Youngsters negotiating cost with student (5)
I believe the answer is:
colts
'youngsters' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'negotiating cost with student' is the wordplay.
'negotiating' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'negotiated' mean this).
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'cost' anagrammed gives 'cots'.
'cots' placed around 'l' is 'COLTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for colts that I've seen before include "young players" , "Young stallions" , "Young male horses" .)