightly drawn | ||
| Not as lax | ||
| Not so slack | ||
| Less relaxed | ||
| Not so slack | ||
| Overdrawn? | ||
| More tightly stretched | ||
| More tense | ||
| More tense | ||
| Less slack | ||
| More tense, as rope | ||
| Not as slack | ||
| Not as slack | ||
| Less loose | ||
| More strained |