Charlie chokes up collecting prize, for star pupil? (6,5)
I believe the answer is:
clever clogs
'star pupil?' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'charlie chokes up collecting prize' is the wordplay.
'charlie' becomes 'C' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'chokes up' becomes 'clogs' (I've seen this in another clue).
'collecting' is an insertion indicator.
'prize' becomes 'lever' (I've seen this before).
'c'+'clogs'='cclogs'
'cclogs' going around 'lever' is 'CLEVER CLOGS'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clever clogs that I've seen before include "Smart alec" , "Smartypants" , "Smarty-boots?" , "Wise guy" , "Know-all" .)