Crossword Genius

It's a caper when one has only a half ticket (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

antic

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'it's a caper' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'a half ticket' is the wordplay.
'a' becomes 'an'.
'half' indicates taking half.
'ticket' with half the letters taken is 'tic'.
'an'+'tic'='ANTIC'

'when one has only' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

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(Other definitions for antic that I've seen before include "Mad act done for fun" , "Caper; grotesque (arch.)" , "Prank" , "seen to be bizarre, at one time" , "Frolic" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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