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Equal parts stiff and hot after exercising (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fifths

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'equal parts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'stiff and hot after exercising' is the wordplay.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'after exercising' indicates an anagram.
'stiff'+'h'='stiffh'
'stiffh' with letters rearranged gives 'FIFTHS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fifths that I've seen before include "... of these for 60%" , "Fractions" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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