Riddles of the Day 20 Oct 2024 - 80 Riddles Picked For You!

Your daily dose of brain teasers and challenges

A King Has No Sons No Daughters And No Queen

A king has no sons, no daughters, and no queen. For this reason, he must decide who will take the throne after he dies. To do this he decides that he will give all of the children of the kingdom a single seed. Whichever child has the largest, most beautiful plant will earn the throne; this is a metaphor for the kingdom. At the end of the contest, all of the children came to the palace with their enormous and beautiful plants in hand. After he looks at all of the children's pots, he finally decides that the little girl with an empty pot will be the next Queen. Why did he choose this little girl over all of the other children with their beautiful plants?

The king was not looking for the child who could grow the most beautiful plant, but rather the child who could understand and respect the rules and conditions of the kingdom.

The king gave them all fake seeds; he chose the little girl who was honest and didn't switch seeds.

Catastrophic Camping

Ella and Mason went camping one day, but both of them got themselves in danger. Ella was bitten by a rattlesnake, and she tried to suck out the venom. Mason came face to face with a black widow spider, and he tried to attack it. Who was in more danger?

Think about the actions they took to respond to the threats...

Black widow spiders rarely bite, and their bites are rarely fatal, but it's never a good idea to suck out snake venom. Therefore, Ella was in more danger.

Camping Conundrum

Yvonne and Diane are two friends going out on a camping trip. Here are some of the things they plan to take with them: chair, lamp, rice, game, tent. Can you guess which item the girls should leave at home?

Think about what you typically associate with a camping trip, and what might not be necessary (or even possible) to bring along...

Yvonne and Diane should leave the chair at home. "Lamp", "Rice", "Game", and "Tent" all have four letters, while "Chair" has five letters.

Analogies 1

Analogies are comparisons. Complete each analogy below. Here is an example: Ear is to hearing as eye is to? Sight. 1. Cardinals is to St. Louis as Dodger is to? 2. A.M. is to before noon as P.M. is to? 3. Three is to triangle as 8 is to? 4. Tear is to tore as see is to? 5. Springfield is to Illinois as Austin is to?

Here's a hint to help you solve the analogies: "Think about the relationships between words, and look for patterns or connections that can help you complete the comparisons."

1. Los Angeles 2. Afternoon 3. Octagon 4. Saw 5. Texas

Ten Pears Hanging High, Ten Men Come Passing By

Ten pears hanging high, Ten men come passing by, Each took a pear and left nine hanging there. How could that be?

Think about the word "hanging" in a different context...

EACH is the name of one of the men, and he's the only one that took a pear.

Baker Riddle

Why is the best baker most in want of bread?

Think about the baker's profession and what they do all day...

Because he kneads (needs) it most.

Two Heads Are Better Than One.

Why are two heads better than one?

Think about a situation where having two of something can be more beneficial than having one, but it's not necessarily about intelligence or brainpower...

They are four-sighted (fore-sighted).

Nine To One If You Guess It

My first is appropriate, my second 'tis nine to one if you guess it. My whole elevates the sole above the earth. What am I?

Think about something you wear on your feet, and pay attention to the wordplay in the clue...

Pat-ten.

Traffic Violations

There are 2 cops parked along a one-way street looking for traffic violations. They spot a taxi driver going in the wrong direction, yet they do nothing. Why?

Think about the situation from a different perspective... Are the cops really "looking" at the taxi driver?

The taxi driver wasn't driving at the time, he was walking.

Time Piece

What is the time-piece, That needs no winding?

Think about something that shows time, but doesn't need a mechanical mechanism to keep ticking...

A rooster.

Runs Without Walking

What runs but never walks?

Water or a tap.

Arrested Chicken

Why did the sheriff arrest the chicken?

"Fowl" play was involved...

It used fowl language.

Why Was The Chef Hired To Coach The Baseball Team?

Why was the chef hired to coach the baseball team?

Think about a common phrase associated with chefs, and how it might be surprisingly relevant to baseball...

Because he knew how to handle batter(s).

What Do Bumblebees Put In The Bathtub First?

What do bumblebees put in the bathtub first?

Think about what bumblebees are known for collecting and storing...

Their bee-hinds.

A Chicken And His Computer

Why was the chicken forbidden from sending e-mails?

Think about a common email address format and a characteristic of chickens...

Because he kept using fowl language.

What Should He Say?

Chris wants to enter an exclusive club, but the security guard in front of the door always asks for a password. Chris decides to eavesdrop on clubgoers, and this is what he sees: A woman walks up to the security guard. The guard says "12", and the woman replies "6". The woman is granted access. A man walks up to the security guard. The guard says "6", and the man replies "3". The man is granted access. Another woman walks up to the security guard. The guard says "10", and the woman replies "5". This woman is NOT granted access. Chris thinks he's seen enough, and he walks up to the security guard. The guard says "4". What should Chris say to get into the club?

Pay attention to the numbers and the responses, but also think about the characteristics of the people who were granted access...

To get into the club, Chris should say "4". The task was not to divide the number by two (after all, not all numbers are divisible by two). Instead, the task was to say how many letters are in the number the security guard says. "Twelve" has 6 letters. "Six", in turn, has 3 letters. "Ten" also has 3 letters, so the second woman should have said "3", not "5". Chris should say "4" because "four" consists of 4 letters.

What In Common Riddle

DEFENDING, CALMNESS, SIGHING, CANOPY and STUMBLE. What do these words have in common?

Look for a common thread in the way these words sound when you say them out loud...

They each have 3 letters in common. CA NOP Y.

Three Squares Out Of Eight Sticks Riddle

Take eight small sticks, four of which are half the length of the other four. How can you make three equal squares out of the sticks?

Think about how you can use the longer sticks as the "outlines" of the squares, and the shorter sticks to "divide" them...

Use the longer four sticks to be sharing sides between the squares and at the end their should be three intertwined squares.

Odd Numbers: What Are Three Ways You Can Add 4 Odd Numbers And Get Ten?

What are three ways you can add 4 odd numbers and get ten?

Think outside the box... or in this case, think about the numbers themselves.

1+1+3+5=10 1+1+1+7=10 1+3+3+3=10

Pi Day Riddle

Three point one four, one five nine two six five, three five eight nine... What am I?

Think about a famous mathematical constant that is often memorized to many decimal places...

Pi - π.

Surprise Party

David is throwing Robert a surprise birthday party but he has to stay within his budget. He spent half of his money plus $2.00 on the cake. Half of what he had left plus $2.00 was spent on balloons and streamers. Then he spent half of what he had left plus $1.00 on candy. Now he is out of money, how much did he start with?

Think backwards! Start with the last transaction and work your way up to find the initial amount.

This one is best solved working backwards, the last part David spent half of what was left plus $1.00 on candy and then was out of money. That means he must have spent $2.00 on Candy as $1.00 was half of what he had using the same logic backwards: $2.00 on candy $6.00 on Balloons and Streamers $12.00 on the cake Total of $20.00.

Cut Along The Tracks

Walking home one day, you take a short cut along the train tracks. The tracks cross a narrow bridge over a deep gorge. At the point you are 3/8 of the way across the bridge, you hear the train whistle somewhere behind you. You charge across the bridge, and jump off the track as the train is about to run you down. As it happens, if you had gone the other way, you would have reached safety just before being run over as well. If you can run ten miles per hour, how fast is the train moving?

Pay attention to the fact that you would have reached safety in both directions, and think about what that means about the relative speeds of you and the train.

The train is moving at 40 miles per hour. Imagine that a friend is walking with you. When the train whistle blows, you head away from the train, he heads toward it. When he reaches safety, you will be 6/8 (or 3/4)of the way across the bridge, and the train will have just reached the bridge. For the train to cross 4/4 of the bridge in the time you cross the remaining 1/4, the train must be moving four times your speed.

What Did One Math Book Say To The Other Math Book

What did one math book say to the other math book?

Do you want to hear my problems?

What Two Whole, Positive Numbers Have A One-digit Answer When Multiplied

What two whole, positive numbers have a one-digit answer when multiplied and a two-digit answer when added?

Think about the smallest possible one-digit product...

1 and 9.

A Detective In Training Is Called To A Room On His First Day

A detective in training is called to a room on his first day in, once there his instructor greets him and tells him he has a deck of fish cards. Alongside the instructor are two men who hold three cards from the same deck. He was given a paper reexplaining the prompt which had written on top: "Each man will say what he has, yet one man is lying... This man is the murderer." The first man began, he stated he held a shark, a shrimp, and a catfish. The second man stated he held two goldfish and a lion. Who is the murderer?

Hint: Think about the deck of cards... are there really lion cards in a deck of fish cards?

A common first answer is the second man, whereas a shrimp is not considered a fish in this case either... You can look over this again if you'd like now. The answer: The instructor There was only one liar, meaning if the deck was really of fish as the instructor said, they would both be lying in contrary to the prompt. Meaning the only way the statement could be true is if the instructor was the murderer.

Fly, Peter, Fly!

Why is Peter Pan always flying?

Think about his last name...

He Neverlands.

What Do You Call A Person Who Is Afraid Of Santa Claus

What do you call a person who is afraid of Santa Claus?

Think about a common phobia and how it relates to the jolly old man in red...

Claus-traophobic.

What Is On The Outside Of A Fire Hydrant?

If a fire hydrant has H2O inside, what does it have on the outside?

Think about what's commonly found on the outside of a fire hydrant... it's not just paint!

K9P (you'll get it eventually).

Are You Smart Spell It Riddle

Are you smart? "Yes". How do you spell it? "_____"

Think about the answer as a word that is not actually spelled out, but rather represented by a gesture or an action...

"I-t".

Unwanted Shoes

Where do all unwanted shoes go?

Think about a place where you might find a "sole"-ful collection...

Boot camp.

Be Gone!

How do you make "one" disappear?

Think about a common, everyday object that has a "one" on it...

Add a "g" and your Gone !

Spelling

What is heavy forwards, and NOT backwards?

Think about a word that is a common, everyday concept, and how its spelling changes when you reverse its letters...

Ton. Ton is heavy, and backwards it spells "not".

Cheerleader's Favorite Breakfast Riddle

What is a cheerleader's favorite cereal?

Think about the sounds a cheerleader makes...

Cheer-ios!

What Kind Of Dog Does Dracula Have?

What kind of dog does Dracula have?

A howling good question! Here's a hint: Think about the name of the dog, and how it relates to the dark and spooky nature of its owner...

A blood-hound.

Suspense Can Kill

How do you keep someone in suspense?

Think about a common way to delay giving someone something they're eagerly waiting for...

I'll tell you tomorrow.

You Walk Into A Room And See A Bed Riddle

You walk into a room and see a bed. On the bed, there are two dogs, four cats, a giraffe, five cows, and a duck. There are also three chickens flying above the bed. How many legs are on the floor?

Think about what's NOT touching the floor...

There are six legs on the floor. All of the animals are on the bed and no other furniture is mentioned in the room. Four legs from the bed and your two legs because you are standing in the room.

Opera Singers

Why are opera singers good sailors?

Think about the unique vocal technique opera singers use and how it might relate to a crucial aspect of sailing...

Because they can handle the seas!

What Only Works The First Time You Use It?

What only works the first time you use it?

A match.

Noelani

Noelani is outside a shop. She cant read the signs but she knows she needs to go in to make a purchase. What store is she at?

Eye glasses store.

Where Can Happiness Always Be Found?

Where can happiness always be found?

In the dictionary.

Frozen December

Why is it so cold on Christmas?

"Think about the month, not the holiday..."

Because it's in Decembrrr!

Man Like Snake

When is a man like a snake?

Think about a man's behavior or action that is similar to a snake's characteristic...

When he gets rattled.

Freedom In Writing

What is the freedom of birds and the pen of old men?

Think about the tools used by writers of the past, and the unencumbered nature of our feathered friends...

Feathers. Feathers make up a bird's wings, giving it flight or its freedom. Quill pens were used by men in older times.

An American Guy..

An american guy died and went to hell. What were his last words?

"Think about a place that's associated with heat, and a phrase that's often used when leaving it..."

Hell-O (Hello)

Next Letter

What is the next letter? W, I, T, N, ..?

Think about the first letter of a word that is often used to ask a question...

L!

I Have A Little House In Which I Live All Alone. It Has No Doors

I have a little house in which I live all alone. It has no doors or windows, and if I want to go out I must break through the wall. What am I?

A chick in an egg.

Self Image

If you drop me, I'm sure to crack. Give me a smile, and I'll always smile back. What am I?

A mirror.

I Was Carried Into A Dark Room And Set On Fire

I was carried into a dark room and set on fire. I wept, and then my head was cut off. What am I?

Think about a common object that's often associated with celebrations and special occasions...

A Candle.

I Am Served At A Table, In Gatherings Of Two Or Four

I am served at a table, In gatherings of two or four; Served small, white and round. You'll love some, And that's part of the fun. What am I?

Think about a common food item that's often served in pairs or sets of four at a table, and its small, white, and round shape is a key part of its appeal...

Ping Pong Balls.

More Appear

The more of these you take, the more appear behind you. What am I?

Think about something you do every day, and the more you do it, the more "tracks" you leave behind...

Steps.

If I Drink I Die.

If I drink, I die, if I eat, I'm fine. What am I?

Think about something you might find in a kitchen, but be careful how you "consume" it!

Fire!

Changing And Changing

In spring I am gay in handsome array; in summer more clothing I wear; when colder it grows I fling off my clothes; and in winter quite naked appear. What am I?

Think about something that changes its appearance with the seasons, and its "clothing" is not what you'd typically wear...

A Tree.

The Flesh And Wood

When I am metal or wood, I bring you home. When I am flesh and blood, in the darkness I roam. What am I?

Think about the different modes of transportation that can bring you home, and how the phrase "flesh and blood" might be used to describe a creature that roams in the dark...

A bat.

Dry Water

I can be half without getting thinner. I can shine with no fire. I can be hidden but never taken. I can stay dry while moving the ocean. What am I?

Think about something that can be divided or shared, but its essence remains unchanged...

The Moon.

I Blossom Like A Flower A Hindrance I Create

I blossom like a flower, a hindrance I create, and save you from the earth, do not use me too late. What am I?

Think about something that grows or "blossoms" over time, but can also cause problems or obstacles if not used properly. It's something that can help prevent a certain undesirable outcome, but only if used in a timely manner.

A Parachute.

I Can Be Old Or New, Big Or Small, Thick Or Thin

I can be old or new, big or small, thick or thin. I contain information about all that is present in the entire world. I contain links to countless minds, worlds, adventures, universes, mysteries, and even mystical things. I am a place where things are out of the world and where imaginations are realities. People fill me with their thoughts, opinions, and life stories. Most children tend to think I'm boring, but there are only a few truly talented, out-of-this-world, beautiful minds who wait for me enthusiastically and when done with me, wait for my descendants. What am I?

"Think about a place where knowledge and imagination come together, and where the boundaries of reality are stretched. It's a treasure trove of information, where the thoughts and stories of many minds are collected."

Books! Come on, who doesn't love to curl up with a good book beside the fireplace?!

I Can Spell, Yet I Have No Mouth. I Can Speak To Animals, But Can't Speak To Humans

I can spell, yet I have no mouth. I can speak to animals, but can't speak to humans. I am fierce but small. What am I?

Think about something that can "speak" to animals in a way that's unique to them, and consider the word "spell" in a more literal sense...

I am a bee.

What Could I Possibly Be Riddle.

I possess a halo of water, walls of stone, and a tongue of wood. Long I have stood; what am I?

Think about a structure that's often found near a body of water, has a stone foundation, and features a wooden component that "speaks" or provides information...

A castle.

Conductor Of Light

My first is a part of the day, My last a conductor of light, My whole to take measure of time, Is useful by day and by night. What am I?

Think about an object that helps us keep track of time, and its individual parts have distinct connections to the concepts mentioned in the riddle...

An Hour-glass.

White And Black

I'm sometimes white, Although sometimes I'm black. I take you there, But never bring you back. What am I?

Think about something you use to travel, but it doesn't return you to where you started...

I'm a Hearse.

There Were 5 Men Traveling Down A Road And It Started To Rain And 4 Men Sped Up

There were 5 men traveling down a road and it started to rain and 4 men sped up, the 5th did not, but they all arrived at the same place at the same time but all of them were wet besides the 5th.  How?

Think about a mode of transportation where speeding up doesn't necessarily mean you'll stay dry...

He was dead and in a coffin.

What Common English Verb Becomes Its Own Past Tense

What common English verb becomes its own past tense by rearranging its letters?

Think about a verb that involves movement or action, and its past tense form is a clever anagram of its present tense form...

Eat and Ate.

No Sooner Spoken Than Broken

No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?

Think about something that is true only for a fleeting moment, a moment that passes as soon as it's created...

Silence.

Which Is Correct The Yolk Of The Egg Are White Or The Yolk Of The Egg Is White

Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the egg are white," or "The yolk of the egg is white?"

Think about the word "yolk"... is it a singular thing or a plural thing?

Neither, because egg yolks are yellow.

Rooms

What room can no one enter?

Think about a room that is associated with a specific individual, and by definition, no one else can occupy it...

A Mushroom.

Unhappy Cranberries

What do you call unhappy cranberries?

Think about a common phrase used to describe a group of people who are unhappy or upset...

Blueberries.

Misspelled Word Riddle

One word in this sentence is misspelled. What word is it?

Read the sentence carefully, paying attention to the words that are not what they seem...

MISSPELLED. It isn't spelled wrong, the one word in this sentence IS "misspelled."

The Gone Answer

I am a riddle that the answer is gone. Get it right, you have until dawn. What is it?

"Think about something that disappears at dawn, but don't get too caught up in the literal meaning..."

Gone.

What Word In The Dictionary Is Spelled Incorrectly

What word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?

Think about the word that describes its own status...

Incorrectly.

What Is Full Of Holes And Can Still Hold Water

What is full of holes and can still hold water?

Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and its purpose is to conserve water...

A sponge.

Summer Series

What are the next two letters in the series? D E J A F E M A A P M A J U J U _ _

Look for a pattern related to the months of the year!

A U First two letters of months of the year.

Cat Food

What do cats call mice on a skateboard?

Paws-itive Wheels!

Meals on wheels!

What Do You Get When You Cross A Four-leaf Clover With Poison Ivy?

What do you get when you cross a four-leaf clover with poison ivy?

A clever combination! Here's a hint: Think about the words, not the plants themselves...

A rash of good luck.

What Is Large Yet Never Grows Riddle

What is large, yet never grows; has roots that cannot be seen; and is taller than trees?

Think about something that can be found in the landscape, but isn't a living thing...

A mountain.

What Flies But Never Lands?

What flies but never lands?

Think about something that is often seen in the sky, but never touches the ground...

Time.

Pilgrim Music

What was the pilgrim favorite type of music?

Plymouth Rock.

Beautiful Sound

What do angels sing in the shower?

Soul.

Angry And Hungry Are Two Words That End In '-gry'

Angry and Hungry are two words ending in 'gry" There are three words, (Using popular terminology) in the English Language, that ends in "GRY". The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is. What is the third word?

Listen carefully to the riddle, the answer is hidden in the phrase "I have already told you what it is."

The answer is terminology. It's the third word ending in gry. Using popular terminology

The Sound Of Silence Riddle

I am the sound of silence, I am the bringing of doom, too much of me and you’ll be swept away, swept away like a great broom, the cold is my place of living, and the heat is taken away, taken away by my magnificence, I live in both night or day, I am unseen but very much alive. Who am I?

Think about something that can be present in both quiet and chaotic situations, and is often associated with extreme weather conditions. It's an entity that can be felt, but not seen...

The wind

Still Grow A Beard Mind Trick

Who can shave three times a day and still grow a beard?

Think about a profession that involves shaving, but not necessarily their own beard...

A barber. He could shave other men three times a day and still grow his own beard.