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Each of the sections below has a single answer, and the five sections are related. After finding the solution to one section, the others should be much easier.

The Best Friend

Whenever you're down and out, I'm in there like a dirty shirt.
Your other friends and I are gems.
When you renovated your bathroom, you needed me in order to work hard.

The Counsellor

If you're angry, I will come and provide some help.
If you're still angry, I will let you be, to help you evaluate.
I'll be with you in all your despair and anguish.

The Rabble-Rouser

If you're waiting on too many things, you can bring me in to shake things up.
If anyone is being ruthless or unforgiving, I'm in!
It is probably wise to remove me from employment.

The Party Animal

When I get together with any girl, there's bound to be a party.
In fact, no adequate party happens without me being there.
I cause a commotion at any party just by showing up.

The Efficiency Expert

Any young man can make use of me to get ahead.
Stick me on a letter, and it will arrive much faster.
If you were thinking of leaving your job and you brought me in to consult, I would advise not saying anything.


To what does each of these sections refer? What is the common bond between them all?

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4 Answers 4

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These individuals are

the five vowels.

The Best Friend

This is O.

Whenever you're down and out, I'm in there like a dirty shirt.

O is in both "down" and "out".

Your other friends and I are gems.

Adding O to "pals" gives "opals".

When you renovated your bathroom, you needed me in order to work hard.

Adding O to "tiled" gives "toiled".

The Counsellor

This is I.

If you're angry, I will come and provide some help.

Adding I to "mad" gives "maid".

If you're still angry, I will let you be, to help you evaluate.

Taking I away from "irate" gives "rate".

I'll be with you in all your despair and anguish.

I is in "despair" and "anguish".

The Rabble-Rouser

This is U.

If you're waiting on too many things, you can bring me in to shake things up.

Adding U to "pend" gives "upend".

If anyone is being ruthless or unforgiving, I'm in!

U is in "ruthless" and "unforgiving".

It is probably wise to remove me from employment.

Removing U from "usage" gives "sage".

The Party Animal

This is A.

When I get together with any girl, there's bound to be a party.

Adding A to "gal" gives "gala".

In fact, no adequate party happens without me being there.

A is in "adequate" and "party".

I cause a commotion at any party just by showing up.

Adding A to "do" gives "ado".

The Efficiency Expert

This is E.

Any young man can make use of me to get ahead.

Adding E to "lad" gives "lead".

Stick me on a letter, and it will arrive much faster.

Adding E to "mail" gives "email".

If you were thinking of leaving your job and you brought me in to consult, I would advise not saying anything.

Adding E to "quit" gives "quiet".

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    $\begingroup$ "When I get together with any girl, there's bound to be a party." could be: gal -> gala $\endgroup$
    – The Dark Truth
    Jan 15, 2016 at 10:21
  • $\begingroup$ You've got it! If you can fill in the last few clues, I'll give you the check mark. $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Jan 15, 2016 at 12:47
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    $\begingroup$ "If you're waiting on too many things, you can bring me in to shake things up." - this doesn't exactly fit but possibly "pending"/"upending"? $\endgroup$
    – question_asker
    Jan 15, 2016 at 13:45
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    $\begingroup$ @question_asker Yes. I was thinking just "pend" and "upend" but either works. Not the strongest clue, I'll admit. It was tougher finding things for U. $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Jan 15, 2016 at 15:18
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    $\begingroup$ This.Was.Brilliant. $\endgroup$
    – najayaz
    Jan 16, 2016 at 4:45
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Here's a guess:

Hand

The Best Friend

The thumb, helps you get a grip on things

The Counsellor

The pointer finger will guide you

The Rabble-Rouser

Middle finger, used to flip people off

The Party Animal

Ring finger, since getting engaged/married seems to start parties

The Efficiency Expert

Pinky finger? Not quite sure how this would work, but pinky promises could help you getting ahead

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  • $\begingroup$ Good try, but way off. As I mentioned to Slepz, note the wordplay tag on the question. $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Jan 14, 2016 at 21:51
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A (probably wrong) guess:

Mind altering substances

The best friend:

Coffee is ubiquitous and helps you work

The counsellor:

Cigarettes bring you back to even and force you to take time for reflection

The rabble-rouser:

Cocaine should not be used at work and encourages brash behaviour

The party animal:

Liquor is at parties and causes a commotion

The efficiency expert:

Adderal (speed) young men use it a lot for studying, speed is fast, if you use it at work don't tell people

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  • $\begingroup$ Good attempt, but unfortunately not even close. :) (Note the wordplay tag on the question.) $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Jan 14, 2016 at 20:31
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My guess is

parts of a car

The Best Friend

Whenever you're down and out, I'm in there like a dirty shirt.

Your other friends and I are gems.

When you renovated your bathroom, you needed me in order to work hard.

this refer to TIRES. When you are not using the car, it is just sitting ther. Other friends are the four tires and it works together. For the renovation, you need to be TIREless.

The Counsellor

If you're angry, I will come and provide some help.

If you're still angry, I will let you be, to help you evaluate.

I'll be with you in all your despair and anguish.

my guess here is the GAUGE. This is use to provide info and help and also lets you evaluate your car.

The Rabble-Rouser

If you're waiting on too many things, you can bring me in to shake things up.

If anyone is being ruthless or unforgiving, I'm in!

It is probably wise to remove me from employment.

This is the BRAKE. If you are waiting, you need some break. Also for unforgiving, like a fight, you need a break. Removing break from employment (I guess over breaks) is good.

The Party Animal

When I get together with any girl, there's bound to be a party.

In fact, no adequate party happens without me being there.

I cause a commotion at any party just by showing up.

This one's funny. This is the BUMPER. Only for girls and it always comes in pairs. If this shows up in a party, it can cause commotion.

The Efficiency Expert

Any young man can make use of me to get ahead.

Stick me on a letter, and it will arrive much faster.

If you were thinking of leaving your job and you brought me in to consult, I would advise not saying anything.

The last one is SPOILER. Getting ahead is getting spoiler information and it can arrive faster. About job, someone will not say anything so it would not spoil your plan or tell the plan as a spoiler.

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  • $\begingroup$ Great attempt, but not it. $\endgroup$
    – GentlePurpleRain
    Jan 15, 2016 at 12:45

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