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You like to have a drink after you kiss me
And if you've got the stomach for it, you can eat me
When I am last, I am not least
I'm said to overpower beasts
And though I'm weak and thin and frail
Don't argue with my man - you'll fail

Who am I?

Hint:

Once more, who am I - can you guess?
Let's have a poll, it's only fair
In fact, I'm well within your grasp
Just when you feel close to despair

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  • $\begingroup$ Is it normal/kosher in these kinds of puzzles to use the same word but with different meanings, different things being referred to, across the verses? $\endgroup$
    – JDługosz
    Commented May 3, 2016 at 1:21
  • $\begingroup$ @JDługosz well, it's a common enough thing to do/see in a riddle. Whether it's kosher is a subjective question. It's perfectly okay if you believe riddles shouldn't do that, and you can use your votes and commenting abilities to try to push the Puzzling community in that direction. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 3, 2016 at 1:24
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    $\begingroup$ @JDługosz on second thought, I think this device of playing on two different meanings of a word is actually extremely common in constructing riddles, and probably it would be quite difficult to construct a good riddle not using this technique. So yes, it's normal, and considered kosher by almost everyone as far as I'm aware. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 3, 2016 at 6:28

5 Answers 5

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I believe the answer is:

straw

You like to have a drink after you kiss me

You put your mouth on a straw to take a drink

And if you've got the stomach for it, you can eat me

You can (or at least, some animals can) eat straw

When I am last, I am not least

The final straw, which is (according to the first google result) the "last in a series of unpleasant events which finally makes you feel that you cannot continue to accept a bad situation"

I'm said to overpower beasts

The straw that broke the camel's back

And though I'm weak and thin and frail
Don't argue with my man - you'll fail

A straw man argument is a fallacy where someone argues against a point that hasn't been made. If you use a straw man argument, you fail.

Edit: And the hint...

Once more, who am I - can you guess?
Let's have a poll, it's only fair

A reference to a straw poll.

In fact, I'm well within your grasp
Just when you feel close to despair

A reference to "grasping at straws."

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  • $\begingroup$ This is correct, and very nicely explained - great job! Before I officially accept the answer, would you care to address the hint? $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 3:41
  • $\begingroup$ Draw; grasping? $\endgroup$
    – SendersReagent
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 5:07
  • $\begingroup$ Straw poll (test vote), grasping, the last. $\endgroup$
    – dlu
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 5:09
  • $\begingroup$ @dlu Oh, yeah, straw poll, that makes more sells. I guess draw straws would be "pull." $\endgroup$
    – SendersReagent
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 5:10
  • $\begingroup$ Now, how to work that into the hint? $\endgroup$
    – dlu
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 5:15
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Can it be

Chillies/peppers

  1. We need to drink water if while eating it touch our lips.

  2. It your stomach can take the chillies you can eat.

  3. not sure

  4. not sure

  5. chillies are thin and can be broken into two pieces easily

  6. Men are being referred to as the seeds we see inside the chillies

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    $\begingroup$ Please explain why a downvote ? It's just a try. I guess we don't have to be correct everytime ? $\endgroup$
    – LearningPhase
    Commented May 1, 2016 at 18:48
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    $\begingroup$ dw - countered it :p. People should only down vote poor answers (usually one liners with no explanation), and this certainly is not. In addition, partial answers are acceptable to post as they may be helpful for other solvers - puzzles can often take more than one person to solve here. $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented May 1, 2016 at 18:57
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks @QuestionAsker for nullifying the down vote and the explanation $\endgroup$
    – LearningPhase
    Commented May 1, 2016 at 18:59
  • $\begingroup$ Nice try (and upvoted) but that's not it, sorry. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 1, 2016 at 18:59
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Alternate solution

A nerdy guy in a movie

You like to have a drink after you kiss me

More than likely because following the movie cliche it will be a really disgusting / awkward kiss

And if you've got the stomach for it, you can eat me

Cannibalism was never ruled out (a horror movie nerd in this case)

When I am last, I am not least

The nerdy guy always finishes last initially, it happens every movie, but they're typically a really intelligent and nice guy, so by no way are they the "least"

I'm said to overpower beasts

Likely referring to all the movies like sorcerers apprentice where in the end it's the nerdy guy who defeats the monster / beast

And though I'm weak and thin and frail

Yep, typical movie nerdy guy

Don't argue with my man - you'll fail

Most likely referring to his one ultra-intelligent friend who is always right, in most movies, this is that "hacker friend"

Not at all trying to be mean or stereotypical, just following the movie cliche!

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  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, interesting suggestion but you're quite far off course I'm afraid. The solution will be a lot more obviously correct than that once it's revealed. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 1, 2016 at 23:47
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Ok, might have it! Could it be:

A lemon in a margarita

You like to have a drink after you kiss me

You suck (kiss) it as part of the drink

And if you've got the stomach for it, you can eat me

Some people do eat the lemon, but it's not for everyone

When I am last, I am not least

You suck it last, after taking a drink, and that makes it nice, whereas normally it is sour

I'm said to overpower beasts

Anyone who drinks too much will quickly become intoxicated and overpowered.

And though I'm weak and thin and frail

It's usually a thin slice, but still packs a punch

Don't argue with my man - you'll fail

While drunk you're not going to win any arguments, and you shouldn't argue with someone who is drunk

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    $\begingroup$ Nope, still not it. But it's a creative solution, and is in some sense the closest one proposed so far. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 1:30
  • $\begingroup$ Oh gosh! I feel silly trying multiple times but I really like this question :P! Before trying another answer, may I ask, is it something you could find in a bar (among other places [I don't mind if you'd rather not answer])? $\endgroup$
    – Liam Daly
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 1:33
  • $\begingroup$ I'd rather not answer. I have some hints I plan to add soon if no one makes any progress. $\endgroup$
    – user17947
    Commented May 2, 2016 at 1:39
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Clearly a Newfoundland Carp

You like to have a drink after you kiss me

Kiss the Carp.

And if you've got the stomach for it, you can eat me

Fish are edible.

When I am last, I am not least

Carp swim upstream for breeding. The "least" ones are the new born, not the last to swim unstream.

I'm said to overpower beasts

A good catch can make a fisher swoon, and is not mankind the real beast?

And though I'm weak and thin and frail

The riddle is being told by a shark.

Don't argue with my man - you'll fail

You cannot argue with a Newfoundlander: to argue, you'd have to understand them.

Once more, who am I - can you guess?

After kissing the carp once more, you are unlikely to be in a shape to guess. I mean, how drunk do you have to be to do it twice?

Let's have a poll, it's only fair

A reference to the July 22, 1948 referendum, which was both close and viewed as unfair.

In fact, I'm well within your grasp
Just when you feel close to despair

A slogan used by Tourism Newfoundland.

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