With an effort, gets a break in certain quarters (6)
I believe the answer is:
wrests
'with an effort gets a' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'break in certain quarters' is the wordplay.
'break' becomes 'rest' (a rest is taking a break).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'certain quarters' becomes 'ws' (I am not sure about the 'certain' bit.).
'rest' placed inside 'ws' is 'WRESTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wrests that I've seen before include "Obtain by seizing forcibly or violently" , "Takes" , "Seizes forcibly" .)