Outstanding learner takes on lean combatant (8)
I believe the answer is:
duellist
'combatant' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'outstanding learner takes on lean' is the wordplay.
'outstanding' becomes 'due' (I've seen this before).
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'takes on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'lean' becomes 'list' (both can mean to tilt).
'due'+'l'+'list'='DUELLIST'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for duellist that I've seen before include "Fighter" , "one fighting on a point of honour" , "Combatant in deadly fight between two people" , "Person engaged in single combat" , "he calls one out" .)