Former partner takes exercise alongside unusual diet to make things happen (8)
I believe the answer is:
expedite
'make things happen' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'former partner takes exercise alongside unusual diet' is the wordplay.
'former partner' becomes 'ex'.
'takes' says to put letters next to each other.
'exercise' becomes 'pe' (Physical Education**).
'alongside' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'unusual' is an anagram indicator.
'diet' is an anagram of 'dite'.
'ex'+'pe'+'dite'='EXPEDITE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for expedite that I've seen before include "Rush" , "Hasten, facilitate" , "Hasten (process)" , "Assist the progress of" , "Hurry" .)