Progressive help in swotting up? (3)
I believe the answer is:
tow
'progressive help' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'in swotting up?' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'up?' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'wot' can be found hidden inside 'swotting'.
'wot' backwards is 'TOW'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tow that I've seen before include "Drag along behind, say barge" , "Pull away" , "Tug" , "Pull using cable" , "Pull or drag along behind" .)