Crossword Genius

Female companion and drunk carrying on in sleeper (5-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wagon-lit

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'on in sleeper' is the definition.
'wagon lit' can be an answer for 'sleeper' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'on in' bit.

'female companion and drunk' is the wordplay.
'female companion' becomes 'wagon' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'drunk' becomes 'lit' (I've seen this in another clue).
'wagon'+'lit'='WAGON-LIT'

'carrying' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for wagon-lit that I've seen before include "sleeper" , "Sleeping car on continental trains" , "Continental sleeping-car" , "In-law got injured in sleeping car" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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