Favourite student has chai with Cher's chihuahua (8,3)
I believe the answer is:
teachers pet
'favourite student' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'chai with cher's chihuahua' is the wordplay.
'chai' becomes 'tea' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'chihuahua' becomes 'pet' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'tea'+'chers'+'pet'='TEACHERS PET'
'has' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for teachers pet that I've seen before include "Subject of favouritism at school" , "Favoured pupil" , "(Mocked) school favourite" , "Least popular child in the class?" , "Favourite in form" .)