Arrogant folks open up in fortunate times (8)
I believe the answer is:
upstarts
'arrogant folks open up in fortunate times' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'up in fortunate times' is the wordplay.
'in fortunate times' becomes 'starts' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'up'+'starts'='UPSTARTS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for upstarts that I've seen before include "Parvenus" , "Arrogant types" , "People who have risen suddenly to authority, arrogant with it" , "Nouveau-riches, arrivistes" , "Arrogant people just arrived in high positions" .)