Excel as a bootblack? (8)
I believe the answer is:
outshine
'excel' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'as a bootblack?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'as' could be 'in' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'in' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for outshine that I've seen before include "Display area for goods" , "Do better than, being more brilliant" , "Surpass in splendour like the sun" , "Surpass in excellence - beaming more brightly?" , "give more light, paradoxically" .)