Earnest student or heavy drinker out West (4)
I believe the answer is:
swot
'earnest student' is the definition.
'swot' can be an answer for 'student' (I have seen 'diligent student' mean 'swot' so perhaps 'student' could also mean 'swot'). I am not certain of the 'earnest' bit.
'heavy drinker out west' is the wordplay.
'heavy drinker' becomes 'sot' (I've seen this in another clue).
'out' indicates putting letters inside.
'west' becomes 'W' (abbreviation).
'sot' placed around 'w' is 'SWOT'.
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for swot that I've seen before include "Hard-working student" , "One studying a lot" , "One studying too much" , "Very diligent student" , "Study hard before an exam" .)