Spike raised in Rush according to the locals (3)
I believe the answer is:
nip
'rush according to the locals' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'spike raised' is the wordplay.
'spike' becomes 'pin' (pinning is a kind of spiking).
'raised' says the letters should be written backwards (going up in a down clue).
'pin' in reverse letter order is 'NIP'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nip that I've seen before include "Small drink of spirits" , "Pinch; drink of spirits" , "Dash" , "Light bite" , "Pinch; quantity of spirits" .)