Crossword Genius

Criticise act to sell multiple raffle tickets? (4,1,5,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tear a strip off

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'criticise' is the definition.
(to tear a strip off someone is to castigate them)

'act to sell multiple raffle tickets?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'act' could be 'strip' (strip is a kind of act) and 'strip' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tear a strip off that I've seen before include "Severely criticize" , "Dress down" , "Rebuke" , "Reprimand (someone)" , "discipline?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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