Crossword Genius

Helping short famous person to leave festival (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ration

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

'helping' is the definition.
(a ration is a serving or helping)

'famous person to leave festival' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'person' could be 'rat' (rat is a kind of person) and 'rat' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'ion' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'short' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ration that I've seen before include "Food allowance" , "Restricted share" , "Limit supply in time of scarcity" , "Limit to a fixed amount, be sparing" , "A fixed allowance in times of scarcity" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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