What is the difference between a school boy studying and a farmer watching his cattle?
One is stocking his mind, and the other is minding his stock.
One is stocking his mind, while the other is minding his stock.
Suppose you want to send in the mail a valuable object to a friend. You have a box which is big enough to hold the object. The box has a locking ring which is large enough to have a lock attached and you have several locks with keys. However, your friend does not have the key to any lock that you have. You cannot send the key in an unlocked box since it may be stolen or copied. How do you send the valuable object, locked, to your friend - so it may be opened by your friend?
Think about sending the box in multiple trips...
Send the box with a lock attached and locked. Your friend attaches his or her own lock and sends the box back to you. You remove your lock and send it back to your friend. Your friend may then remove the lock she or he put on and open the box.
A horse travels a certain distance each day. Strangely enough, two of its legs travel 30 miles each day and the other two legs travel nearly 31 miles. It would seem that two of the horse's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course, this can't be true, since the horse is normal. How is this possible?
Think about the direction the horse is traveling...
The horse operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
A wealthy wise old woman feared that her daughter was lazy and as a result rather stupid. When the old woman died, her will stipulated that her assets were to be liquidated and a check was to be written for the full amount. The check was to be placed in one of three envelopes. The other two envelopes would contain a blank piece of paper. If the daughter could determine from the writing on the envelope which envelope contained the check, she would inherit her mother's fortune. Otherwise, the fortune would go to the old woman's favorite charity for animals. The daughter was not allowed to touch the envelopes. Her decision had to be made based on the writing on the envelopes. The daughter was told that only one envelope had a true statement and that the other two statements were false. The envelopes had the following writing: 1. This envelope does not have the check 2. This envelope has the check 3. The second envelope does not have the check Which envelope should the daughter pick?
Think about it this way: if an envelope says something true, what would it say? And if an envelope says something false, what would it say?
The daughter should pick envelope 1. Unfortunately she picked envelope 3. Statements 1 and 2 were false, and the only true statement was statement 3. If the check was in envelope 1, that would make statement 1 false, statement 2 false and statement 3 is the only true statement. If the check was in envelope 2, statements 1 and 2 would both be true. If the check was in envelope 3, statements 1 and 3 would both be true.
What word starting with BR, that with the addition of the letter E, becomes another word that sounds the same as the first?
Think about a type of fruit that is often eaten in the breakfast...
Braking becomes Breaking.
Two cyclists began a training run, one starting from Moscow and the other starting from Simferopol. When the riders were 180 miles apart, a fly took an interest. Starting on one cyclists shoulder, the fly flew ahead to meet the other cyclist. After reaching him the fly then turned around and yet back. The restless fly continued to shuttleback and fourth until the pair met; then settled on the nose of one rider. The flys speed was 30 mph. Each cyclist speed was 15 mph. How many miles did the fly travel?
Think about the relative speed of the fly and the cyclists, and how it affects the time it takes for the fly to travel between them.
The cyclists took 6 hours to meet. The fly traveled 6*30=180 miles.
I move very slowly at an imperceptible rate, although I take my time, I am never late. I accompany life, and survive past demise, I am viewed with esteem in many women's eyes. What am I?
Think about something that grows or develops gradually, often associated with beauty and femininity...
I am your hair.
I can come in a can, I can come as a punch, I can come as a win, You can eat me for lunch. What am I?
Think about something that can be consumed, and its name is often used figuratively in different contexts...
Beet/Beat
Using only brackets, parentheses, and these signs +,-, X, /. How can you express 100 with 5 1's and express 100 three ways with five 5's?
Think creatively about the order of operations and how you can use the given symbols to manipulate the numbers...
111-11=100 (5 x 5 x 5)-(5 x 5)=100; (5+5+5+5)x 5=100;(5 x 5)(5-(5/5)=100.
Marking mortal privation, when firmly in place. An enduring summation, inscribed in my face. What am I?
Think about something you might find on a person's face that represents a "mortal privation" and serves as a permanent record of their life...
A Tombstone.
If you like pretty gems that sparkle and shine, I invite you to dig in my virtual mine. My first is purple, fit for a king, My second is green where Dorothy did her thing. My third is red, July's birthstone as well, My fourth is seen in strings and is found inside a shell. My fifth is hard, pure Carbon, and expensive to buy, My sixth is Crocidolite, striped like the big cat's eye. Seventh is two words, a man-made fake of April's stone, Eighth is very dark and found at Lightning Ridge alone. Now take from each gem, one letter in its turn, And you will find the stuff for which even the gods yearn. What am I?
Here's a hint: Pay attention to the birthstones mentioned in the riddle, and think about what the gods yearn for in mythology. The answer is a substance, not a gemstone itself.
Answer: Ambrosia The gems are: Amethyst Emerald ( Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz ) Ruby Pearl Diamond Tiger's eye Cubic Zirconium (Fake diamond) Black Opal Taking the first letter of Amethyst, second of Emerald, etc.. gives Ambrosia - The food of the gods.
When I'm used, I'm useless, once offered, soon rejected. In desperation oft expressed, the intended not protected. What am I?
Think about something that's often given in a moment of desperation, but ultimately proves to be ineffective or unwanted...
A poor alibi or excuse.
(A) Use two digits to make the smallest possible positive integer. (B) Five 3s can express 37: 37=33+3+3/3 Find another way to do it. (C) Use six identical digits to make 100. (Several solutions are possible.) (D) Use five 4s to make 55. (E) Use four 9s to make 20.
Here are the hints for each part of the riddle: (A) Think about the smallest possible positive integer... it's a very small number! (B) Look for a different way to combine five 3s using basic arithmetic operations (+, -, x, /). (C) You might need to get a little creative with your mathematical operations to use six identical digits to reach 100... (D) You can use a combination of multiplication and addition to get 55 using five 4s. (E) You'll need to think outside the box to use four 9s to get 20... consider using subtraction and/or division!
(A) 1 X 1; 1/1;2/2;ect....;1-0;2-1;and many others. (B) 37=333/3X3; 37=3 X 3 X 3 + 3/.3 (C) 99 + 99/99; 55+55- 5- 5; (666-66)/6 (D) 44 + 44/4=55. (E) 9 + 99/9=20.
The title of the problem tells you how to approach these four questions. (A). A bus leaves Moscow for Tula at noon. An hour later a cyclist leaves Tula for mosco, moving slower than the bus. When the bus and cyclist meet, which one of the two will be farther from Moscow? (B). Which is worth more: a pound of $10 gold peices or half a pound of $20 gold pieces? (C). At six o'clock the wall clock struck 6 times. Checking with my watch, I noticed the time between the first and last strokes was 30 seconds. How long will the clock take to strike 12 at midnight? (D). Three swallows fly outward from a point. When will they all be on the same plane in space? Now check the answers. Did you fall into any of the traps which lurk in these simple problems?
Think about what the title of the problem has in common with the questions themselves...
(A). Neither (B). A pound of metal is always more than half a pound of the same metal. (C). Six strokes took 30 seconds, therefore 12 strokes will take 60 seconds. But when the clock struck six, there were only 5 intervals between strokes, and each interval was 30/5=6 seconds. Between the first and twelfth strokes there will be 11 intervals of 6 seconds each, therefore 12 strokes will take 66 seconds. (D). There is always a plane that contains any 3 points
Three pirates, One Eye, Long John, and Peg Leg, were gambling with pieces of gold. All the winnings were piled up on the table. One Eye said, 'I have won 1/2' and took a large handful or two. Long John said, 'I have won 1/3' and took a handful. Peg Leg said, ' I have won 1/6' and took a small handful. One Eye said, ' I have taken too much' and returned a half. Long John said, 'I have taken too much' and returned a third. Peg Leg said, 'I have taken too much and returned a sixth. The money on the table was then shared out equally and they had 42 pieces each. One Eye said, 'I have now 1/2 of the total originally.' Long John said, ' I now have 1/3 of the originally.' Peg Leg said, 'I have now 1/6 of the originally.' How much was on the table originally?
Think about the fact that each pirate's final amount is a fraction of the original total, and that these fractions match the fractions they mentioned when taking their handfuls. Can you use this information to set up equations and solve for the original total?
282 Pieces.
As I traveled up and down our great glorious country, I found myself in a place where the tempature goes up sharply in the day and down at night. This had an effect on my watch, I noticed it was 1/2 a minute faster at nightfall, but at dawn it had lost 1/3 minute, making it only 1/6 minute fast. One morning- May 1- my watch showed the right time. By what date was it 5 minutes faster?
Hint: Think about the environment that affects the watch's timekeeping, and how it relates to the dates mentioned.
In 24 hours the watch gained 1/2-1/3= 1/6 minute. It would seem it would be 5 minutes fast in 5 X 6= 30 days; that is,the morning of May 31. But already on the morning of May 28 the was 27/6= 4 1/2 minutes fast. At the close of the day the watch gained 1/2 minute more, so it was 5 minutes fast on may 28.
I have ten or more daughters. I have less than ten daughters. I have at least one daughter. If only one of these statements is true, how many daughters do I have?
Think about the statements as clues to eliminate possibilities, rather than taking them at face value...
If I have any daughters, there will always be two statements which are true. Therefore, I have no daughters.
I'm one of five, I'm not alive. The one who sent me forth became king, The one who received me died. What am I?
"Think about a famous story from ancient history, and a messenger that changed the course of a kingdom..."
A Stone from the popular Biblical story, David had five stones. He used one of the stones to kill Goliath.
In yon vast field of cultivated space, I there am found with members of my race; Decapitate me - if you've no objection - You then will find what brings me to perfection; Take one more cut, and then you'll plainly see What Iam destined, day by day, to be. What am I?
Think about a common crop that grows in a field, and how it's often harvested and processed to become something new and useful...
WHEAT HEAT EAT
One sunny afternoon, three men go for a ride on a hot air balloon over the Sahara desert. An hour into the trip, the balloon begins to lose altitude. A month later, someone found one of the ballooners laying on the desert sand dead, naked, and holding half a toothpick. What happened to him?
Think about the extreme environment of the Sahara desert and how it could affect the ballooners, as well as the unusual clue of the half toothpick...
As the balloon lost altitude, the men took of their clothes and threw them overboard to decrease the weight of the balloon. The balloon continued to drop so the men drew straws to see who would be forced to jump. The dead man in the desert drew the shortest one (the half toothpick).
My first is a creature whose breeding is unclear. My second, a price you must pay. My whole can be found in the river of Time and refers to events of today. What am I?
Think about the concept of time and how it's often represented... The answer might be "flowing" from a famous historical figure's idea.
Current.
An alarm clock runs 4 minutes slow every hour. It was set right 3 1/2 hours ago. Now another clock which is correct shows noon. In how many minutes, to the nearest minutes, to the nearest minute, will the alarm clock show noon?
Hint: Think about how many hours have passed since the alarm clock was set right, and how many minutes it has lost due to its slowness.
In 3 1/2 hours the alarm clock has become 14 minutes slow. At noon the alarm clock will fall behind approximently an additional minute. Its hands will show noon in 15 minutes.
Many-manned scud-thumper, Maker of worn wood, Shrub-ruster, Sky-mocker, Rave! Portly pusher, Wind-slave. What am I?
Think about something that is often associated with the outdoors, can be found in various shapes and sizes, and is known for its ability to create a lot of noise and movement...
The ocean!
A student zips on his scooter to ride to the train station to get to college. His home is close to two stops; the first one is a mile from home, and the second is two miles from home in the opposite direction. In the morning, he always gets on at the first stop and in the afternoon, he always gets off at the second one. Why?
Think about the direction of travel...
The sations and his home are on a hill, which allows him to ride down easily on his scooter.
What number squared = 12345678987654321?
Think about a number that is often associated with perfection or completeness...
111,111,111
A watchmaker was telephoned urgently to make a house call to replace the broken hands on a clock. He was sik so he sent his apprentice. The apprentice was thorough. When he finished inspecting the clock it was dark. Assuming his work was done, he attached the new hands and set the clock by his pocket watch. It was sic o'clock, so he set the big hand at the 12 and the little hand at the 6. The apprectice returned, but soon the telephone rang. He picked up to his angry client: "You didn't do the job right. The clock shows the wrong time." Surprised he hurried back. He found the clock showing not much past eight. He handed is watch to the client and showed her that her clock was not even one second late. The client had to agree. Early the nect morning, the client telephoned to say the clock has apparently gone berserk, hands were moving around the clock at will. The apprentice again rushed over, the clock showed a little past seven. After checking his watch he yelled: "You are making fun of me! Your clock shows the right time!" Have you figured out whats going on?
Here's a hint: Think about the type of clock the watchmaker's apprentice was fixing, and how it differs from a typical clock.
As the problem says the apprentice mixed up the hands so that the minute hand was short and the hour hand was long. The first time the apprentice returned to the client was about 2 hours and 10 minutes after he had set the clock at six.The long had moved olny from twelve to a little past two. The little made two whole circles and an additional 10 minutes. Thus the clock showed the correct time. The next day around 7:o5 a.m.he came a second time,13 hours and 15 minutes after he had set the clock for six. The long had, acting as the hour hand,covered 13 hours to reach 1. The short hand made 13 full circles and 5 minutes, reaching 7, So the clock showed the correct time again.
Can you divide the watch face with 2 straight lines so that the sums of the sums of the numbers in each part are equal?
Think about the symmetry of the watch face and the numbers that are diagonally opposite each other...
The sum of the numbers on the watch face is 78. If the two lines cross, there must be 4 equal parts, but 78 is not divisible by 4. Then the lines do not cross, giving three parts with the sum of 26 each. Once you see the pairs on the face that add to 13(12+1,11+2, and so far) the answer will be easy to find.
The hand sows, the eyes harvest?
Think about an everyday activity where your hands do the "sowing" and your eyes do the "harvesting"...
To read and to write.
While playing with a metal washer shaped like a ring, Dave accidentally pushed it on his finger too far and couldn't get it off. Trying to remove it using soap and water didn't work. The hospital sent him to a service station thinking they could cut the metal. Since the ring was made with specially hardened steel, it couldn't be cut. Just then Bob arrived on the scene and suggested an easy way to remove the washer in just a few minutes. What was his solution?
"Think about a common service station tool that can help 'hrink' the problem..."
Bob suggested that Dave hold his finger in the air while someone wound a piece of string tightly around his finger just above the metal ring. The string forced the swelling down. As they unwounded the string from the end nearest the ring, someone else slid the ring up. They continued winding and unwinding the string until the ring could be easily removed.
An eye in a blue face saw an eye in a green face. "That eye is like to this eye," Said the first eye, "But in low place not in a high place." What is it?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and consider the colors mentioned in the riddle...
The sun on the daisies.
A man phoned his daughter to ask her to buy a few things he needed for a trip. He told her she would find enough dollar bills for the purchase in an envolope on his desk. She found the note with 98 written on it. In the store she bought $90 dollars worth of things, but when it was time to pay she not only did have $8 left over but she was short. By how much and why?
Hint: Think about the difference between the number 98 and the amount of dollar bills the daughter found.
(A). $4. She had read 86 upside down. (B). Turn 9 upside down and exchange it with the 8. Both columms will add to 18.
A hunter met two shepherds, one of whom had three loaves and the other, five loaves. All the loaves were the same size. The three men agreed to share the eight loaves equally between them. After they had eaten, the hunter gave the shepherds eight bronze coins as payment for his meal. How should the two shepherds fairly divide this money?
Think about the value of each loaf of bread in terms of bronze coins...
The shepherd who had three loaves should get one coin and the shepherd who had five loaves should get seven coins. If there were eight loaves and three men, each man ate two and two-thirds loaves. So the first shepherd gave the hunter one-third of a loaf and the second shepherd gave the hunter two and one-third loaves. The shepherd who gave one-third of a loaf should get one coin and the one who gave seven-thirds of a loaf should get seven coins.
Draw four rectangles on a piece of paper. Put nine x's in the four rectangles so that there is an uneven number of x's in each rectangle.
Think about how you can distribute the 9 x's among the 4 rectangles in a way that each rectangle has a different number of x's, and none of them have an even number...
Draw one large rectangle. Then draw the three smaller rectangles within the large rectangle. Place three x's in each small rectangle. There will be nine x's in the large rectangle.
You have accidently left out the plug and are attempting to fill the bath with both taps full on. The hot tap takes 6 minutes to fill the bath. The cold tap takes 2 minutes and the water empties through the plug hole in 4 minutes. In how many minutes will the bath be filled?
Think about the "net" filling rate of the bath, considering both the inflow and outflow of water.
2 minutes and 24 seconds.
You want to send a valuable object to a friend. You have a box which is more than large enough to contain the object. You have several locks with keys. The box has a locking ring which is more than large enough to have a lock attached. But your friend does not have the key to any lock that you have. How do you do it? Note that you cannot send a key in an unlocked box, since it might be copied.
Think about sending the box to your friend in multiple stages, with each stage adding an extra layer of security...
Attach a lock to the ring. Send it to her. She attaches her own lock and sends it back. You remove your lock and send it back to her. She removes her lock.
How many cats are in a small room if in each of the four corners a cat is sitting, and opposite each cat there sit three cats, and a each cat's tail another is sitting?
Think about what makes a cat a cat... does a tail count as a separate cat?
Four cats, each near a tail of a cat in an adjacent corner.
A soccer fan, upset by the defeat of his favorite team, slept restlessly. In his dream a goalkeeper was practicing in a large unfurnished room, tossing a soccer ball against the wall and then catching it. But the goalkeeper grew smaller and smaller and then changed into a ping-pong ball while the soccer ball was swelled up into a huge cast-iron ball. The iron ball circled round madly, trying to crush the ping-pong ball, how did the ping-pong find safety whithout leaving the floor?
Think about the physical properties of a ping-pong ball and how it might interact with a large, heavy object on a flat surface...
If the ping-pong ball rolls flush against the wall, the cast-iron ball cannot crush it. Those who know geometry can determine that if the diameter of a large ball is at least 5.83 (3+2(square root of 2) times as large as the diameter of a little ball, then the little ball will be safe if it hugs the wall. A cast-iron ball that is larger than a soccer ball is more than 4.83 times as large in diameter as a ping-pong ball.
Who spends the day at the window, goes to the table for meals and hides at night?
Think about an object that is often found in a room, and its "behavior" changes depending on the time of day...
A fly.
When the celebrated German mathematician Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) was nine he was asked to add all the integers from 1 through 100. He quickly added 1 to 100, 2 to 99, and so on for 50 pairs of numbers each adding to 101. Answer: 50 X 101=5,050. What is the sum of all the digits in integers from 1 through 1,000,000,000? (That's all the digits in all the numbers, not all the numbers themselves.)
Think about the pattern of digits in each place value (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.) as you move through the numbers from 1 to 1,000,000,000...
The numbers can be grouped by pairs: 999,999,999 and 0; 999,999,998 and 1' 999,999,997 and 2; and so on.... There are half a billion pairs, and the sum of the digits in each pair is 81. The digits in the unpaired number, 1,000,000,000, add to 1. Then: (500,000,000 X 81) + 1= 40,500,000,001.
A camel travels a certain distance each day. Strangely enough, two of its legs travel 30 miles each day and the other two legs travel nearly 31 miles. It would seem that two of the camel's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course this can't be true. Since the camel is normal, how is this situation possible?
Think about the direction in which the camel's legs are moving...
The camel operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
Oh, what a surprise! Oh, what a miracle! It sprouted without a seed, It stood without a trunk. What is it?
Think about something that can suddenly appear or grow, but not in a biological sense...
The world.
Some say we are red, some say we are green. Some play us, some spray us. What are we?
Think about something that can be associated with different colors and is often used in various ways by different people...
Pepper.
A boy presses a side of a blue pencil to a side of a yellow pencil, holding both pencils vertically. One inch of the pressed side of the blue pencil, measuring from its lower end, is smeared with paint. The yellow pencil is held steady while the boy slides the blue pencil down 1 inch, continueing to press it against the yellow one. He returns the blue pencil to its former position, then again it slides down 1 inch. He continues until he has lowered the blue pencil 5 times and raised it 5 times- 10 moves in all. Supposed that during this time the paint neither dries nor diminishes in quantity. How many inches of each pencil will be sneared with paint after the tenth move?
Here's a hint: Think about the pattern of overlap between the painted section of the blue pencil and the yellow pencil as the blue pencil is moved up and down. Focus on how many times the paint will be transferred from the blue pencil to the yellow pencil, and vice versa.
At the start, 1inch of the yellow pencil gets smeared with wet paint. As the blue pencil is moved downward, a second inch of the blue pencils smears a second inch of the yellow pencil. Each pair of down and up movesof the blue pencil smears 1 more inch of each pencil. 5 pairs of moves will smear 5 inches. This together with the initial inch, makes 6 inches for each pencil.
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 How can you use the digits above once each only to compose two fractions which when added together equal 1?
Think about placing the digits in a way that creates a "big" fraction and a "small" fraction, where the big fraction is close to 1 and the small fraction makes up the remaining difference...
35/70 + 148/296 = 1
The king dies and two men, the true heir and an impostor, both claim to be his long-lost son. Both fit the description of the rightful heir: about the right age, height, coloring and general appearance. Finally, one of the elders proposes a test to identify the true heir. One man agrees to the test while the other flatly re-fuses. The one who agreed is immediately sent on his way, and the one who re-fused is correctly identified as the rightful heir. Can you figure out why?
The key to this riddle lies in the nature of the test itself, rather than the physical characteristics of the two men. Think about what kind of test would be proposed that one man would willingly agree to, while the other would refuse...
The test was a blood test. The elder remembered that the true prince was a hemophiliac.
What's the most romantic part about the ocean?
The answer lies in the sound of the ocean...
When the buoy meets gull.
A mother has three sick children. She has a 24-ounce bottle of medicine and needs to give each child eight ounces of the medicine. She is unable to get to the store and has only three clean containers, which measure 5, 11 and 13 ounces. The electricity is out and she has no way of heating water to wash the containers and doesn't want to spread germs. How can she divide the medicine to give each child an equal portion without having any two children drink from the same container?
Think about using the containers in a specific sequence to measure out the exact amounts, and consider that you might need to use a container more than once...
Fill the 5 oz. and 11 oz. Containers from the 24 oz. container. This leaves 8 oz. in the 24 oz. bottle. Next empty the 11 oz. bottle by pouring the contents into the 13 oz. bottle. Fill the 13 oz. bottle from the 5 oz. container (with 2 oz.) and put the remaining 3 oz. in the 11 oz. bottle. This leaves the 5 oz. container empty. Now pour 5 oz. from the 13 oz. bottle into the 5 oz. bottle leaving 8 oz. in the 13 oz. bottle. Finally pour the 5 oz. bottle contents into the 11 oz. bottle giving 8 oz. in this container.
I am a perching barrel, filled with meat, Taking hits from leaps and dives. Look inside, but do not eat, The meat in there is still alive! What am I?
Think about a common outdoor recreational activity where people "take hits" and "leaps and dives" are involved, and you'll find the answer "hanging around"...
A thimble on a finger.
You can use me to stop, You take me to smoke; Not only do I stop, But I am a stop, And the result of pool's first stroke. What am I?
Think about objects that serve multiple purposes, and consider the different meanings of "stop" in the riddle...
Brake/ Break
There are 100 light bulbs lined up in a row in a long room. Each bulb has its own switch and is currently switched off. The room has an entry door and an exit door. There are 100 people lined up outside the entry door. Each bulb is numbered consecutively from 1 to 100. So is each person. Person No. 1 enters the room, switches on every bulb, and exits. Person No. 2 enters and flips the switch on every second bulb (turning off bulbs 2, 4, 6, ...). Person No. 3 enters and flips the switch on every third bulb (changing the state on bulbs 3, 6, 9, ...). This continues until all 100 people have passed through the room. What is the final state of bulb No. 64? And how many of the light bulbs are illuminated after the 100th person has passed through the room?
Hint: Think about the factors of each bulb number and how they relate to the people who flip the switches.
First think who will operate each bulb, obviously person #2 will do all the even numbers, and say person #10 will operate all the bulbs that end in a zero. So who would operate for example bulb 48: Persons numbered: 1 & 48, 2 & 24, 3 & 16, 4 & 12, 6 & 8 ........ That is all the factors (numbers by which 48 is divisible) will be in pairs. This means that for every person who switches a bulb on there will be someone to switch it off. This willl result in the bulb being back at it's original state. So why aren't all the bulbs off? Think of bulb 36:- The factors are: 1 & 36, 2 & 13, 6 & 6 Well in this case whilst all the factors are in pairs the number 6 is paired with it's self. Clearly the sixth person will only flick the bulb once and so the pairs don't cancel. This is true of all the square numbers. There are 10 square numbers between 1 and 100 (1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81 & 100) hence 10 bulbs remain on.
Rearrange all the letters in each of the sentences to form, in each case, a well-known proverb. 1. I don't admit women are faint. 2. It rocks. The broad flag of the free. 3. Strong lion's share almost gone. What are the proverbs?
Here's a hint: Think about phrases that offer advice or words of wisdom, and pay attention to the word order and letter arrangements. You might need to "rearrange" your thinking to uncover the well-known proverbs hidden within!
1. Time and tide wait for no man. 2. Birds of a feather flock together. 3. A rolling sone gathers no moss.
A great banquet was prepared for a Roman emperor and his courtiers. 22 Dormice, 40 Larks' Tongues, 30 Flamingos and 40 Roast Parrots were served. How many portions of Boiled Ostrich were served?
Think about the common thread among the dishes served... they all have something in common that might just give away the answer!
42. Each vowel is worth 2 and each consonant 4, so Dormice gives 22, ect.
You are given a set of scales and 12 marbles. The scales are of the old balance variety. That is, a small dish hangs from each end of a rod that is balanced in the middle. The device enables you to conclude either that the contents of the dishes weigh the same or that the dish that falls lower has heavier contents than the other. The 12 marbles appear to be identical. In fact, 11 of them are identical, and one is of different weight. Your task is to identify the unusual marble and discard it. You are allowed to use the scales three times if you wish, but no more. Note that the unusual marble may be heavier or lighter than the others. How can you identify it and determine whether it is heavy or light?
Hint: Think in terms of process of elimination and divide the marbles into groups strategically for each weighing. The key is to maximize the information you can gain from each weighing.
Number the marbles from 1 to 12. For the first weighing put marbles 1,2,3 and 4 on one side and marbles 5,6,7 and 8 on the other. The marbles will either they balance or not. If they balance, then the different marble is in group 9,10,11,12. Thus, we would put 1 and 2 on one side and 9 and 10 on the other. If these balance then the different marble is either 11 or 12. Weigh marble 1 against 11. If they balance, the different marble is number 12. If they do not balance, then 11 is the different marble. If 1 and 2 vs 9 and 10 do not balance, then the different marble is either 9 or 10. Again, weigh 1 against 9. If they balance, the different marble is number 10, otherwise, it is number 9. That was the easy part. What if the first weighing 1,2,3,4 vs 5,6,7,8 does not balance? Then any one of these marbles could be a different marble. Now, in order to proceed, keep track of which side is heavy for each of the following weighings. Suppose that 5,6,7 and 8 is the heavy side. We now weigh 1,5 and 6 against 2,7 and 8. If they balance, then the different marble is either 3 or 4. Weigh 4 against 9, a known good marble. If they balance then the different marble is 3 or 4. Then, if 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 do not balance, and 2,7,8 is the heavy side, then either 7 or 8 is a different, heavy marble, or 1 is a different, light marble. For the third weighing, weigh 7 against 8. Whichever side is heavy is the different marble. If they balance, then 1 is the different marble. Should the weighing of 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 show 1,5,6 to be the heavy side, then either 5 or 6 is a different heavy marble or 2 is a light different marble. Weigh 5 against 6. The heavier one is the different marble. If they balance, then 2 is a different light marble.
If it is 1,800 kilometers to America, 1,200 kilometers to Japan, 2,400 kilometers to New Zealand, and 1,400 kilometers to Brazil- How far is Morocco?
Think about the location of the countries mentioned, and consider what they all have in common...
The answer is 1,700 kilometers, as vowels in the countries' names are worth 300 kilometers and the consonats are worth 200 kilometers.
The word FACETIOUSLY contains the six vowels, A-E-I-O-U and Y, in their alphabetical order. Can you find another English word that does the same?
Think about a type of establishment where you might find facets of various kinds...
The word is abstemiously. There may be others.
You have two container, a 5 gallon and a 3 gallon container. How do you measure out 4 gallons?
Think about filling and emptying the containers in a specific sequence to achieve the desired 4 gallons...
Fill up the 3 gallon container and pour the 3 gallons into the 5 gallon container.Then, fill the 3 gallon container back up, and pour it into the 5 gallon container.The 3 gallon container will have 1 gallon left. Empty the 5 gallon container.Pour the remining 1 gallon into the 5 gallon container.Then fill the 3 gallon container back up and pour it into the 5 gallon container.Thus, you have 4 gallons.
Marco and Bob have been the best friends ever since they were little kids. They are also very competitive. Throughout the years they have challenged each other to do both physical and mental challenges. And they completed the challenge. But one day Marco thought of something to challenge Bob to do - something he could start but never finish. The average man could do it and so could Mark and they were both the same sex and the same size. It is a physical challenge. Can you figure out what it was?
Think about an everyday physical activity that is easy to start, but impossible to finish...
Marco challenged Bob to get a tan, but he couldn't...Bob is an albino.
Hickory-Dickory-Dock! The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one and down did come. Hickory-Dickory-Dock! What am I?
Think about something that moves up and down, and is often associated with a specific sound or rhythm...
A guillotine.
It's always 1 to 6, it's always 15 to 20, it's always 5, but it's never 21, unless it's flying. What is it?
Think about something you might find on a bird, but also on a calendar...
The answer is: a dice. An explanation: "It's always 1 to 6": the numbers on the faces of the dice, "it's always 15 to 20": the sum of the exposed faces when the dice comes to rest after being thrown, "it's always 5": the number of exposed faces when the dice is at rest, "but it's never 21": the sum of the exposed faces is never 21 when the dice is at rest, "unless it's flying": the sum of all exposed faces when the dice is flying is 21 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6).
A boy leaves home in the morning to go to school. At the moment he leaves the house he looks at the clock in the mirror. The clock has no number indication and for this reason, the boy makes a mistake in interpreting the time (mirror-image). Just assuming the clock must be out of order, the boy cycles to school, where he arrives after twenty minutes. At that moment the clock at school shows a time that is two and a half hours later than the time that the boy saw on the clock at home. What time is it?
Think about how a mirror reflection would change the clock's hands...
The difference between the real time and the time of the mirror image is two hours and ten minutes (two and a half hours, minus the twenty minutes of cycling). Therefore, the original time on the clock at home that morning could only have been five minutes past seven: The difference between these clocks is exactly 2 hours and ten minutes (note that also five minutes past one can be mirrored in a similar way, but this is not in the morning!). Conclusion: The boy reaches school at five minutes past seven plus twenty minutes of cycling, which is twenty-five minutes past seven!...
Ben walked into a hardware store and asked the price of some items. The salesman said: One costs $1, Eight costs $1, Seventeen cost $2, One hundred four costs $3 and One thousand seventy two costs $4. What was Ben buying?
Think about the words, not the numbers...
Ben was buying home address numbers and they cost $1 per digit.
An item is made from lead blanks in a lathe shop. Each blank suffices for 1 item. Lead shavings accumulated for making 6 items can be melted and made into a blank. How many items can be made from 36 blanks?
Think about the process as a cycle: blanks are used to make items, and the waste from making items can be recycled back into blanks. Focus on how many new blanks are generated in each cycle, and how that affects the total number of items that can be made.
From 36 blanks there are 36 items made. The lead shavings are enough to make 6 blanks. Which make 6 more items. But don't stop here. The new shavings are good for 1 more item. Total: 43.
How can this be true? Have a look at the picture. All the lines are straight, the shapes that make up the top picture are the same as the ones in the bottom picture so where does the gap come from?
Think about the direction you're looking at the shapes...
The green triangle has dimensions 2 x 5 and gradient 2 / 5 = 0.4 The red triangle has dimensions 3 x 8 and gradient 3 / 8 = 0.375 Hence the gradient of the green triangle is greater than that of the red triangle.
Carl is trying to find solutions to a geometric puzzle. He has a square plot of land that he needs to reserve 1/4 for himself and divide the remaining 3/4 equally and in a similar shape, among his 4 children. There are two possible solutions. Can you solve the puzzle?
Think about how you can divide the square into four equal parts, and then take one of those parts away to reserve for Carl. The remaining three parts might not be what you expect!
Solution #1 - Squares First, Carl divides his as to reserve to himself one-fourth in the form of a square. Then, Carl takes the remaining 3/4 shape and scales it down by 1/4. He then, multiplies the shape into 4 identically shaped pieces, and aranges them so that they fit into the original 3/4 shape. Solution #2 - Rectangles First, create a triangle that is 1/4 the size of the square. Now, with straight lines, create two squares. Proceed to disect the two squares with horizontal lines creating 4 triangles. Then, disect one of the resultuing triangles from each square. The shape of land for each of his four children is divided evenly and is the same shape.
Jack has 8 bricks 7 of them weights the same amount and one is slightly heavier. Using a balance scale, how can Jack find the heavier brick in two weighings?
"Divide and Conquer... Literally!"
First he split them in to piles of 3, 3, and 2 bricks. Then he weighs both groups of 3 with each other. If they balance he knows the brick is one of the 2 unweighed bricks and he can weigh them to find the heaver one. If the the stacks of 3 bricks do not balance, he will weigh 2 of the 3 bricks. If they balance he will know the brick left unweighed is heavier, or if they do not balance, he will find the heavier one.
Two travelers spend from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock walking along a level road, up a hill, and back again. Their pace is 4 mph on the level, 3 mph uphill, and 6 mph downhill. How far do they walk and at what time do they reach the top of the hill?
"Think about the journey in three parts: level, uphill, and downhill. Use the pace for each part to calculate the time spent on each, and then find the total distance traveled."
24 miles half past three.
Robert and David were preparing to have a water balloon fight. "No Fair" cried Robert, "You have 3 times as many as I do!" David said "Fine!" and gave Robert 10 more balloons. "Still not fair!" argued Robert, "You still have twice as many as I do." How many more balloons must David give Robert for them to have the same number?
Think about the ratios of balloons between Robert and David, and how they change when David gives Robert 10 more balloons.
David must give Robert another 20 water balloons, giving them each 60. Robert started with 30 water balloons and David with 90.
What number, when added separately, to 100 and 164 can make each a perfect square?
Think about the numbers that can be added to a number to make it a perfect square... they're usually related to the square root of that number.
The answer is 125. 125+100=225 and 125+164=289. The square root of 225 is 15 and the square root of 289 is 17.
A car's odometer shows 72927 miles, a palindromic number. What are the minimum miles you would need to travel to form another?
Think about the symmetry of palindromic numbers and how you can "mirror" the current odometer reading to find the next one...
110 miles. (73037)
There is a man stood on top of a mountain frozen holding a peice of straw. How did he get there?
"Think about a situation where the man wasn't always standing still..."
He was with his friend in a hotair balloon when they were about to hit a mountin so they took of there clothes to make it lighter so they would go higher but it wasnt working so they drew straws and who ever had the shortest straw would have to jump out so he was the one who picked the shortest straw.
My first is often at the front door. My second is found in the cereal family. My third is what most people want. My whole is one of the United States. What am I?
Think about words that can be broken down into individual letters, and consider the meanings of each letter in a specific context...
MATRIMONY (mat rye money). Which is certainly a "united state"!
My first is high, My second damp, My whole a tie, A writer's cramp. What am I?
Think about the tools of the writing trade, and how they might relate to the phrases "high", "damp", and "cramp"...
Hyphen. The first two lines yield high-fen. A hyphen is used by a writer to tie (or cramp) two words together.
Three working women have different careers. If only one of statements 1, 2 and 3 are true, can you tell whether or not Mary is a nurse? 1. This statement is only true if statement 5 is false. 2. This statement is true if statements 4 or 5, or both 4 and 5 are true. 3. This statement is false only if both statements 6 and 1 are true. 4. Mary is a nurse 5. Karen is an artist. 6. Sarah is a photographer.
Focus on statement 4, and think about what would happen if it were true or false...
Mary is not a nurse. The way to solve this riddle is to consider statements 4, 5, and 6 and create a chart of all possible true and false answers. Next, fill in the chart according to statements 1 through 3. You will discover that there is only one line where only one of the statements one, two, and three are true. Thus, it is determined that: Statements 4 and 5 are false and statement 6 is true.
Five baby boomer couples each have one child. Each child is a different age than any of the other children. Each child has a favorite toy which is different from any of the other children's favorite toys. Each family eats at only one fast food restaurant. No two women have the same name and no two men have the same name. The children's names are not known. The child who plays with trains is the youngest. Bill's child plays with a GI Joe. Julie's child likes Pokeman. Mike's family eats at Taco Bell. The family of the 4 year old likes Kentucky Fried Chicken. The oldest child is four years older than Marie's child. The child who plays with Barbie is 8 years old. The child with the age is in the middle, has a mother named Marie. The child in the family that eats at McDonalds has a two year age difference with Larry's child. Carol is the mother in the family that eats at Dairy Queen. The child that plays Nintendo likes Burger King. Steve's child is two years apart in age from the child of the family that eats at Kentucky Fried Chicken. The child that plays with trains is two years apart from the 6 year old. The child that eats at McDonalds is two years older or younger than Regina's child. Lisa's child is 10. Who is married to George?
Here's a hint to get you started: Focus on the ages of the children first. Use the clues about the ages to figure out the order of the children from youngest to oldest. The clues about the toys and restaurants will help you match the children with their parents.
Lisa is married to George, and their 10 year old plays with Nintendo. They like to eat at Burger King. The associations are: Child age 4, mother Regina, Father Larry, trains, KFC Child age 6, mother Julie, Father Steve, Pokeman, McDonalds Child age 8, mother Marie, Father Mike, Barbie, Taco Bell Child age 10, mother Lisa, Father George, Nintendo, Burger King Child age 12, mother Carol, Father Bill, GI Joe, Dairy Queen To solve, draw a grid with five rows and five columns. Across the top, above the columns, write Age, Mother, Father, Toy and Food. Figure out the known ages and write them in order in the first column. One child's age is unknown at first. However, once the youngest child is discovered (the one who plays with trains) it is then known that the oldest child is the child with the unknown age. Through additional clues, it is possible to determine that the oldest child is age 12. Take the clue, Lisa?s child is 10. In the mother column corresponding to the age 10, you would write LISA (Maybe circle it, because it is the correct answer.) In the mother column for every other age, write "not Lisa". Do this for each clue. If you know the answer because of a clue, write it in the appropriate column, and then be sure to write "not such and such" in all the other rows for that clue. For example, "The youngest child plays with trains", would result in "not trains" for any child you can tell isn?t the youngest, but you can?t write "trains" for any child, because you don?t know which child is the youngest at first. Eventually, you may find that "mother not Marie" is on every line except one, and then you would know that Marie is the mother on the empty line.
A man told his son that he would give him $1000 if he could accomplish the following task. The father gave his son ten envelopes and a thousand dollars, all in one dollar bills. He told his son, "Place the money in the envelopes in such a manner that no matter what number of dollars I ask for, you can give me one or more of the envelopes, containing the exact amount I asked for without having to open any of the envelopes. If you can do this, you will keep the $1000." When the father asked for a sum of money, the son was able to give him envelopes containing the exact amount of money asked for. How did the son distribute the money among the ten envelopes?
Think about the concept of powers of 2 and how they can be combined to represent all numbers from 1 to 1023...
The contents or the ten envelopes (in dollar bills) should be as follows: $1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 489. The first nine numbers are in geometrical progression, and their sum, deducted from 1,000, gives the contents of the tenth envelope.
How can the number four be half of five?
Think about the Roman numeral for 4, and how it might relate to the word "five"...
It's true if you think of Roman numerals. FIVE, take away the F and the E and you are left with IV, half of the word FIVE, which is the Roman number for Four.
I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?
Think about something that can be found in a fireplace or a campsite, and is often associated with warmth and light...
Fire.
What runs around the whole yard without moving?
Think about something that surrounds or encloses the yard, rather than something that physically moves around it.
A fence.
Two fathers and two sons went fishing one day. They were there the whole day and only caught 3 fish. One father said, that is enough for all of us, we will have one each. How can this be possible?
Think about family relationships and generations...
There was the father, his son, and his son's son. This equals 2 fathers and 2 sons for a total of 3!
What can you catch but not throw?
Think about something that can be "caught" in a sense, but doesn't involve physical tossing or hurling...
A cold.
A bus driver was heading down a street in Colorado. He went right past a stop sign without stopping, he turned left where there was a "no left turn" sign, and he went the wrong way on a one-way street. Then he went on the left side of the road past a cop car. Still - he didn't break any traffic laws. Why not?
Think about the occupation of the person involved...
He was walking...not driving.
What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right?
Think about a word that is often associated with time...
NOON.
How can you leave a room with two legs and return with six legs?
Think about a common object that people often carry with them when they leave a room...
Bring a chair back with you.
If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?
Think about the person you just passed...
You would be in the 2nd place. You thought first place, right? Well, you passed the guy in second place, not first.
A man in a car saw a Golden Door, Silver Door and a Bronze Door. What door did he open first?
Think about the situation: the man is in a car... what door would he need to open first to get out of the car?
The car door.
A horse was tied to a rope 5 meters long and the horse's food was 15 meters away from the horse. How did the horse reach the food?
Think outside the rope...
The rope wasn't tied to anything so he could reach the food.
Railroad Crossing, look out for the cars. Can you spell that, without any R's?
Think about the words that make up the phrase, and focus on the sounds rather than the letters...
That.
What two things can you never eat for breakfast?
Think about the words that describe a meal that has already taken place...
Lunch and dinner.
It has a long neck, a name of a bird, feeds on ships' cargo, and is not alive. What is it?
Think about a part of a ship that's named after a bird, and its "feeding" on cargo is more of a functional description...
A crane.
You can see it every day, But cannot touch it at will. What is it?
"Look to the sky for the answer..."
The sky.
A plane crashed between the border of Canada and America. Where do you bury the survivors?
You don't bury them...
They are survivors, you don't bury them.
If a boy blows 18 bubbles, Then pops 6 eats 7 and then He pops 5 and blows 1. How many are left?
Think about the bubbles that are NOT affected by the boy's actions...
1.
I have holes on the top and bottom. I have holes on my left and on my right. And I have holes in the middle, yet I still hold water. What am I?
Think about an everyday object that you might find in a kitchen or a bathroom, and consider how its holes might not necessarily make it useless for holding water...
I'm a Sponge.
What is at the end of a rainbow?
Think about the wordplay and the literal meaning of the question...
The letter W.
I look at you, you look at me, I raise my right, you raise your left. What am I?
Think about a common, everyday situation where you might face someone and mirror their actions...
Your reflection in a mirror.
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.
How could a cowboy ride into town on Friday, stay two days, and ride out on Friday?
Think about the cowboy's horse...
His horse is named Friday.
Open me, and you can't see me without a mirror. Close me and you can't see me at all. What am I?
Think about something you do every day, often without even realizing it...
Your eyes.
How many bricks does it take to complete a brick building?
Think about the question being asked... Is it really asking for a numerical answer?
One brick.
What can be seen in the middle of March and April that cannot be seen at the beginning or end of either month?
Look for something that is visible in the literal "middle" of the words...
The letter R.
What part of London is in France?
Think about a common phrase or term associated with London, and how it might have a connection to France...
The letter N.
You're sitting down for breakfast and realize you have 4 bagels left. You know you'll run out in four days so you cut them in half. How many bagels do you have now?
Think about what happens when you cut a bagel in half...
4 Bagels.
You give someone a dollar. You are this person's brother, but the person is not your brother. How can that be?
Think about family relationships, but don't limit yourself to just male siblings...
It's your sister!
Three simple words, but life changing. What are they?
Think about a phrase that is often spoken during a pivotal moment in one's life, usually bringing a sense of relief, joy, or new beginnings...
I love you.
One lady ordered a fast delivery pizza and her order came the next year. How is this possible?
Think about the lady's order in relation to the calendar...
She ordered the pizza for New Year's Day.
If April showers bring may flowers, what do may flowers bring?
Think about the next season or month that comes after May...
Pilgrims.
If a dog is tied to a piece of rope that is 6m long, how can he reach a bone that is 7m away?
Think outside the rope...
The other end is not tied to anything.
What is rarer and more valuable than gold, but easier to lose?
Think about something that is often associated with being precious, yet can slip away quickly...
Love/ Friendship.
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no-body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
Think about something that can be heard, but not seen, and is often associated with the outdoors...
An echo!
John has 10 siblings 4 boys and 6 girls he has a mother and father. How many people are in the family?
Don't forget to count the person telling the story!
13 people are in the family John+his 10 siblings+his mom and dad.
What is easy to lift but hard to throw?
Think about something that is light in weight, but its "throw-ability" is restricted by its nature or purpose...
A feather.
If you have three oranges and you take away two, how many will you have?
Think about the question being asked... it's not just about the oranges!
Two. The two you took.
If there are fifteen crows on a fence and the farmer shoots a third of them, how many crows are left?
Think about the word "a" in the question...
None. The rest of the crows flew away when they heard the gunshot.
What's something that's easy to see but hard to look at?
Think about something that's visually obvious, yet emotionally or psychologically challenging to gaze at or confront.
The sun.
Two words, my answer is only two words. To keep me, you must give me. What am I?
Think about something you need to give to someone in order to keep them...
"Your word".
What lives as long as it eats but dies when it drinks?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, and how its "life" depends on its "food" intake...
Fire.
Something that requires our mental skill to decode it, our imagination to understand it, and our knowledge to be tested to its max, it confuses us at every stage, it seems easy yet difficult, and only those who are used to, will get through. What is it?
Think about something that is often cryptic, yet familiar, and is a test of one's cognitive abilities...
A riddle.
There is a pink house made of bricks, a blue house made of bricks, an orange house made of bricks. What color bricks is a greenhouse made of?
Think about the meaning of "greenhouse" rather than its color...
A greenhouse is made of glass or plastic, not bricks
If a train was on its way to Florida and it tipped over, where would they bury the survivors?
You don't bury survivors...
They wouldn't need to, the survivors are still alive!
You are a bus driver at a station. 10 get on the bus and no one gets off. You drive 10 miles to another station where 3 people get on and 1 gets off. You drive another 10 miles only to get 25 people on and 5 people go off. Next you drive 3 miles while 12 people exit the bus. You drive back to the place knowing that a couple more stops along the way untill the ride is done. At the 2nd to last station 5 people get on and 2 get off. And at the last station (5.5 miles) 25 people get on for no reason and 1 gets off. What is the bus drivers eye color?
The key to solving this riddle is to realize that the details about the bus ride are just a distraction. The answer to the riddle is not related to the number of people getting on or off the bus, or the distance traveled. Instead, think about the situation from the perspective of the narrator...
You are the bus driver so, the answer is the color of your eyes.
There are ten birds sitting on a fence. You shoot one. How many are left?
Think about the word "shoot" having multiple meanings...
None are left. All the others are scared away because of the gunshot.
It's the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh. What is it?
Think about something that's often eaten as a snack, and its freshness is crucial to its purpose...
Lettuce.
A skin have I, more eyes than one. I can be very nice when I am done. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, and the "eyes" might not be what you think they are...
A potato.
What costs more than riches but doesn't cost a penny; that's also hard to find yet easy to lose?
Think about something that is priceless, yet can't be bought or sold, and is often overlooked until it's gone...
A friend.
I appear in every minute and second but never in a thousand months. What am I?
Think about the abbreviations used to represent time units...
The letter E.
How do you make "one" disappear?
Think about a common, everyday object where you might find the word "one"...
Add a G to it and it's gone.
What two whole, postive numbers have the same answer when multiplied together as when added together?
Think about a special pair of numbers that are closely related...
2 and 2.
When they are caught, they are thrown away. When they escape, you itch all day. What are they?
Think about something that is often unwanted, yet can be quite pesky when it gets away...
Fleas.
It is hard for me to live, but easy to die. I am only present when I am not given away. Many people know about me but not what I am. You can keep me, but it is hard. What am I?
Think about something that is often withheld or kept secret, but is revealed or "dies" when it's shared or given away...
A secret.
Violet, indigo, blue and green, yellow, orange, and red; are the colors you have seen after the storm has fled. What am I?
"Look to the sky for the answer, and think about the order of things..."
I am a Rainbow.
I have a scent. You use me everyday. The more you use, the more you take away. What am I?
Think about something you use daily, perhaps in the morning and night, that leaves a fragrance behind, but the more you use it, the more it disappears...
A bar of soap!
A man rides into town on Friday. He stays two nights. How does he leave on Tuesday?
Think about the horse's name...
His horse was called Friday.
Why can't you play hide-n-seek with chicklets?
They're always "covered"!
They're always peeping.
There is an apple 26 feet away from the horse. The chain is 24 feet long. How will the horse get to the apple?
Think outside the box... or should I say, think outside the chain?
Easy, just walk there. The chain isn't tied to anything.
You are in a car hungry, thirsty, and broken. You come across three doors on the side of the road. One is full of food, one is full of glasses of water, and one is filled with millions of dollars. Which door do you open first?
Think about the order of priority when you're in a car and in a state of distress...
Your car door.
What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?
Think about a geographical feature that has a "source" or "head" and a "mouth", and often has a "bed" or channel...
A river.
Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
Think about a location that's not a country, state, or city...
At the bottom.
What's the first thing a dolphin learns at school?
Fin-tastic education starts with the basics...
Her A-B-Seas.
What fruit always travels in groups of two?
Think about a fruit that's often paired together, and it's not just about being social...
Pears.
When do you see sheep in ink?
Think about a common writing tool...
When you draw them in pen!
Where do penguins keep their money?
Think about a common place where humans keep their money, but give it a frosty twist!
In a snow bank!
During what month do people sleep the least?
Think about a month that is often associated with excitement, celebrations, and a lot of activity...
February. Because it's the shortest month of the year.
Mary's father has five children. They are Nana, Nene, Nini, and Nono. What is the fifth childs name?
Think about the person telling you the riddle...
Mary.
A woman is sitting in her hotel room when there is a knock at the door. She opened the door to see a man whom she had never seen before. He said "Oh I'm sorry, I have made a mistake, I thought this was my room." He then went down the corridor and in the elevator. The woman went back into her room and phoned security. What made the woman so suspicious of the man?
Here's a hint: Think about what the man said and did, and how it relates to the fact that he was a stranger in the woman's hotel room...
You don't knock on your own hotel room door.
One day, a thirty-story building was on fire. A man jumped out a window and nothing happened to him. Nothing was under him. How is this possible?
Think about the circumstances surrounding the jump, rather than the jump itself...
He was on the first floor.
Where do rivers sleep?
Think about where rivers often "rest" or "lie" during their journey...
In river beds.
What's the quickest way to make oil boil?
Think about a wordplay...
Add the letter B.
What kills you inside the more you keep it and sets you free the moment you release it?
Think about something that grows heavier with time when you hold onto it, but brings relief and liberation when you let it go...
Guilt.
A girl just learning to drive is going the opposite way of the traffic but is not breaking the law. How is this possible?
Think about a specific type of road where traffic laws are slightly different...
Easy, the girl is just walking on the sidewalk. No one said she was driving at that time.
What does a vegetarian zombie eat?
"Think about a common food that's often associated with graveyards..."
Graaaaaaaains!
I am always hungry, I must always be fed. The finger I lick will soon turn red. What am I?
"Think about something you use every day, and be careful not to get burned!"
Fire.
What do you serve that you can't eat?
Think about a place where people often gather, and the answer is something you might find on a table...
A tennis ball.
My shape and sizes differ. Every time you dip me in water, I become smaller. What am I?
Think about something you use daily, and its purpose is to clean or wash something else...
Soap.
You are trapped in a hallway and there are three rooms to help you get out. One toom is filled with water all the way to the top, another room is on fire, and the last room has a bunch of lions which haven't eaten in 1 month. Which room do you choose?
Think about the state of the lions...
The one with the lions because they haven't eaten in 1 month.
You walk onto a bridge you see a boat full of people but there is not a single person on it. How is that possible?
Think about the word "people"... is it always referring to living beings?
There all married.
Two convicts are locked in a cell. There is an unbarred window high up in the cell. No matter if they stand on the bed or one on top of the other they can't reach the window to escape. They then decide to tunnel out. However, they give up on the tunneling because it will take too long. Finally one of the convicts figures out how to escape from the cell. What is his plan?
Think about the phrase "stand on the bed" very carefully...
His plan is to dig the tunnel and pile up the dirt to climb up to the window to escape.
How do snails get their shells so shiny?
Think about what snails do all day...
They use snail polish.
Imagine you are in a dark room. How do you get out?
"Think about what you already have with you..."
Stop imagining.
How do you make the number one disappear?
Think about a simple, everyday action you can perform on a piece of paper...
Add the letter G and it’s “GONE”.
If Friday the horse goes into the park at 7:00 and on Sunday the horse goes into the park at 8:00 what is the horse's name?
Think about the question being asked... it's not about the day of the week or the time of day, but rather something more straightforward.
Friday.
There are 10 bombs on the ground, 1 bomb explodes. How many bombs are there left?
Think about the wording of the question... it doesn't ask how many UNEXPLODED bombs are left.
None. Because when that 1 bomb exploded, it caused the rest of the Bombs to explode too.
In what year did Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall in the same year?
Think about the definition of a "year"...
It happens every year.
What word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?
Think about a word that is often overlooked, yet it's staring right at you...
Incorrectly.
When does lunch come after dinner?
Think about the alphabet!
In the dictionary!
What has one hundred heads, and no legs?
Think about something you might find in a coin purse or a bank vault...
A dollar in pennies.
What can you throw but not catch?
Think about something you can intentionally release or propel, but its nature prevents you from grasping or holding onto it again...
A cold.
A plane crashes in the exact border of the United States and Canada. Where will the survivors be buried?
Think about jurisdiction and the literal meaning of "buried"...
They're survivors. They wouldn't be buried because they didn't die.
There is a man in a 4-story building. He jumps out of the window and is unharmed. He used no padding and had no harm done. How?
The man was on the ground floor when he jumped out of the window.
He jumped out of the ground floor.
What do cows give after an earthquake?
"Moo-ve over the obvious answer, think about the aftermath of an earthquake..."
Milk shakes.
A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die. How many are left alive?
Think about the phrase "all but" very carefully...
9. All but nine die.
I fly without feathers; Sleep when you're awake; I'm not a mosquito and neither a needle, But blood I'm known to take. What am I?
Think about something that's often associated with medical procedures...
I am a vampire bat.
When is it right for you to lie?
Think about a situation where honesty might not be the best policy, and the truth could be hurtful or misleading...
When you are in bed.
You're a bus driver. At your first stop, you pick up five people. At the second stop, you pick up two people. At the third stop, you drop off three people. At the fourth stop, you pick up three more people. At the fifth stop you drop off 8 people. How old is the bus driver?
The answer has nothing to do with the number of people or the stops... think about the question being asked!
You are the bus driver so he is your age.
What can a child make but not see?
Think about something that kids love to create, but it's not a physical thing that they can look at...
Noise.
Which word is the odd one out: First Second Third Forth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth?
Look for a word that doesn't follow the typical sequence or pattern of the others. Think about how these words are commonly used together...
Forth. It is incorrectly spelled.
There is a pink single-story house and everything in it is pink. The doors are pink, the windows are pink and the TV is pink. What color are the stairs?
Think about the type of house described...
There are no stairs in a single story house.
A guy gets to choose how to die. He has 3 choices, one to get put in the electric chair, two to get hung, and three to get thrown into a lion pit of lions that had not eaten in one thousand years. Which did he choose?
Think about the condition of the lions...
The lion pit because they had not eaten in one thousand years so they were already dead.
I have a mouth, I do not talk, I always run, I never walk. What am I?
Think about something you might find near a river or a lake...
A river.
What lets you walk through walls?
Think about something that's often overlooked, yet always present...
Doors!
Why is it always hot at the end of a football game?
Think about the final moments of a football game...
Because all of the FANS have gone home.
In Jamaica, if you drop a steel ball weighing five pounds from a height of 45 inches, will it fall more rapidly through the water at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or water at 40 degrees Fahrenheit? Or will it make no difference?
Think about the properties of water at different temperatures...
40 degrees Fahrenheit. At 20 degrees Fahrenheit the water would be ice.
There was a farmer who had a problem with his chicken coop, and he wanted to go check it out. When he got there he noticed that there was a rooster on top of the barn. Now the barn was shaped with a triangle-type top. But suddenly the rooster laid an egg. Which side did it roll on?
Think about the characteristics of the bird on top of the barn...
It didn't because roosters don't lay eggs.
How do you make a strawberry shake?
Think outside the blender...
Tell it a scary story!
What sea is in space?
Think about a "sea" that's not made of water, but rather a vast, dark, and mysterious region...
The galax-sea.
What changes a pear into a pearl?
Time and a special place...
The letter L.
What is hard to find but easy to lose, worth more than gold but costs less than a penny?
Think about something that is often overlooked, yet incredibly valuable, and can be misplaced in an instant...
A Friend.
Why would Snow White be a good judge?
Think about the fairest of them all...
Because she's the fairest in the land.
What has all the letters of the alphabet but not in the correct order?
Think about something you might find in a library or a bookstore...
A keyboard!
I went to Australia but I am still at my home. How did I go?
Think about the word "Australia" and its connection to a common, everyday location...
In my dreams.
I have a foot, yet no legs. I have a house yet no furniture. I choose to be on the move, but moving isn't so easy. What am I?
Think about something that has a "foot" or a base, but not legs, and a "house" or a structure, but not furniture. It's something that's often meant to be mobile, but its movement can be restricted or difficult...
I am a snail.
You have 10 fish. 5 of your fish drowned. 3 came back to life. How many fish do you have left?
Think about the impossibility of the situation...
Fish can't drown. (LOL I know, still easy)
In the grocery store, Sal met his only daughter's only husband's mother-in-law's only mother-in-law. Who was she?
Think about the relationships and how they all connect back to Sal...
Sal's mother. (His son-in-law's mother-in-law was his wife; her mother-in-law was Sal's mother.)
What has a foot but no leg?
Think about something you might find on a desk or in a bookshelf...
A ruler!
There is an apple 26 feet away from the horse. The chain is 24 feet long. How will the horse get to the apple?
Think outside the box (or pasture)! The answer doesn't involve the horse moving or the chain being longer...
Easy, just walk there. The chain isn't tied to anything.
Nick timed himself and found out that if he wore a bright white outfit he ran 20 miles in 80 minutes, but when he wore a dark outfit, he ran 20 miles in one hour and twenty minutes. What does this mean for his next race?
Think about how the color of Nick's outfit might be affecting his performance, but not in a physical way...
Nothing, as 80 minutes equals an hour and twenty minutes.
My first is twice in apple but not once in tart. My second is in liver but not in heart. My third is in giant and also in ghost. Whole I'm best when I am roast. What am I?
Think about the words "apple", "tart", "liver", "heart", "giant", and "ghost"... What letters do they have in common, or not in common?
The word Pig.
You are alone in a room. But there is also a thief in the room. How?
Think about the word "thief" very carefully...
You are the thief. Sorry to break it to you!
What's the only thing you know for sure is going to happen?
Think about something that is inevitable, unavoidable, and certain to occur in every person's life...
Dying.
Harold is Andrew's father. Who was born later?
Think about the relationship between Harold and Andrew... Does the fact that Harold is Andrew's father give you a clue about their ages?
Andrew, because he is Harold's son.
What has two hands two arms but no feet?
Think about something you might find on a wall...
A clock.
Oliver and Brittany are siblings. They were born in the winter and summer. If Brittany was not born in the winter, then who was born in the summer?
Think about the seasons and the fact that they are siblings... if Brittany wasn't born in the winter, that means Oliver must have been... but what does that imply about Brittany's birth season?
If Brittany was not born in the winter, then she was born in the summer. Therefore, it's Brittany.
Ally and Gwen were told to do house chores on a rainy day. Ally chose to hang the laundry outside to dry, while Gwen vacuum-cleaned the bedrooms. Who is more stupid?
Think about the weather...
Ally is more stupid because it was raining all day, and there wouldn't be any need to hang laundry outside.
Why is a dirty rug like a bad boy?
Think about how a dirty rug and a bad boy might both have a certain "reputation" that precedes them...
Both need beating.
What can you catch but not throw?
Think about something that can be "caught" in a sense, but doesn't have a physical form that can be tossed or hurled...
A cold!
I'm invisible to the eye. I can never die but without me, you will die. People keep me in jars and boxes but when will they realize that I'm as close as thin air. I'm never easy to be found but sometimes caught lurking around. What am I?
"Think about something that is essential for human survival, yet it's not a living thing and can't be seen with the naked eye. It's often stored in containers, but it's also all around us, and sometimes it can be felt or sensed, even if it can't be directly seen."
Your soul.
A red house is made of red bricks. A yellow house is made of yellow bricks. A purple house is made of purple bricks. A brown house is made of brown bricks. A black house is made of black bricks. What is the greenhouse made of?
Think about the word "greenhouse" more literally...
A greenhouse is made of glass.
There are 10 people standing near a large swimming pool. Three of them think about jumping into the pool. How many people are standing by the pool now?
Think about the difference between "thinking about" and "actually doing" something...
10. Those three people simply "thought about jumping into the pool"; they didn't actually jump in.
How can you get very high without taking any drugs?
Think about a common, everyday activity that many people do, and consider the phrase "very high" in a more literal sense...
Just get to the top of a very tall building.
Charles called his wife to tell him that he would be home by 7:00. But when he arrived home three minutes past 7:00, his wife was furious! Why was she so mad?
Think about the wording of Charles' message... did he say "I will be home BY 7:00" or "I will be home AT 7:00"?
Charles' wife expected him to arrive by 7:00PM, but he arrived at 7:03AM the next morning. Oh, the classic "I forgot about ante meridiem and post meridiem".
There are eight lemons in a bowl. You take three of them. How many lemons do you have now?
Think about the question being asked... it's not asking how many lemons are left in the bowl!
You have three lemons–the ones you took.
I am as long as 10 people standing on each other. I am as strong as 10 people's strength. Yet, a little boy can just walk over me. What am I?
Think about something you might find on a playground or a sidewalk...
A rope.
I am big and small, I am everywhere and I can fly. What am I?
Think about something that can be found in various sizes, from tiny to enormous, and is present all around us, yet can also be lifted or moved through the air...
Clouds.
A bird, a monkey, and a squirrel are racing to the top of a coconut tree, all eyeing a delicious banana up there. Who will get it first?
Think about the characteristics of each creature and how they relate to climbing a tree...
None of them, because there is no banana; bananas don't grow on coconut trees!
One day, down at the South Pole, five penguins and twice as many polar bears got onto a train. The train was headed to another station that was 15 minutes away from where it was initially. What is wrong with this story?
Think about the environment and inhabitants of the South Pole...
Polar bears live at the North Pole, while penguins live at the South Pole. They can't coexist at the same Pole.
What is a pumpkin's favorite type of shoes to wear?
Think about a type of footwear that's often associated with the season when pumpkins are most popular...
Pumps! Get (pump)kin.
I can come in many forms, pictures, sentences, and even more. I'm easy to some and hard to many. What am I?
Think about something that can be expressed in different ways, like visually or verbally, and can be understood by some people quickly, but might require more thought or interpretation from others...
A Riddle.
June's mom has 12 children: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Who is the 12th child?
Think about the name of the person telling you this information...
It's June!
Steve woke up after a good night's sleep. He wanted to make a big breakfast for himself. He has a dozen eggs in a carton. He breaks two eggs, fries two, and eats two. How many eggs are there in the carton afterward?
Think about what happened to the eggs, but don't forget to consider what didn't happen to the eggs...
Afterwards, there are 10 eggs in the carton. Steve broke, fried, and ate the same two eggs. This is because: 1) cooking the egg while it is still in its shell would be considered boiling the egg, not frying it; after all, you would need to break the egg into a pan before frying it, and; 2) you cannot eat a raw egg while it is still in the shell because of the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Chloe is a weather lady. At 11:58PM, she's trying to figure out the probability of sunny weather in 72 hours. What would the probability be?
Think about the time of day Chloe is trying to figure out the probability... does it matter that it's almost midnight?
Zero probability. In 72 hours, it will be close to midnight, and it can't possibly be sunny at midnight.
The giraffe is taller than the lion but shorter than the palm tree. Which animal is the tallest?
Think outside the zoo...
The giraffe is the tallest animal. A palm tree is not an animal, duh!
Andrew, Anna, and Alfred like apple juice. Olivia, Owen, and Oliver like orange juice. Can you explain their preferences?
Look for a connection between their names and the type of juice they like...
People whose names begin with A like apple juice, while people whose names begin with O like orange juice.
What comes out in the presence of life, but fades away when light is shone on it?
"Think about something that's often associated with living things, but disappears when exposed to illumination..."
Shadow.
What has holes but can still hold water?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and that's not a container...
An easy one!? The answer is SPONGE! Isn't that easy, my friend?
Dillon, Brandon, and Jacob are brothers. Assuming that all three of the following statements are true, which of them is the youngest? 1) Dillon is the oldest. 2) Brandon is not the oldest. 3) Jacob is not the youngest.
Think about what would happen if statement 1 were false...
Brandon is the youngest brother. Dillon cannot be the youngest brother because the first statement says that he is the oldest; he can't be the oldest brother and the youngest one at the same time. Jacob cannot be the youngest brother either, because the third statement says that he is NOT the youngest; he can't be the youngest brother and NOT the youngest one at the same time. This leaves us with Brandon.
Lauren has a lemon tree. The number of lemons on the tree doubles every week. In 28 weeks, Lauren should expect the tree to be completely covered with fruit. How many weeks will it take for the tree to be half-covered with apples?
Pay close attention to the type of fruit mentioned in the question...
Zero. If I asked you about lemons, the answer would be 27 weeks because the number of lemons on Lauren's tree doubles every week. However, I asked you about APPLES, and they don't grow on lemon trees; therefore, the answer is zero.
I have a story about my friend Billy, and his morning routine: Billy woke up after a long sleep. He opened his closet door and began to get dressed. Then, he opened his bedroom door and went to the bathroom. There, Billy brushed his teeth and combed his hair. Afterward, he went to the kitchen to make breakfast. He opened up his fridge and took out a carton of eggs, a jug of orange juice, and a carton of milk. Billy then opened his cabinet and took out a bowl, a plate, and a box of his favorite cereal. Next, he opened the jug of OJ and a carton of milk, took two glasses, and poured himself a glass of OJ and a glass of milk. Then, Billy opened the box of cereal and poured it, as well as some milk, into the bowl. Next, he opened the carton of eggs, cooked one, and put it on the plate. Lastly, Billy closed the carton of eggs, the jug of OJ, and the carton of milk; he went to the open fridge and put the three items back. Billy could not wait to enjoy his breakfast. The question is: what did Billy open FIRST?
Think about the very beginning of Billy's morning routine...
Billy opened his eyes first. At the beginning of the story, Billy woke up, which meant that prior to the events of the story, he was sleeping. We don't sleep with our eyes OPEN; we sleep with them CLOSED, which means Billy woke up and opened his eyes first before doing anything else.
I went to the zoo today and I saw four parrots, three flamingoes, and six tigers. How many birds did I see in total?
Think about the categories of animals mentioned... Are all of them birds?
I saw seven birds: the four parrots and the three flamingoes. Tigers are not birds, so you're not supposed to count them.
Bianca lives in a bungalow that is entirely blue–the walls are blue, the floor and ceiling are blue, and all of the furniture is blue. What color are the stairs?
Think about the type of house Bianca lives in...
A bungalow only has one floor; therefore, the stairs wouldn't be any color because they don't exist.
Which statement is correct? 1) 119 and 19 is 128. 2) 119 and 19 are 128.
Think about the difference between "is" and "are" in grammar, and how it relates to the numbers in the statements.
Neither statement is true; 119 and 19 are 138, not 128.
Many different types of my last seven letters can be found in newspapers, magazines, & journals. Physicists have built devices to get me moving very fast. What am I?
Think about a word that has multiple meanings, and its last 7 letters relate to written publications, while also being connected to speed and physics...
Particles!
A boat capsized there are no survivors and there are only 20 people on the boat but 24 heads are in the water. How is this possible?
Some of the "heads" in the water aren't human...
Easy twenty foreheads.
Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. Who are the three people?
Think about different generations of a family...
Grandfather, father, and son.
What starts with E, ends with E, but only contains one letter?
Think about something you might find in an envelope...
It's an envelope! You have to think about it literally; an "envelope" begins with E, ends with E, and only contains one letter–the "letter" is the letter you type/write. Some people believe it could be "eye" or "Eve" or "ewe", however, those things contain THREE letters (yes, you have to count the E's in each word because E is also a letter).
I am colorless, weightless, and all around you. Having me makes it easy to live, seeing me is impossible to do. What am I?
Think about something that is always present, yet invisible, and is essential for human survival...
Oxygen.
My family is known to be crazy; I'm good when I'm alone and when spread I am amazing; It's a matter of taste; I'm good for your health, bad for your waist. What am I?
Think about a type of food that's often associated with family gatherings and celebrations, but can also be enjoyed on your own...
Peanut
My first half is a container and I am language understood by few if any. What am I?
Think about a type of container that is often associated with ancient civilizations, and a language that is no longer spoken in everyday life...
Jargon.
When is a door not a door?
Think about words and meanings, not physical objects...
When it is ajar.
How far can you run into a desert?
Think about the word "into" very carefully...
Half ways the other half you're running out.
What grows down as it grows up?
Think about something that changes its appearance or structure as it develops, but in a seemingly contradictory way...
A goose.
A man had 12 sheep. All but 9 died. How many sheep did he have left?
Think about the wording of the question very carefully... "All but 9" is a clever phrase!
Nine.
What falls and rises but never moves?
Think about something that changes its position or state, but its physical location remains the same...
A stockmarket.
Donny was driving his semi under an overpass when suddenly he came to a screeching halt. Donny wasn't paying enough attention and inadvertently drove under the overpass that was just barely as high as his truck. The semi was wedged so tightly that he could not go forward or backward. A fellow trucker came by and told him how he could easily get the semi out from under the bridge. What did he suggest?
Think about what's not nailed down on a semi-truck...
He told Don to let some air out of his tires. This would make the truck lower and allow him to pass through.
There is 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in a hour, how many seconds are in a race?
Think about the word "race" and its multiple meanings...
1. In a race, only 1 person can get second place.
I come across as flat, But theirs more to me than my surface; You climb my moutains from top to bottom, And fall from bottom to top. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a library or a bookstore...
Ocean
What is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?
Think about a common, everyday situation where you might find yourself in a tricky predicament...
Trouble.
What are three things that have eyes, yet can't see?
Think about objects you might find in a kitchen or a workshop...
Needle, storm and potato.
What animal would you get crossed a duck, a beaver, and an otter?
Think about the characteristics of each animal and how they relate to a common trait... it's all about their homes!
A platypus.
Which is the oldest tree?
Think about the answer that's not a specific type of tree, but rather a characteristic that defines its age...
The elder.
On which side of a church is the graveyard always situated?
Think about the word "always" in the question...
On the outside, of course.
How do chiropractors swim laps?
They use a "spinal" stroke!
They do the back stroke.
How did the court know the judge was ready for bed?
Think about a common phrase associated with judges and courtrooms, and how it might be altered to indicate the judge's readiness for bed...
He was wearing his robe.
What animal probably likes doors?
Think about an animal that often finds itself on both sides of a door...
A doormouse.
What does a newspaper reporter use to dry himself after his shower?
Think about the tools of the trade...
Paper towels.
Why are trees in winter like troublesome visitors?
Think about how trees change during winter, and how that change might be similar to how you might feel about certain visitors...
Because it's a long time before they leave.
The letters of the alphabet but only just a few; It's hard to say if I was invented or just discovered by you. What am I?
Think about a fundamental concept in language and communication that is based on a select few alphabet letters, and consider the age-old debate about whether it was intentionally created or naturally emerged from human expression.
Music
What is the only common four-letter English word that ends in the suffix -eny?
Think about a feeling or emotion that is often associated with being grateful or appreciative...
Deny.
Tara has $29.00 dollars. She bought 4 coloring books that cost $3.00 each, 4 boxes of Crayola crayons that cost $2.00 each. She spends the rest of her money on markers. How much money did she spend on markers?
Think about how much money Tara had left after buying the coloring books and crayons...
She spent $9.00 on markers.
Why is coffee like an axe with a dull edge?
Think about how both coffee and an axe with a dull edge can be "grinding"...
Because it must be ground before it is used.
Why were outlaws the strongest men in the Old West?
Think about the word "outlaws" and what it means to be "out" something...
They could hold up trains.
What do bumblebees sing in the shower?
Think about a common musical genre that's often associated with water...
BeeBop.
How is an escaping prisoner like an airplane pilot?
Both have a "flight" plan!
Both want safe flights.
I go up and down the stairs without moving. What am I?
Think about something that is present on the stairs, but doesn't actually climb or descend...
I am a carpet
What does the artist like to draw best?
Think about what an artist uses to create their work...
His salary.
What do you use to hoe a row, slay a foe, and wring with woe?
Think about words that have multiple meanings and can be used in different contexts...
Your hands.
Runs over fields and woods all day Under the bed at night sits not alone, With long tongue hanging out, Awaiting for a bone. What am I?
Think about something that can be found in the countryside, but also has a special place to rest in a typical household...
A shoe.
What do ghosts do before they enter a haunted house?
Think about what people often do before entering a new place...
Wipe their sheets.
A certain number has three digits. The sum of the three digits equals 36 times this number. Seven times the left digit plus 9 is equal to 5 times the sum of the two other digits. 8 times the second digit minus 9 is equal to the sum of the first and third. What is the number?
Pay attention to the relationships between the digits, especially the left digit, which seems to be the key to unlocking the solution. Think about how the equations can be used to set up a system of linear equations to solve for the digits.
This one is fairly easy - 324 is the answer.
What are the only 2 states that have their state name in their capital?
Think about the words that make up the state names and their capitals... you might find that the answer lies in the fact that these two states have a certain "title" or "honorific" in their names.
Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.
Why was the dog kicked out of the flea circus?
"Think about the job description of a performer in a flea circus..."
Because he stole the show!
When may a man call his wife "honey"?
Think about the different meanings of the word "honey"...
When she has a comb in her hair.
What do computer programmers sing in the shower?
Think "algorithm" meets "melody"...
Disc-o.
My fleece is white as snow. Everywhere that Mary goes, I go. What am I?
Think about a common item that Mary, from the famous nursery rhyme, might carry with her wherever she goes...
A lamb.
Through me, you see through things. What am I?
"Think about something you use every day to gaze at the world around you..."
An X-ray machine.
Why are 1999 ten pound notes worth more than 1993 ten pound notes?
Think about the faces that appear on the notes...
Because there are more of them!
My tines be long, My tines be short, My tines end ere, My first report., What am I?
Think about something you might find on a desk or in a office supply closet, and consider the different lengths and purposes of its "tines"...
lightning
On a fine sunny day, a ship was in the harbor. All of a sudden the ship began to sink. There was no storm and nothing wrong with the ship yet it sank right in front of the spectators' eyes. What caused the ship to sink?
Think about the circumstances of the scene: a fine sunny day, a harbor, and spectators watching... What might be happening on this sunny day that could affect the ship?
The "Submarine" Captain ordered the crew to dive.
What is a bare-faced liar?
Think about a person's face, and what's usually on it...
One without whiskers.
Why was the fisherman arrested?
Think about a common phrase people use when they're trying to get away with something...
For packing a rod.
I change color from time to time. Wear me, and I'll tell you your ____. What am I?
Think about something you wear on your wrist that changes color or displays different information at different times, and it might just reveal a personal characteristic...
A moodstone
Would you rather have a tiger or lion eat you?
Think about the sounds they make...
I'd rather have the tiger eat the lion.
How can you be sure the engine in your car isn't missing?
Look under the hood, but also think about the question itself...
Lift the hood and look in.
When is a bump like a hat?
Think about a specific part of the body where you might find a bump, and how it might resemble a type of hat...
When it is felt.
A man walked in to a bar and asked for a glass of water the bar man took out a gun and poined it at him the man who asked for the glass of water just smiled and walked away happy Why?
Think about the man's unusual reaction to the bartender's aggressive behavior... Is there something about the man's original request that might have triggered this response?
He had the hicupps
Blend a teapot shot so the pearlies won't rot! What is it?
Think about a common phrase or instruction often given to people, especially children, related to oral hygiene...
Toothpaste!
A boy had just got out of the shower and getting ready for his prom, shaved, and with cologne and there was going to be an after-party, and his mom, and dad said to be home for the next sunrise and was home for the next sunrise but with a full-grown beard. How can this be?
Think about the timing and the phrase "next sunrise"... it's not just about the boy's activities that night.
He lives in Alaska and sunrises are every six months.
In 2000, a 40-year-old doctor told his son that when a little boy he decided to be a doctor by seeing a internet web site about performing a heart transplant on a puppy with a defective heart so that the puppy would live a normal life. I then thought that I would be a doctor so that I could help people in a similar way. What is the defect in this story?
Think about the timeline: when did the internet become widely available, and when was the first heart transplant performed?
The internet did not exist when the doctor was a little boy.
If a stopper and a bottle cost $2.10 and the bottle costs $2.00 more than the stopper. Then what does the stopper cost?
Think about it like this: if the bottle costs $2.00 more than the stopper, that means the stopper's cost is a certain amount, and the bottle's cost is that amount plus $2.00. Can you use that to set up an equation and solve for the stopper's cost?
Five Cents.
My first is in chocolate but not in ham, my second's in cake and also in jam, my third at tea-time is easily found, my whole is a friend who's often around. What am I?
Think about the words that describe a common companion, and pay attention to the first letter of each line...
A Cat!
Where on Earth do the winds always blow from the South?
Think about a very specific location on our planet where the winds are affected by its unique geography...
The North Pole.
What is bought by the yard and worn by the foot?
Think about something that is measured and sold in units of length, but its purpose is to be worn on a specific part of the body...
Carpet.
What's the word inside the riddle?
The answer is a common, everyday word that you might find in a kitchen or a desk drawer. It's a noun, and it's something that you can hold in your hand.
The iddl.
I have three USA coins. They are not a quarter, dime or penny and they add up to 60 cents. What are the coins?
Think about the remaining denominations of US coins and consider the possibility of using one coin multiple times...
A 50 cent piece and 2 nickels.
When is the best time to have lunch?
Think about the word "lunch" itself...
After breakfast.
What did the pen say to the paper?
Think about a common phrase or expression that involves writing...
Lets run away and WRITE
A forest exists somewhere on Earth. This forest has no life except for trees. After a storm, a tree was hit by lightning and falls. What sound would it make?
Think about what makes a sound when a tree falls in a forest...
None. Sound does not exist if it is unheard.
What word is spelled the same way front and backward?
Think about a word that is often used to describe a person's appearance...
Racecar is racecar backwards.
What is 1/2 of 1/4 of 2/9 of 3/7 of 84?
Follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) and work from the inside out!
The answer is 1. 3/7 of 84 = 36 2/9 of 36 = 8 1/4 of 8 = 2 1/2 of 2 = 1
What can go up a chimney down, but cannot go down a chimney up?
Think about the direction of travel, but also consider the state of something when it's going up versus going down...
An umbrella.
Why is Europe like a frying pan?
Think about the shape of Europe on a map and a common feature found in many frying pans...
Because it has Greece at the bottom.
Samuel was out for a walk when it started to rain. He did not have an umbrella and he wasn't wearing a hat. His clothes were soaked, yet not a single hair on his head got wet. How could this happen?
Think about Samuel's physical characteristics...
This man is bald!
How do you spell COW in thirteen letters?
Think about a phrase that describes where a cow might live...
SEE O DOUBLE YOU.
There are two monkeys on a tree and one jumps off. Why does the other monkey jump too?
Think about the reason behind the first monkey's jump...
Monkey see monkey do.
A pet shop owner had a parrot with a sign on its cage that said "Parrot repeats everything it hears". Davey bought the parrot and for two weeks he spoke to it and it didn't say a word. He returned the parrot but the shopkeeper said he never lied about the parrot. How can this be?
Think about what Davey did (or didn't do) during those two weeks...
The parrot was deaf.
Why did Tigger go to the bathroom?
Think about Tigger's most notable characteristic...
He wanted to find his friend, Pooh!
There are 30 cows in a field, and 28 chickens. How many didn't?
Think about the question being asked... it's not about the number of animals, but rather about the action they're doing.
10. Listen closely: 30 cows and twenty-eight chickens. Say EIGHT and ATE. They sound the same. Therefore, it means 20 ATE chickens. 30-20=10, so 10 cows didn't eat any chickens.
Why did Snap, Crackle and Pop get scared?
They stumbled upon a "shocking" truth about their breakfast routine...
They heard there was a cereal killer on the loose.
If two snakes marry, what will their towels say?
Think about a common phrase often found on towels, and how it might be adapted to reflect the slithery nature of the snakes...
Hiss and Hers.
Johnny's dad had told Johnny that if he could get an A+ on his final exam, he could get any ice cream flavor he wanted plus a pizza. When the day for the final exam came, the professor said, "There are three questions on this exam. You will have one hour to answer them all and no more. Anyone caught taking any longer or cheating will get an automatic F." When Johnny received the paper, he read the first question. As he read it, he realized the exam was no piece of cake so he worked as hard as he could. When he finally finished question one, he checked the clock. There was only 5 minutes left! At this rate, he wouldn't be able to finish in time. As Johnny looked around, he saw that there were hundreds of students and figured that he could get away with a few extra minutes, so he worked away past the hour mark. As Johnny went to turn in his paper, the professor stopped him. "Young man," the professor said sternly. "I saw you keep working long after the 1-hour mark. You were caught cheating and will get an F." Thinking quickly, Johnny replied, "Do you know who I am?" The professor stoically responded, "I neither know or care who you are. You need to learn respect and discipline." "Good." said Johnny and he ran away. When the day for the exam scores to be announced came, Johnny received an A+. How?
Here's a hint: Think about the question "Do you know who I am?" and what Johnny's dad had promised him...
When the professor confirmed Johnny's anonymity (the professor didn't know who he was), Johnny quickly slipped his exam paper into the pile of exams and ran off, so the professor wouldn't know which exam paper deserved an F. Congratulations on sticking through the whole riddle.
Sometimes I am born in silence, Other times, no. I am unseen, But I make my presence known. In time, I fade without a trace. I harm no one, but I am unpopular with all. What am I?
Think about something that can arise from both calm and chaotic situations, and its existence is often felt rather than seen...
A fart.
A logician with some time to kill in a small town decided to get a haircut. The town had only two barbers, each with his own shop. The logician glanced into one shop and saw that it was extremely untidy. The barber needed a shave, his clothes were unkempt, and his hair was badly cut. The other shop was extremely neat. The barber was freshly shaved and spotlessly dressed, his hair neatly trimmed. Why did the logician return to the first shop for his haircut?
Think about the type of person each barber is likely to attract as a customer...
Each barber must have cut the other's hair. The logician picked the barber who had given his rival the better haircut.
What type of music do rabbits listen to?
Think about a genre of music that is often associated with "hopping" or "bouncing" movements...
Hip hop.
There was a man who wanted to prove his love to his wife. So, he climbed the highest mountain, swam the deepest ocean and walked the biggest desert. What do you think his wife said?
Think about what a loving partner might say in response to an over-the-top display of devotion...
Nothing. She divorced him for never being at home.
Why can't a pirate ever finish the alphabet?
Shiver me timbers! Think about a pirate's favorite letter...
Because he always gets lost at sea!
What has wheels and flies, but it is not an aircraft?
Think about something you might find in a garage or a driveway, and it's not alive...
A garbage truck.
What kind of running means walking?
Think about a specific type of "running" that involves a sequence of steps, but doesn't necessarily imply moving quickly...
Running out of gas!
What kind of candy would a prisoner want before he is executed?
Think about the last thing a prisoner might want to "escape" from before their sentence is carried out...
A Life Saver.
How did the pancake hurt itself?
Think about a common cooking method used to prepare pancakes...
Doing backflips.
If fish lived on land, where would they live?
Think about a type of "home" that is often associated with water, but could also exist on land...
In Finland.
A farmer has twenty sheep, ten pigs, and ten cows. If we call the pigs cows, how many cows will he have?
Think about the wording of the question very carefully... it's not asking about the actual animals, but rather about what we **call** them.
Ten Cows. We can call the pigs cows but it doesn't make them cows.
When does a British potato change its nationality?
Think about a common process that happens to potatoes, and how it might relate to nationality...
When it becomes a french fries.
I am white, black and read all over. What am I?
Think about something you might find on a shelf, with pages that have writing on them...
Newspaper!
Where do you take a sick pirate ship?
Think about a place where you'd take a sick person, but with a pirate twist...
To the dock!
If life gets tough, what do you have that you can always count on?
Think about something that is always with you, no matter what situation you're in...
Your fingers!
What animal keeps the best time?
Think about an animal that is often associated with a circular object that helps us keep track of time...
A Watchdog.
Is an old hundred-dollar bill better than a new one?
Think about the condition of the bill, not its value...
Well, it's worth 99 more dollars.
How does the gingerbread man make his bed?
Think about the gingerbread man's ingredients...
With cookie sheets.
Where do cows go to dance?
"Moo-ve over to a place where you might find a 'herd' of fun..."
The Meatball.
Why do chickens lay eggs?
Think about the purpose of eggs in a chicken's life cycle...
Because if they drop them, they will break.
What is a ghost's favorite fruit?
Think about a type of fruit that's often associated with being "boo-tiful" and "spooky" around Halloween...
BOO-BERRIES!
When is homework not homework?
Think about a specific situation where you might typically do homework, but the work you're doing isn't actually assigned by a teacher...
When it's done at school.
Why don't zombies eat popcorn with their fingers?
Think about the physical characteristics of zombies and how they might affect their ability to eat popcorn...
Because they prefer to eat their fingers separately.
What happened to Einstein when he took a shower?
Think about the concept of "mass" in physics...
He was brain-washed.
Why don't cows have money?
Think about where cows live...
Because the farmer milks them dry.
How many hairs are in a bunny rabbit's tail?
Here's a hint: Think about the type of hair you're asking about...
None. They are all outside.
Why do dragons sleep all day?
Think about a common phrase associated with dragons, and how it might relate to their daily habits...
So they can hunt knights! Play on the words "night" and "knight".
What is it that is deaf, dumb and blind and always tells the truth?
Think about something that can't perceive the world around it, but still conveys information in a straightforward way...
A Mirror.
What is one thing that all wise men, regardless of their politics or religion, agree is between heaven and earth?
Think about a word that is often found in the middle of two extremes...
The word 'And'.
If a fire hydrant has H2O inside, what does it have on the outside?
"Think about what's often associated with fire hydrants, and it's not just water..."
K9P (you'll get it eventually).
There are 10 dogs in a yard. 3 go out, 4 run behind a tree, and 2 jump in the hole. How many are left?
Think about the wording of the riddle... Are the dogs really "going out", "running behind", and "jumping in"? Or is something else going on here?
10. Because none of them left the yard.
When do truck drivers stop to eat?
Think about the words on a truck driver's schedule...
Whenever they come to a fork in the road.
What's a grammar nerd's favorite political theory?
Think about the parts of speech...
Comma-unism
What TV program should you watch in the bathtub?
Think about a TV show that has a name that's also a common activity people do in the bathtub...
Soap operas.
Why are ghosts bad at lying?
"You can see right through them..."
Because you can see right through them.
I can be confusing. I can be frustrating. I can be good. I can be funny. What am I?
Think about something that can be interpreted in different ways, often leaving people puzzled or annoyed, but can also bring joy and amusement...
A riddle.
Who is bigger: Mrs. Bigger, Mr. Bigger, or their 4-year-old son?
Think about the meaning of their last name...
The son because he is a little Bigger!
What did the ocean say to the beach?
Think about a common phrase people use to express a sentimental feeling, and see if you can "sea" the connection...
I'm not shore.
If a papa bull eats three bales of hay and a baby bull eats one bale, how much hay will a mama bull eat?
Think about the words "papa", "mama", and "baby"... are they just random titles, or is there a pattern hidden in them?
Nothing. There is no such thing as a mama bull.
What is in front of a woman and at the end of a cow?
Think about words and their letter arrangements...
The letter W.
What would you do if you broke a tooth while flossing?
Think about the action of flossing and what it's intended to do...
Use tooth paste to glue it back together.
What does it take to make an octopus laugh?
Ten tickles!
Ten-tickles (tentacles).
A man was pushing his car along the road when he comes to a hotel. He shouts "I'm bankrupt!' Why did the man shout that out?
Think about a game where people often shout out this phrase...
Because he was playing Monopoly.
Where did pilgrims land when they arrived in America?
Think about a part of the body that's often "stepped" on...
On their feet.
Excuse me, waiter, this food tastes funny?
Think about the situation, not the food itself...
Then why aren't you laughing?
What would you get if you crossed a rabbit and a lawn sprinkler?
A refreshing combination! Think about something that "hops" around and also "waters" the lawn...
Hare spray.
What did the pencil say to the other pencil?
"Think about a common phrase people use when they're trying to get someone to agree with them..."
You're looking sharp.
10 copycats were sitting in a car. One came out. How many are left?
Think about the word "copycat" and what it means...
None, as they were copycats they copied each other.
Why is the baseball field hot after a game?
Think about the people who are always running around on the field during a game...
All the fans left.
Why aren't elephants allowed on the beach?
Think about a common beach rule that might not be suitable for elephants...
They can't keep their trunks up!
How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
"Think about the state of the egg before you drop it..."
Concrete floors are very hard to crack.
What is a good restaurant for a basketball team?
"Think about a place where the team can 'rebound' and 'dunk' into something delicious..."
Dunkin Donuts.
Why couldn't the pirate play cards?
Think about a pirate's physical attributes that might make it difficult for them to hold or handle certain objects...
Because he was standing on the deck.
What is the name of the ugliest tree?
Think about a type of tree that's often associated with a particular date in October...
Yew.
Why did the computer show up late to work?
Think about a common issue that computers often face, one that might cause delays...
It had a hard drive!
How do you get a tissue to dance?
Put a little "boogie" in its name!
Put a little boogie in it!
What did the traffic lights say to the cars?
Think about the different "voices" or "instructions" that traffic lights give to drivers...
“Don’t look I’m changing!”
What makes a pair of shoes?
Think about the word "sole" in a different way...
Two shoes.
What kind of car, or vehicle, does a sheep drive?
Think about a type of vehicle that is often associated with rural areas, where sheep are commonly found...
“Lamb”orghini (Lamborghini)
What kind of cheese is made backwards?
Think about the spelling of a common type of cheese...
EDAM cheese. ( 'made' backwards is edam )
I can sizzle like bacon, I am made with an egg, I have plenty of backbone, but lack a good leg, I peel layers like onions, but still remain whole, I can be long, like a flagpole, yet fit in a hole. What am I?
Think about something that's often associated with breakfast, has a structural component, and can be found in various lengths...
I'm a snake.
What would you get if 120 rabbits took one step backward at the same time?
Think about the concept of "progress" rather than the physical movement of the rabbits...
A receding hair line.
A student asked his teacher, "Miss, is it fair if I get in trouble for something I did not do?" The teacher replied, "Of course not! Tell me who got you in trouble for something you didn't do?" What do you think the student replied with?
Think about the teacher's response as a clever trick question...
"Miss, I forgot to do my Homework again!"
What happened when the rubber duckie fell into the bathtub?
It got "cleaned up" in more ways than one!
It quacked up.
Why can't you play basketball with pigs?
Think about the physical characteristics of pigs that might make it difficult to play a certain aspect of basketball...
Because they will "hog" the ball!
Why don't African animals play games?
Think about a common rule or restriction often found in games...
There are too many cheetahs!
Why can't you say a joke on ice?
Think about the properties of ice...
Because it'll crack up!
Why are the nose and feet confusing body parts?
Think about the words used to describe their directions...
Because the Nose runs and the feet smell!
How can people without noses smell?
Think about a specific group of people who might not have noses, but still have a way of "smelling" something...
If they don't shower.
What did baby corn say to mother corn?
Think about a common phrase that children often say to their parents, and consider how it might be adapted to fit the corn theme...
Where is pop-corn?
Scientists have proven that cats have more hair on one side than on the other side. Some people believe that this is because when cats lay on their sides they need insulation from the cold on the floor or ground. Which side of a cat has more hair?
Think about the direction of a cat's whiskers...
The outside of the Cat of course!
What do grape students do when they have a question?
Think about a common phrase associated with asking questions, and how it might relate to grapes...
Rais-in their hand!
How do cows count?
Think about a cow's most distinctive feature...
They use a 'cow'nter.
Why did Sally throw butter out of the top window of a 20-story building?
Think about the phrase "butter someone up"... it might not be what you think it means in this case.
Sally wanted to see a butter fly!
How do trees surf the internet?
They don't... but they have a special connection!
They Log in!
How does a penguin build houses?
"Igloos" are not the answer... Think about the materials a penguin might use to build a house, and how they might use their unique physical features to construct it.
Igloos it together.
What runs but never walks?
Think about something that is often associated with movement, but doesn't have legs...
Water or a tap.
What is a good car for a cell phone?
Think about a "car" that can "hold" or "carry" something, and it's not a vehicle!
A Charger.
Where do coal diggers play baseball?
Think about a specific type of "field" that's related to coal diggers...
The minor (miner) leages.
What is a surgeons' favorite game?
"Think about a game that involves 'cutting' to the chase..."
Operation.
Why to you never bring a Pokemon into the bathroom with you?
Think about a Pokémon's type and a common bathroom feature...
They might pikachu (Peek at u)
Where did the cat go after loosing its tail?
Think about a common phrase that describes a location, and how it might relate to the cat's missing tail...
To the re-tail store.
What did the panda ghost say?
Think about a common phrase often associated with ghosts, and how a panda might influence the wording...
Bambooooooo
When is the time of a clock like the whistle of a train?
When it's two to two.
You're in a room with three monkeys, one has a stick, one has a banana, and one has nothing. Who is the smartest in the room?
You of course, is a monkey smarter then you?
Why did everybody like to go out to eat with the librarian?
She could always book a reservation.
What do you get when you toss a copper penny and a quarter into the blue sea?
Less money.
Why is the obtuse angle always cranky?
Because it is never right!
A fake noodle played Among Us. Was he a Crewmate or an Impostor?
He was an impostor, cuz fake noodle is impasta and impasta is similar to impostor.
What do you get when you cross Purell with the devil?
Hand Satanizer.
Where do daydreamers spend most of their time?
Riddles .com
What did the tourist say to a vampire?
Do you know a good place to get a bite?
Why should you never tell a secret at a farm?
The corn has ears, the potatoes have eyes, and the beanstalk (Beans talk)!
Why did the chicken cross the road twice, and jump in the mud?
He was a dirty double-crosser.
What happened to the burglar who broke into a calendar factory?
He got twelve months.
What did the left hand say to the right hand after the test?
Why do you always have to be RIGHT.
What did one water glass say to the other water glass when they fell off the table?
Nothing. They just cracked up.
What does a pickle say when it wants to enter a poker game?
"Dill me in."
What is the easiest way to double your money?
Put it in front of a mirror of course!
What kind of rocks are found in the Mississippi River?
Wet ones.
What does no man want, yet no man wants to lose?
His job.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has a big one. Michael J. has a short one. Madonna doesn't have one and the Pope never uses it. What is it?
A last name.
Why was the chef hired to coach the baseball team?
Because he knew how to handle batter(s).
What did the pirate say on his 80th birthday?
Arrgh! Aye Matey! (Arrgh! I'm 80!)
What can bring back the dead; make us cry, make us laugh, make us young; born in an instant yet lasts a lifetime?
Memories.
What insect does a blacksmith manufacture?
He makes the firefly.
Why don't cannibals eat clowns?
Think about the "taste" of a clown's profession...
Because they taste funny.
What did you think about the kidnaping in the park?
The key to this riddle is to realize that it's not asking for your opinion, but rather...
Don't worry they woke him up.
What comes first the chicken or the egg?
Think outside the barnyard... this question isn't about biology, but about a fundamental concept that applies to many areas of life.
Chicken! The word 'chicken' is in front of the word egg. Hence making it first.
What do you call a fly without wings?
"A walk in the park"
A walk. Another popular answer: A Zipper.
Does a giraffe get a sore throat if it gets wet feet?
Think about the connection between a giraffe's physical characteristics and the concept of "getting wet"...
Yes, but not until the following week.
Why are elephants so smart?
Think about the shape of their ears...
Because they have lots of gray matter.
What would you get if you crossed a giraffe with a rooster?
A tall story!
You'd get an animal that wakes people who live on the top floor.
How do you clean a dirty tuba?
Think about a phrase people often use when they're trying to get rid of something unwanted...
With a tuba toothpaste!
What kind of room has no doors or windows?
Think about a space that serves a specific purpose, and its "walls" are not physical...
A mush-room.
What does an Aardark like on its pizza?
Think about the Aardvark's natural habits and what it likes to eat in the wild...
Ant-chovies.
How did the farmer fix his jeans?
Think about the farmer's occupation and the tools he might use in his daily work...
With a cabbage patch!
What is black and white, black and white, black and white and green?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, and consider the different parts of it...
Three skunks eating a pickle.
A snail drew an s on his car. Why?
Think about the snail's mode of transportation...
So people can see the S CAR GO.
How are people like animals?
Think about the way people are often categorized or grouped together...
We have bare (bear) feet, frogs in our throats, calves in our legs and bull on our tongues.
What did the pirate captain say, when his crew turned down the volume of his favorite movie/musical?
"Think about a phrase that pirates are known for saying, and how it might relate to sound levels..."
"Yaaar! This be Mute-Annie!"
How do you know if there's an elephant under your bed?
Think about the sounds you might hear...
You bump your nose on the ceiling.
How are a fly and a mosquito different?
Think about the way they "sing"!
A mosquito can fly, but a fly cannot mosquito.
How can you eat and study at the same time?
Think about a common school supply that can also be a type of food...
Eat alphabet soup.
Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Think about a common phrase or expression that involves numbers...
Because 7,8,9. (Because seven ate nine.)
Many years ago a boy and a girl are planning to run off and get married. But the boy got cold feet and needed to tell the girl. He wanted to send a telegram, but only had enough money for one word. What one word did he send?
Think about a word that is often associated with weddings, but also has a very different meaning when used in a different context...
Cantaloupe.
What's wide at the bottom, narrow at the top, and has ears?
Think about something you might find in a farm or a field...
A mountain with mountainears
How do you send Easter Cards?
You might need to "hop" to it to figure this one out...
By hare mail!
Holding two swords and eight spears and dressed in a cow-leather tunic, I peek through a hole in the door. What am I?
Think about a common object you might find on a door, and consider how the description might be a clever play on words...
A Crab.
A traveling circuit judge and a local constable had friendly discussions about how to handle misbehavior in their city. This involves burglars, robbers, cattle rustlers, drunks, and ladies of the night. The options they discussed were to put them in jail, run them out of town, warn them, or try to rehabilitate them with books, music, and art. Since the circuit judge traveled, much of this correspondence have to be by telegraph. One day the constable apprehended a lady of the night and telegraphed the circuit judge asking what to do. He described her as being young and having just taken the wrong path. The circuit judge wanted to respond to the constable. But when he got to the telegraph office realized he had only enough money to send one word. What one word did he send?
"Reform."
Horticulture.
What is that which never uses its teeth for eating purposes?
Think about something that has teeth, but they're not meant for biting or chewing food...
A comb.
What did the baby robot say to his mom?
"Think about a common phrase mothers often hear from their little ones, but with a robotic twist..."
"I love you watts and watts."
What is a sheep's favorite type of chocolate?
Baa-utiful thinking is required for this one...
A Hersheys baaa.
What do you call a leprechaun's vacation home?
Think small, but luxurious, and remember that leprechauns are known for their love of something shiny...
A Lepre-condo.
Where do sailors take their baths?
Think about where sailors spend most of their time...
In a tubmarine.
What type of bean is a cannibals favorite to eat ?
Think about a type of bean that is also a person...
A Human Being.
When is a man like a snake?
Think about a specific situation where a man might shed something, just like a snake sheds its skin...
When he gets rattled.
How do you make a violin laugh?
Think about the different parts of a violin and how they might be related to laughter...
Tell it a fiddle riddle!
What snack does the Man in the Moon like?
Think about the shape of the Man in the Moon's face...
Space-chips.
I can run but not walk. Whereever I go, thought follows me close behind?
Think about something that can "move" quickly, but not in a physical sense, and is often accompanied by thoughts or ideas...
A nose.
What is the difference between a hungry man and a glutton?
"One is hungry for food, the other is food for thought."
One longs to eat and the other eats too long.
What snacks do you serve at a robot party?
Think about what makes robots "tick"...
Assorted nuts.
Where do Generals keep their armies?
Think about a place where Generals would typically store or keep track of their armies, and it's not a physical location...
Up their sleevies!
Why are opera singers good sailors?
Think about the kind of voices opera singers have and how it might be useful on the open water...
Because they can handle the seas!
How can you make a fly ball?
Think about a common object you might find in a kitchen, and how it could be used to create something that "flies" through the air...
Hit him with a bat.
What animal would you get crossed a duck, a beaver, and an otter?
Think about the characteristics of each animal, and how they relate to the answer. You might want to focus on what they all have in common, rather than their differences...
A platypus.
Which is the oldest tree?
Think about a type of "tree" that's not necessarily a living, growing thing...
The elder.
What is the proper length for a lady's skirt?
"Think about the lady's age..."
A little above two feet.
What do witches ask for when they stop at a hotel?
Think about what witches are known for riding...
Broom Service or A broom with a view.
How do chiropractors swim laps?
Think about the chiropractor's specialty...
They do the back stroke.
How can you tell if a ghost is about to faint?
It's a sign that's not quite visible...
He gets pale as a sheet.
How did the chimp fix the leaky faucet?
Think "outside the toolbox"!
With a monkey wrench.
Why do prisoners like to eat a lot of sweets?
Think about the "sentence" they're serving...
Because they would like to break out
How did the court know the judge was ready for bed?
Think about a judge's attire and a common bedtime activity...
He was wearing his robe.
What be the best way to escape the inside of a whale?
**HINT: Think about a natural process that occurs in whales, and how it might provide an exit strategy...**
Running as hard as you can until you’re all pooped out.
What does a stone become when in the water?
Think about the wordplay involved, and consider the multiple meanings of a single word...
A whetstone.
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.
What kind of sandwich sinks to the bottom of the tub?
Think about a type of sandwich that's often associated with being eaten in a relaxing, wet environment...
A submarine sandwich!
How are people like animals?
Think about the way people are often grouped together...
We have bare (bear) feet, frogs in our throats, calves on our legs and bull on our tongue.
Where do Turkeys go to dance?
Think about a type of event where people often dance, and consider the "fowl" play on words involved!
The Butter Ball.
What does a toilet with a funny accent have?
Think about a specific type of accent that's often associated with humor or comedy...
Irritable vowel syndrome!
What famous nurse wore her pajamas all day long?
Think about a nurse whose name is also a type of clothing...
Florence Nightingown.
What animal probably likes doors?
Think about an animal that often gets stuck or confined in small spaces...
A doormouse.
What does a newspaper reporter use to dry himself after his shower?
Think about a wordplay on a common newspaper element...
Paper towels.
Why did the jelly roll?
Think about a type of music and a common phrase associated with it...
It saw the apple turn over.
How did the hipster burn his tongue?
"He drank his coffee before it was cool..."
He sipped his coffee before it was cool.
How do you get into the great lakes?
"Think about the 'route' you'd take to get into the Great Lakes, rather than a physical entrance..."
With the Florida Keys.
Why is coffee like an axe with a dull edge?
Think about how both coffee and an axe with a dull edge can be "ground" down...
Because it must be ground before it is used.
What is the difference between a deer fleeing from hunters and a midget witch?
One is running from the hunt, the other is hunting for a run...
One is a hunted stag and the other a stunted hag.
What do bumblebees sing in the shower?
Think about a popular song genre that's often associated with water...
BeeBop.
How do hangmen keep up with current events?
They get a lot of "hanging" news updates!
They read the noose-paper.
What does the artist like to draw best?
Think about what an artist might draw that starts with the letter "L"!
His salary.