One afternoon, Phoebe stopped by her favorite restaurant for lunch, but she saw a waitress and a client arguing. The waitress, Sandra, claims that the client, Dave, had ordered a breakfast special and was now refusing to pay. Dave said that he had only ordered a coffee. Phoebe knew who was lying instantly. Who was it?
Think about the time of day and what it would imply about the menu options available...
Sandra was lying. You don't order breakfast in the afternoon.
A thief was in the process of robbing the house of a wealthy widow. As he was rifling through the dresser drawers where her jewelry box was located, he came upon a bunch of diamonds. He knew the diamonds were genuine because he had seen the same type many times before, but he left them untouched in the drawer and continued searching the room. When he heard police sirens approaching, he ran from the home empty-handed, not retrieving the diamonds. Did this thief flunk out of crook college? Why didn't he grab those diamonds when he had the chance?
The thief's occupation is not what you think it is...
The diamonds he spotted in the dresser drawer were a bunch of playing cards with the suit of 13 diamonds facing up where he could see them.
A rookie, professional football player who had just joined his new team from the college ranks, came off the practice field and told his coach in a shaky, fear-filled voice that he repeatedly heard a man's voice inside his head speaking out commands for him to follow. The player then asked the coach, "Do you think I am a schizophrenic?" "No," replied the coach. "I think you are an idiot." Why was the coach so rude and unsympathetic when responding to the mental health concerns of the young player; and what position had he been recruited to fill on the team?
Pay attention to the words "commands for him to follow" and think about a specific position on the field where players are often given instructions to follow...
The young player was a rookie quarterback drafted by this pro team. In professional football, quarterbacks wear helmets with speakers built into them, so the coach can tell them what plays to run. In college football, where this young player had played quarterback, helmets are not allowed to contain speakers; but this rookie was not aware of this, so he freaked out when he heard his coach’s voice inside his helmet, giving him instructions.
A poor, elderly woman lived alone with her dog. One day she noticed her dog appeared to be very hungry, so she went to her food storage area where she kept her dishes and cups, to search for food to serve to him. She was surprised to find she had no food whatsoever for either herself or her dog ------ not even so much as a bone to serve to her starving pet. And so, neither she nor her dog had anything to eat. How often had these same circumstances occurred to this lady and her pet? Why had no one called Senior Services or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (S.P.C.A.) to report these dreadful conditions? Incidentally, do you happen to know this woman's last name?
The hint is: Think about the woman's occupation and the phrase "dishes and cups" in a different context.
Her last name was Hubbard. Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to get her poor dog a bone....
One morning a man is leaving on a business trip and finds he left some paperwork at his office. He runs into his office to get it and the night watchman stops him and says, "Sir, don't get on the plane. I had a dream last night that the plane would crash and everyone would die!" The man takes his word and cancels his trip. Sure enough, the plane crashes and everyone dies. The next morning the man gives the watchman a $1,000 reward for saving his life and then fires him. Why did he fire the watchman that saved his life?
Think about the watchman's job description and what it implies about his work schedule...
Name a five letter word which has three consonants all the same and two different vowels. Every now and then you see this while running a Windows 95/98 on your PC. What is it?
Think about a common graphical element you'd see on an old Windows desktop...
While mixing sand, gravel, and cement for the foundation of a house, a worker noticed a small bird hopping along the top of the foundation wall. The bird misjudged a hop and fell down one of the holes between the blocks. The bird was down too far for anyone to reach it and the hole was too small for it to fly out of. Someone suggested using two sticks to reach down into the hole and pull the bird out, but this idea was rejected for fear it would injure the fragile bird. What would be the easiest way to get the bird out of the hole without injuring it?
Think about the materials available at a construction site...
Since they had plenty of sand available, they could pour a little at a time into the hole. The bird would constantly keep shifting its position so that it stood on the rising sand.
In a contest, there are four fruits (an apple, a banana, an orange, and a pear) which have been placed in four closed boxes (one fruit per box). People may guess which fruit is in which box. There were 123 participants in the contest. The results are; 43 people guessed none correctly, 39 people guessed one correctly and 31 people have guessed two correctly. How many people guessed three correctly and how many people guessed all four correctly?
Think about the number of ways to guess 0, 1, or 2 fruits correctly, and how that relates to the total number of possible permutations of the fruits in the boxes...
It is not possible to only get three correct because the fourth would also be correct. Therefore, the answer would be (123-43-39-31 = 10) 10 people guessed all four correctly.
A man enters an expensive restaurant and orders a meal. When the waiter brings him his meal the man takes out a slip of paper and writes down 102004180, then leaves. The cashier hands the slip of paper to the cashier who understood it immediately.
What did the slip of paper say?
Think about the format of a common restaurant bill...
I =1, 0=Ought, 2=To, 0=Owe, 0=Nothing, 4=For, 1=I, 8=Ate, 0=Nothing. I Ought To Owe Nothing For I Ate Nothing. 102004180
A man who lived on the top floor of a twenty story building had to go up and down daily for work, and of course, for food and the other necessities. On most days he could only ride the elevator to the fifteenth story, and he would have to walk the rest of the way. When it rained, however, he could ride all the way up to the twentieth story. Why?
Think about the man's physical ability to use the elevator...
The man wasn't tall enough to reach the button for the 20th floor. He could only reach the 15th story button on the elevator. When it rained, he brought his umbrella, and used it to press the 20th story button on the elevator.
I sail an ocean you'll never swim, and I voyage seas with white-cotton ease yet my hold is filled with water. What am I?
Think about something that "sails" through a medium, but not in the classical sense, and what "white-cotton ease" might be referring to in a more figurative way...
I have a beginning, but no end and I end all things that begin. What am I?
Think about the concept of "beginning" and "end" in a more abstract sense, rather than a physical or literal one. The answer is not a living thing, but rather an idea or a concept that plays a crucial role in many aspects of life.
I am the only thing that always tells the truth. I show off everything that I see. I come in all shapes and sizes. So tell me what I must be! What am I?
Think about something that reflects reality, without bias or distortion, and is found in various forms and dimensions...
Large as a mountain, small as a pea,
Endlessly swimming in a waterless sea.
What am I?
Think about something that can be enormous in concept, yet tiny in physical form, and is often associated with a vast, ocean-like expanse, but not necessarily made of water...
I'm by nature solitary, scarred by spear and wounded by sword, weary of battle. I frequently see the face of war, and fight hateful enemies; yet I hold no hope of help being brought to me in the battle, before I'm eventually done to death. In the stronghold of the city sharp-edged swords, skilfully forged in the flame by smiths, bite deeply into me. I can but await a more fearsome encounter; it is not for me to discover in the city any of those doctors who heal grievous wounds with roots and herbs. The scars from sword wounds gape wider and wider; death blows are dealt to me by day and by night.
What am I?
"Think about a common object found in a city, often overlooked, yet bears the scars of battle and conflict..."
I fly in the air, But I am not always there. I cannot be touched, But I can be felt or held. Think very hard, But if you live near the equator, You may have a tough time seeing me. What am I?
"Look up to the sky, but think about the seasons..."
I am a window, I am a lamp, I am clouded, I am shining, and I am colored; set in white, I fill with water and overflow. I say much, but I have no words. What am I?
I am both a killer and a savior, it depends on those who wield me. I will bring you from deep water to the shallows, or maybe I could be the one who will hang you in the gallows. What am I?
Think about an object that can be used for both rescue and punishment, and is often associated with water and rope...
Play my music, if you dare. Turn my crank, although I'm square. Stand back, or get a scare, when you see my surprising glare.
What am I?
Think about something that produces music, has a crank, and can be square in shape... but also has a surprising and potentially startling effect when activated!
You feel me sometimes, but I never appear in new things. Joy and excitement are definitely my antidote, and sadness and pain are effective ways to drive me away. What am I?
Think about emotions and how they can change your physical sensations...
I can come alone or in a chain. Both are special in their own way. My appearance can be unexpected or expected. What am I?
Think about something that can be a singular, unique event, but also a series of connected events, and how its occurrence can be either surprising or anticipated...
My head and tail both equal are, My middle slender as a bee. Whether I stand on head or heel Is quite the same to you or me. But if my head should be cut off, The matter's true, though passing strange Directly I to nothing change.
What Am I?
Think about something you use every day, something that has a head, a tail, and a middle, and its functionality doesn't change even if its "head" is removed...
Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it. Those who use it can neither see nor feel it. What is it?
Think about something that is often associated with a special occasion or milestone, but the person who creates it doesn't benefit from it, and the person who purchases it doesn't directly use it...
What is the most complex thing man has yet we use it every day?
Think about something that is intricate, made up of many parts, and is essential to your daily life... It's not a device or a machine, but rather something that is uniquely human.
What comes once in a year, twice in a month, thrice in a week, and 4 times in a day?
The letter 'R'.Once in YEAR. Twice in the month: FEBRUARY. Three times in the days of a week: SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY Four times in the times of a day: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN, and TWELVE (X2 for AM & PM).
I saw a man in white, he looked quite a sight. He was not old, but he stood in the cold. And when he felt the sun, he started to run. Please answer me.
Who could he be?
Here's a hint: Think about something you might find in your freezer.
My first is a very uncomfortable state,
In cold weather it mostly abounds.
My second's an instrument formed of hard steel,
That will cause the stout foe to stagger and reel,
And when used, is a symptom of hate.
My whole is an author of greatest renown,
Whose fame to the last day of time will go down.
Who am I?
Think about a famous author who wrote about war and conflict...
The less of them you have; the more one is worth. Who/What are they?
Think about something that becomes more valuable or precious when you have fewer of them, perhaps something that's often associated with scarcity or rarity...