Back to 200 How, What & Why Riddles With Answers

200 How, What & Why Riddles With Answers

200 riddles · answers on the last page · riddleup.com/riddles/how-what-why-riddles

  1. Many things can create one, it can be of any shape or size, it is created for various reasons, and it can shrink or grow with time. What is it?
  2. In olden days, the student of logic was given this problem: If half of 5 were 3, what would one-third of 10 be?
  3. If I say I am lying, am I telling the truth?
  4. Why are 1990 dollar bills worth more than 1989 dollar bills?
  5. I am known everywhere as a criminal, yet I have never done anything illegal. I always have an inside angle on you, and there are two of me for every one of you. What am I?
  6. Whiling away the hours of flowers, Walking through fields of gold. Preening and pruning in lights fading hours, For petals to freeze in the cold. What is it?
  7. What two reasons why whispering in company is not proper?
  8. Why is a manhole cover round and not square? Can you guess the two reasons?
  9. I am coming here with a sense of unity and a cup of tea. What am I forming?
  10. Thursday, Nick and Rick went to a restaurant for dinner. The bill came out to $27. Nick and Rick each paid $9…but then, who paid the remaining $9?
  11. In this place, people lie, people cry, and people ask why. In this place, people sleep, people weep, and people's solitude, they keep. What is it?
  12. I cease to be after I commence, Here I am, then back once more. A simple treat for another sense. Given, taken, or stolen, a thing you can't ignore. What am I?
  13. Where once there were many, now there are none. Time has done ticking; the hours are done. For now is an end, but also beginning, For darkest is now, but soon shall be thinning. What is it?
  14. My veins of green may go unseen, Til on the ground I lay around. What am I?
  15. Every country has one, though we are not the same. Waving to our citizens, throughout the wind and rain. What is it?
  16. I make hair stand on end, whisper between radio stations, and yet I refuse to change. What am I?
  17. Adored by few, Feared and hated by many. Mistress of the entire universal reason, Master in the art of numbers. Some may have solved many of your mysteries, But there still much of them to find. What are they?
  18. I can provide a blessing, a curse, or clarity. I am always running, but I am stuck in a loop. And though I will rule you for most of your life, you will always look up to me. What am I?
  19. I peel to heal this pain I feel. What am I?
  20. Which word does not belong with the others? niart, emag, tluda, mom, dad, mistag, yub, or sega
  21. You use me everyday but let me rest at night. I have an identical twin beside me all the time. For some reason you always cover me up. I am not alive but I have a soul. What am I?
  22. Oh, what a surprise! Oh, what a miracle! It sprouted without a seed, It stood without a trunk. What is it?
  23. 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?
  24. Which is the largest room in the world?
  25. A rubber ball is tossed off the top of a 90 foot building. Every time it bounces, it goes back up half way. How many bounces will the ball take before it stops?
  26. Where on Earth do the winds always blow from the South?
  27. What is the best way to get from earth to mars?
  28. What is the difference between the North Pole and the South Pole?
  29. What's the greatest worldwide use of cowhide?
  30. Why is the largest city in Ireland likely to be the largest city in the world?
  31. Mr. Crocker's mom gave him a present for his birthday. This gift was special, since his name was known around the world. What was the gift?
  32. I'm from the Old World, and my name from Latin; I can be cured, or served with au gratin. What am I?
  33. Which is lighter, the sun or the earth?
  34. Endlessly, I hunger, Lazily, I sleep. Murderous, I thunder, Desires, I do seek. Hoarding countless treasures, so my stature I retain, Envious of others whose feet on Earth remain. What am I?
  35. My first is appropriate, my second 'tis nine to one if you guess it. My whole elevates the sole above the earth. What am I?
  36. I'm an object; good at drawing. I draw without using any drawing instrument, yet I can draw even better and faster than the world's best artist. But what I will draw won't stay permanent and what I draw may see me or not. What am I?
  37. What can emit an umbra on the earth, provide phosphorescence for all it's creatures. All while altering the visual surface of itself within phases?
  38. What song can everyone in the world sing?
  39. On Earth, I am dead, Though I live on the moon. I am in no crater, And I'm in every boom. What am I?
  40. I shake, but unlike the strength of an earthquake. You can find me both high and low, usually out of control. I can be considered both good or bad, sometimes used for both happy or sad. What am I?
  41. I have no eyes, no legs or ears, and I help move the earth. What am I?
  42. Even though the odds are always in favor of the gambling house, why does the establishment insist on a house limit on stakes?
  43. I create my lair with earthen string, and dispatch my prey with a biting sting. What am I?
  44. I am older than earth and am still living. I am a person. What am I?
  45. You cannot touch me. I cause anger and illness. My remedy is tangible. It spreads happiness throughout the world everyday. What am I?
  46. Where can you see the world but the world can't see you?
  47. There were two scientists who were looking through the woods. They found two people on the ground who where dead. They examined the two people and said they were the first people on earth. How did they know?
  48. I lie in the earth, and under the ground; A map may reveal me for journey's abound; I can be found in squares, to reduce down to size; Or at the end of a strand, where attachment lies. What am I?
  49. What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
  50. They can be harbored, but few hold water, You can nurse them, but only by holding them against someone else, You can carry them, but not with your arms, You can bury them, but not in the earth. What are they?
  51. Which is the biggest jam in the world?
  52. I came to prominence in the world during a time of trouble. I brought people together but helped keep them apart. I sound like I should go fast, but I am well known for taking too long to finish. What am I?
  53. I hold a thousand voices, yet not one sound I make. I open doors to worlds though I never roam or break. In lines I travel paths, but never take a step. When you seek new places, I am the map you've kept. What am I?
  54. I am black of eye and bright of hair. I fast in to the ground and follow my lord as he races around the world. What am I?
  55. I come to you shattered and broken; And though not a word will be spoken; I will reveal to you, a world all anew; If you've the patience to make me unbroken. What am I?
  56. I am a contained world that you can shake but please don't drop me because I may break. What am I?
  57. Many always do say that I am life. I occupy most part of the earth surface, yet I'm found in you. What am I?
  58. What has 1 in every corner, 2 in every room, but only 1 in the world?
  59. What is the most slippery country in the world?
  60. I am hewn from Earth and Fire; But to the sky, I aspire. I am nothing but contented; Until my patient rage is vented. What am I?
  61. What won't break if you throw it off the highest building in the world, but will break if you place it in the ocean?
  62. Which is the most shocking city in the world?
  63. What was the biggest island in the world before the discovery of Australia by Captain Cook?
  64. I give you all the money in the world but I receive nothing. What am I?
  65. I begin the earth and end the eclipse, I occur in seconds and minutes, but never in a hand although I am in a lifetime. What am I?
  66. What do cows give after an earthquake?
  67. I blossom like a flower, a hindrance I create, and save you from the earth, do not use me too late. What am I?
  68. What is the smallest bridge in the world?
  69. I'm first on earth, second in heaven, I appear twice in a week, and once in a year, I'm in the middle of the Sea. What am I?
  70. What is made of wood but no saw on earth is sharp enough to cut?
  71. I am in the beginning of the earth. I am at the end of the time. I appear two times in a week. I appear once in a year. What Am I?
  72. Say "silk" five times. Now, spell "silk." What do cows drink?
  73. I'm fatherless and motherless and born without sin. Roaring when entering the world, I never speak again. What am I?
  74. What is always traveling, has life, has sense but doesn't live?
  75. We capture light, and yet we don't. We reflect rays of sun, and yet we don't. Without us all the world is gray and dull for everyone. What are we?
  76. I come right in front of Earth, at the end of time, and twice in a week. What am I?
  77. What is the sharpest thing in the world?
  78. I soar without wings, I see without eyes. I've traveled the universe to and fro. I've conquered the world, yet I've never been anywhere but home. Who am I?
  79. Here on earth it is true, yesterday is always before today; but there is a place where yesterday always follows today. Where?
  80. What is one thing that all wise men, regardless of their politics or religion, agree is between heaven and earth?
  81. Why can't the world ever come to an end?
  82. Three lives have I. Gentle enough to soothe the skin, Light enough to caress the sky, Hard enough to crack rocks. What am I?
  83. A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, and I'm the torment of man. Who Am I?
  84. What travels around the world but stays in one spot?
  85. There is an ancient invention, still used in some parts of the world today, that allows people to see through walls. What is it?
  86. Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?
  87. My first is high, My second damp, My whole a tie, A writer's cramp. What am I?
  88. A book costs $1 plus half its price. How much does it cost?
  89. Tara has $29.00 dollars. She bought 4 coloring books that cost $3.00 each, and 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?
  90. What is that which has many leaves, but no stem?
  91. I am the king's, given by the people; Used by the king, on the people who gave him; everyone obeys him because he has me. What am I?
  92. Why were the notebooks afraid to go to college?
  93. I am very important to all living creatures. I was firstborn in the sun. I am a chapter in textbooks and I am not made of fire. I make the sun-worthy. Too much of me may kill you. But humans can still prevent me. What am I?
  94. What makes "Book, Box, and Noon" the same?
  95. Don't judge a book by its cover. What is the contradictory proverb?
  96. There once was a book that was only owned by the wealthy, but now everyone can have it. You can't buy it in a bookstore or take it from a library. What book is it?
  97. I sit here collecting dust, I can wait forever to open me and you will not be disappointed, I can make you laugh, cry, and sad, I contain all the knowledge of the world, let me take you to a faraway land. What am I?
  98. What is the highest public building in your city?
  99. Four legs I do have, yet I never walk. I work not, yet I have food. All the food I get, none do I eat but you do. I cannot read yet many times I'm found with books. I am only but a carpenter's work. What am I?
  100. I wiggled and cannot see, sometimes underground and sometimes on a tree. I really don't want to be on a hook, and I become a person when combined with a book. What am I?
  101. Where do books sleep?
  102. What are the smartest creatures?
  103. Why did everybody like to go out to eat with the librarian?
  104. There were 5 children in a room. Iris drew a picture, Barry played video games, Andrew played chess, and Trina read a book. What is the fifth child, Mindy, doing?
  105. My numbers may vary, thin as a sheet, take one away, and we're just not complete. What am I?
  106. What did one math book say to another?
  107. I am the shell of something interesting. My front is very eye-catching but my inside tells all. What am I?
  108. My life is often a volume of grief, your help is needed to turn a new leaf. Stiff is my spine and my body is pale, but I'm always ready to tell a tale. What am I?
  109. A teacher is yelling, she closes the door, the window, and a book. What did she forget to close?
  110. Where do bedtime books sleep?
  111. What did one math book say to the other math book?
  112. Why was the student's homework in his father's handwriting?
  113. Why was Miss Cow sad?
  114. Why was the ocean arrested?
  115. Why was the Joke Factory made to close down?
  116. Why was the plumber so tired?
  117. Why was Cinderella bad at sports?
  118. Why was the photographer arrested?
  119. Why was the cell phone wearing glasses?
  120. Why was the geologist's wife unhappy?
  121. Why was the nose so tired?
  122. Why was the picture sent to jail?
  123. Why was the broom late?
  124. What can be heard and caught but never seen?
  125. What can go up a chimney down, but cannot go down a chimney up?
  126. A prisoner is told, 'If you tell a lie we will hang you; if you tell the truth we will shoot you.' What can he say to save himself?
  127. What can double in number, but is still singular?
  128. What can grasp the world's edges with great precision, yet always perceive the imagery as vague conceptions?
  129. What can emit an umbra on the earth, and provide phosphorescence for all its creatures, all while altering the visual surface of itself within phases?
  130. What can be done but not undone?
  131. If every second equals a minute every minute equals an hour every hour equals a day every day equals a month and every month equals a year. What can equal one year?
  132. I'm two for one, I speckle and I sparkle, I give and I take, and I come in many forms. Who or what can I be?
  133. What can you find in Texas but not in the states of Ohio, Utah, or Iowa?
  134. What can be seen, but cannot be touched, and when put in a barrel, will make the barrel lighter?
  135. What can be given and can be accepted, is worth a great deal but costs nothing, yet has no monetary value?
  136. What can be underwater, under fire, on fire, and taking water all at the same time?
  137. What can burn the eyes, sting the mouth, yet be consumed?
  138. What can you hear, but not see or touch, even though you control it?
  139. What can bring tears to your eyes, make you move faster, make you move slower, and knock you over?
  140. What can go forward but never back?
  141. What can cut like a knife, sting like a bee, bite like a lion? Carry truth and lies but never move or speak?
  142. What can you throw but never catch and throw it again?
  143. What can bring back the dead; make us cry, make us laugh, make us young; born in an instant yet lasts a lifetime?
  144. What can be held without hands but has to be let go?
  145. What can be put in a cup, but never be taken out?
  146. What can you break without hitting or dropping it?
  147. What can be forever wound up but never annoyed?
  148. A prisoner was stuck in a metal room with a metal door that was locked. There were no windows and nothing in the room but a piano. What can he do to escape?
  149. What can chew, but can't eat?
  150. What can climb mountains, cross streams, and handle hundreds of feet each day, yet never move?
  151. What can be saved but not made, can be taken but not given, can be short or long, and can be happy or sad?
  152. What can be used only once and after it's used it will be gone?
  153. What can you put in a barrel, that will make the barrel lighter?
  154. What can't be burned in fire, nor drowned in water?
  155. What can fill a room and a bowl but not change shape?
  156. What can run but can't walk?
  157. What's more precious than ruby, more lasting than gold, what can never be traded stolen, or sold, What comes with great effort, takes time but then once yours will serve you again and again?
  158. Fashions change but what can a person wear that is never out of style?
  159. What can't be put into a saucepan?
  160. What can you break without holding it?
  161. What can be lost, but not returned?
  162. What can be seen in the middle of March and April that cannot be seen at the beginning or end of either month?
  163. What can you find in the center of gravity?
  164. What can be picked but not chosen?
  165. What can fill a room but take up no space?
  166. What can be stolen, mistaken, or altered, yet never leave you your entire life?
  167. What can be touched but can't be seen?
  168. What can be swallowed, but can also swallow you?
  169. What can hold water even though it has holes?
  170. What can go up and come down without moving?
  171. What can run, but never walk; has a mouth, but never talk; has a head, but never weeps; has a bed, but never sleeps?
  172. What can you hold in your right hand, but not in your left?
  173. What can you catch but never throw?
  174. What can point in every direction but can't reach the destination by itself?
  175. John was very tired after a long day of work. He went to bed at 10 p.m., wound his alarm clock, and set it for noon the next day. Since John fell asleep almost immediately, how many hours of sleep did he get before the alarm woke him?
  176. There are two moms and two daughters. One mom is the daughters mom. The other mom is the mom's mom. One daughter is the mom for the little daughter. One daughter is the little daughter. How many people are all together?
  177. I have 10 books and I label them with their number. I take seven out to read. How many books are left?
  178. How many Easter eggs can you put into an empty basket?
  179. If you have 10 peaches and take 7 peaches away, how many do you have?
  180. A new medical building containing 100 offices had just been completed. Mark was hired to paint the numbers 1 to 100 on the doors. How many times will Mark have to paint the number nine?
  181. A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die. How many are left alive?
  182. You are sitting at a table eating lunch and there are ten flies on the table. With a quick swat, you are able to kill three flies. How many flies are left on the table?
  183. There are 10 bombs on the ground, 1 bomb explodes. How many bombs are there left?
  184. If it takes 3 people to dig 1 hole how many people does it takes for 1/2 an hole?
  185. I went to city OZ on the way I saw four women, with four bags, who had four kittens. Each woman had two children with her. How many people went to the city OZ? (count correctly)
  186. How many bananas can you eat on an empty stomach?
  187. How many months have 28 days?
  188. If two peacocks lay two eggs in two days how many eggs does one peacock lay in four days?
  189. As I was going to the fair, I saw a man with golden hair. He had 3 sons each with another one. How many people were going to the fair?
  190. How many gold coins can a leprechaun throw in an empty pot?
  191. In a stable there are men and horses. In all, there are 22 heads and 72 feet. How many men and how many horses are in the stable?
  192. If a wheel has 64 spokes, how many spaces are there between the spokes?
  193. If you have three oranges and you take away two, how many will you have?
  194. John has 10 siblings 4 boys and 6 girls he has a mother and father. How many people are in the family?
  195. A tree doubled in height each year until it reached its maximum height over the course of ten years. How many years did it take for the tree to reach half its maximum height?
  196. 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?
  197. You have 6 eggs. You break 2, cook 2 and you eat 2 eggs. How many do you have left?
  198. How many bricks does it take to complete a brick building?
  199. If you're 8 feet away from a door and with each move you advance half the distance to the door. How many moves will it take to reach the door?
  200. In a certain city, 5% of all the people in town have unlisted phone numbers. If you select 100 names at random from that city's phone directory, how many people selected will have unlisted phone numbers?

Answers

  1. A HoleHoles can be dug, punched, or worn into anything, come in any shape or size, and can widen or close up over time.
  2. It would be 4.If half of 5 is redefined as 3 (i.e. the usual value plus one), then applying the same adjusted proportion to one-third of 10 gives 4.
  3. This is impossible to solve, because if I were telling the truth, then I would be lying, which doesn't make sense since I am telling the truth.This is the classic liar paradox: the statement cannot be consistently true or false, so it has no logical answer.
  4. The same reason seven dollars is more than six. Because there is one more.The riddle is simple arithmetic in disguise: 1990 individual bills are worth more than 1989 individual bills simply because there is one more bill.
  5. I am... the crook of an elbow! The crook is called a crook (obviously), and as your arms are on the side of your body, the insides of your elbows most nearly always have an inside angle on you.The 'crook' of your elbow shares its name with a criminal (a crook), forms an inside angle, and every person has two of them, one per arm.
  6. The Four Seasons - Reasoning: This riddle takes the perspective of plant life during these times of the year.The imagery moves through spring flowers, golden summer fields, autumn pruning as light fades, and finally frozen winter petals — the four seasons.
  7. It is not aloud (allowed). Private earing (privateering) is unlawful.The riddle relies on two puns: 'not aloud' sounds like 'not allowed,' and 'private earing' sounds like 'privateering,' a form of piracy.
  8. 1: It can't fall through the hole like a square one could. 2: It can easily be moved by rolling.A circle's constant width means it can never tip and fall through its own hole, and it can be rolled easily to move it, unlike a square cover.
  9. A community.The pun hides the word 'community' by splitting it into 'come,' 'unity,' and 'tea' (a cup of tea).
  10. The guys' friend, Thursday, paid the remaining $9. This riddle wouldn't make any sense if I said, 'On Thursday, Nick and Rick…' anyway.'Thursday' is actually the name of a third friend at dinner, not the day of the week, so Thursday paid the remaining nine dollars.
  11. Graveyard or Cemetery - Reasoning: Both 'people lie' and 'people sleep' are indications of many people using this place to lie down.'Lie' and 'sleep' both play on lying down in a grave, while 'cry,' 'weep,' and 'solitude' describe mourners visiting a cemetery.
  12. A glance.A glance ends the instant it happens, is quick to give or receive, and is a small visual gesture directed at someone.
  13. Midnight - Reasoning: The riddle is all about following something through to the end - a day.Midnight marks the end of one day's hours and the start of the next, is the darkest point of night, and the darkness begins fading afterward.
  14. Leaves - Reasoning: Leaves contain veins to transport water through the leaf.Leaves have visible green veins that carry water and nutrients, and are most noticed once they've fallen and lie scattered on the ground.
  15. A Flag - Reasoning: Every country has a flag, to represent it, and as such no 2 countries flags are alike.Every nation has its own unique flag that physically waves in the wind as a symbol to its people.
  16. Static. Static electricity makes hair stand on end. 'Whisper between radio stations' points to the hissing noise called radio static.Static electricity causes hair to stand up, and 'static' is also the hissing noise heard between radio stations — and the word 'static' itself means unchanging.
  17. Mathematics.Math governs the fundamental rules of numbers and reasoning in the universe, is loved by few and dreaded by many students, and still holds unsolved mysteries.
  18. A Clock - Reasoning: Seeing the time on a clock can bring you relief, a curse, or simple clarification of what time it is.A clock's hands 'run' in an endless loop, it governs your daily schedule, and it is traditionally mounted high on a wall, so you look up at it.
  19. Sunburn - Reasoning: Sunburn peels when healing, to get rid of damaged skin tissue.As sunburned skin heals, the damaged outer layer peels away, which is the process described in the rhyme.
  20. Mistag. It is the only one that backwards does not make sense. Train, game, adult, mom, dad, gatsim, buy, and ages.Reading each word backward gives a real English word except 'mistag,' which reversed spells the nonsense word 'gatsim.'
  21. Your Feet.Feet are used all day and rest at night, come in an identical pair, are covered by shoes, and each has a 'sole' (soul pun).
  22. The world.The riddle poetically describes the Earth's mysterious formation, sprouting into existence without a seed and standing without a visible support.
  23. None. Sound does not exist if it is unheard.This is the classic philosophical riddle: with no living creature present to perceive it, whether the falling tree technically makes a 'sound' is debatable, and the riddle takes the position that sound requires a listener.
  24. The room for improvement.'Room for improvement' is a figure of speech describing limitless potential to get better, making it figuratively the largest 'room.'
  25. Infinite bounces in a gravity-free world; in reality gravity eventually stops it.If it always rebounds exactly half the remaining height, mathematically it approaches zero but never truly reaches a final stop, making the bounces infinite in an idealized sense.
  26. The North Pole.Standing exactly at the North Pole, every direction you face is south, so any wind must be blowing from the south.
  27. PLANET!Wordplay — breaking the word "planet" into "plan it," good advice for any journey.
  28. All the difference in the world.This is a play on words: literally, 'all the difference in the world' separates two opposite points on the globe.
  29. To cover cows.The straightforward, literal answer is that cowhide's main use is simply covering the cow it grew on.
  30. Dublin, because it is every year doubling.Wordplay — "Dublin" sounds like "doubling," implying constant exponential growth.
  31. A Crock-pot.Wordplay — "Crock-pot" contains the family name "Crocker," making it a fitting, personalized gift.
  32. Beef.The word "beef" derives from Latin, cattle originated in the Old World, and beef can be cured, like corned beef, or served au gratin.
  33. The sun, it rises every morning.Wordplay — "light" as in "rises," not as in weighing less, is the sense used, since the sun visibly rises every day.
  34. "The Seven Deadly Sins."Each line encodes one of the seven deadly sins in order: gluttony, sloth, wrath, lust, greed, pride, and envy.
  35. Pat-ten."Pat" means fitting or appropriate, and "ten" plays on odds of "nine to one," combining into "patten," an old shoe device that raised the foot off muddy ground.
  36. A mirror.A mirror instantly "draws" a perfect reflection without tools, though the image vanishes the moment you look away.
  37. The moon.The moon casts a shadow (umbra) during eclipses, glows faintly (phosphorescence-like) at night, and its visible shape changes through lunar phases.
  38. The 'Happy Birthday' song."Happy Birthday to You" is one of the most universally known songs across cultures and languages.
  39. The letter O.A wordplay riddle built around the letter "O" — present in "moon" and "boom," but absent from "Earth," "dead," and "crater."
  40. Singing Pitch.A singer's vocal pitch can "shake" with vibrato, rising and falling emotionally, unlike the destructive shaking of an earthquake.
  41. A worm.A blind, legless earthworm constantly tunnels through soil, turning and aerating the earth as it moves.
  42. Without house limits, casinos would go bankrupt; gamblers could eventually win by doubling their stakes indefinitely.Betting limits protect the casino from a gambler's doubling strategy, which could theoretically bankrupt the house given unlimited funds and no cap.
  43. A spider.A spider spins web "string" to trap and bite its prey.
  44. A Liar.Wordplay — anyone claiming to be "older than earth" while alive must be lying, making them literally "a liar."
  45. Hunger. Food.Hunger is an intangible feeling that causes irritability and sickness, but it's cured by the very tangible, joy-spreading act of food.
  46. TV.Television lets you watch events happening across the globe, but the people on screen can't see you watching.
  47. The two people didn't have belly buttons.Without a mother, the first humans, like Adam and Eve, would never have had umbilical cords, and therefore no belly buttons.
  48. Roots.Roots grow underground, can appear on certain diagrams, exist in mathematical "square roots," and anchor the end of a hair strand.
  49. A stamp!A postage stamp sits in the corner of an envelope, yet it travels wherever the mail goes, potentially around the world.
  50. A grudge.You "harbor" a grudge emotionally, "carry" it in your feelings, and can only get rid of it by "burying" the resentment, not an object.
  51. A traffic jam.Wordplay — "jam" can mean a fruit preserve or, here, a massive traffic congestion.
  52. A Zoom meeting.Zoom meetings became prominent during the pandemic, connected people remotely while keeping them physically apart, and were notorious for running long.
  53. A Book.A book contains countless characters' 'voices' in silent text, and its lines of print lead readers to new imagined worlds.
  54. I'm a Sunflower.A sunflower has a dark central 'eye' and bright yellow petals, is rooted in the ground, and turns to follow the sun ('lord') across the sky.
  55. A Jigsaw.A jigsaw puzzle starts as scattered broken pieces that, once assembled patiently, reveal a complete picture.
  56. A snow globe.A snow globe holds a miniature scene inside glass that swirls with "snow" when shaken but shatters if dropped.
  57. Water.Water covers most of Earth's surface and makes up a large percentage of the human body, essential for life.
  58. The letter O.The letter "o" appears once in "corner," twice in "room," and once in "world."
  59. Greece!Wordplay — "Greece" sounds like "grease," something slippery.
  60. A volcano.A volcano is formed from molten earth, sends its eruption skyward, and stays dormant and calm until its built-up pressure finally releases.
  61. A tissue.A tissue simply flutters down harmlessly from a fall, but it disintegrates ('breaks apart') once wet in the ocean.
  62. Electri-city!Wordplay — "electricity" sounds like "electri-city," a shockingly named city.
  63. Australia was always the biggest island in the world, even before discovery.A trick question — discovering something doesn't change its size; Australia was already the largest island before anyone found it.
  64. A tree.Paper money is made from trees, so in a sense a tree "gives" all the money in the world without ever receiving anything back.
  65. Letter E.'E' starts 'earth', ends 'eclipse', appears in 'seconds' and 'minutes', is absent from 'hand', but present in 'lifetime'.
  66. Milk shakes.'Milk shakes' puns on the beverage and milk literally being shaken by earthquake tremors.
  67. A Parachute.A parachute opens up (blossoms) like a flower, slows your fall (a hindrance), and must deploy before you hit the ground.
  68. The bridge of your nose.The 'bridge of the nose' is the small ridge between your eyes, punning on an actual bridge structure.
  69. The letter E.'E' is the first letter of 'earth', the second letter of 'heaven', appears twice in 'week', once in 'year', and is the middle letter of 'sea'.
  70. Sawdust.Sawdust is already the byproduct of wood being cut, so no saw can 'cut' it further -- it's the end result of cutting, not a new piece to cut.
  71. The Letter E.The letter "e" begins "Earth," ends "time," appears twice in "week," and once in "year."
  72. Cows drink water, not milk — a trick question.This is a trick riddle designed to make you say 'milk' by pattern, but cows actually drink water.
  73. Thunder.Thunder appears suddenly with a loud roar and vanishes just as quickly, without repeating itself in that same instant.
  74. The Earth!Earth constantly orbits (travels), supports life, and has 'senses' in a poetic sense, yet is not itself a living being.
  75. Colors.Colors exist only through the interaction of light, yet aren't themselves physical objects that capture or reflect it.
  76. The letter E.The letter 'E' starts 'Earth,' ends 'time,' and appears twice in the word 'week' if you count loosely as the puzzle intends... actually it appears in 'week' and 'Wednesday.'
  77. A fart, it can go through your clothes without making a hole!This is a joke riddle: a fart can pass through fabric without leaving a hole, unlike any physical blade.
  78. I'm your imagination.The imagination can mentally travel anywhere and 'see' anything without ever physically leaving where you are.
  79. The Dictionary.In a dictionary, the words are in alphabetical order, so 'yesterday' actually appears listed after 'today'.
  80. The word 'And'.This is a wordplay riddle: literally, the word "and" sits between the words "heaven" and "earth" in the phrase.
  81. Because it's round.A round shape, like a circle or sphere, has no edge or endpoint to reach.
  82. Water.The riddle describes water's three states/forms: liquid (soothes skin), vapor/cloud (in the sky), and ice (hard enough to crack rock via freezing).
  83. Rain.Rain forms from clouds, is carried by wind, feeds streams, and nurtures crops, ending its journey on the earth.
  84. A stamp.A postage stamp travels the globe on letters and packages while staying fixed in its corner of the envelope.
  85. A window.A window is a hole framed in a wall that lets you literally see through it, unlike solid walls.
  86. Mount Everest.A trick question — Everest was always the tallest mountain on Earth, whether or not anyone had yet discovered or measured it.
  87. Hyphen. The first two lines yield high-fen. A hyphen is used by a writer to tie (or cramp) two words together."High" plus "damp" (fen, a damp area) combine into "hyphen," the punctuation mark that ties words together.
  88. $2If the price is P, then P = 1 + P/2, which solves to P = 2.
  89. She spent $9.00 on markers.4 books at $3 plus 4 crayon boxes at $2 totals $20, leaving $9 of the original $29 for markers.
  90. A book.A book's pages are called "leaves," but unlike a plant, it has no stem.
  91. Authority!Authority is granted to a ruler by the people, yet is then used to govern those same people.
  92. Because the College ruled notebooks!"College ruled" is a pun on the type of lined paper and sounds like the college "ruling over" the notebooks.
  93. Heat!Heat originates from the sun, is studied in science textbooks, and can be deadly in excess yet is manageable by humans.
  94. There are all nouns.Despite unrelated meanings, book, box, and noon are grammatically all nouns.
  95. Clothes make the man.This proverb argues the opposite point: that outward appearance does define a person, contradicting 'don't judge by appearances.'
  96. A telephone book.Telephones were once luxuries for the rich, so phone books were once rare, but became common and are given free by phone companies rather than sold.
  97. A book.Sitting unopened collecting dust, holding knowledge and emotion, and transporting you to far places are all classic descriptions of a book.
  98. The library has the most stories."Stories" again puns on both a building's floors and the tales inside library books.
  99. A table.A table has four legs, holds food and books, but never moves, eats, or reads.
  100. WormA blind, wiggling creature is a worm, and "worm" plus "book" makes "bookworm," an avid reader.
  101. Between their covers."Covers" doubles as a book's front and back cover and the bedcovers one sleeps between.
  102. Bookworms."Bookworm" is slang for an avid reader, making them the punniest choice for "smartest."
  103. She could always book a reservation."Book a reservation" puns on making a restaurant reservation and a librarian's book expertise.
  104. Mindy is playing chess with Andrew. You can't play chess alone!Since chess needs two players, the child unaccounted for must be Andrew's opponent.
  105. A Book.A book's pages are thin sheets numbered in sequence, and removing one leaves it incomplete.
  106. I have so many problems.This is a pun: math books are literally full of practice 'problems,' which doubles as an emotional complaint between two books.
  107. A Book.The eye-catching "shell" is the book's cover, while its pages hold the real content.
  108. A book!A book is measured in 'volumes,' has 'leaves' (pages) you turn, a spine, pale white pages, and exists to tell a story.
  109. Her mouth.Despite closing every physical thing listed, she never stops yelling, meaning her mouth stayed "open."
  110. Under their covers."Covers" is a double meaning: a book's cover and the blankets (covers) people sleep under.
  111. Do you want to hear my problems?The pun plays on "problems" meaning both math exercises and personal troubles.
  112. Because the student borrowed his pen.An absurd non-sequitur answer, since borrowing a pen would not actually change one's handwriting.
  113. Her boyfriend was in a bullfight!Pun on "bull," referring to both her romantic partner and the animal facing danger in a bullfight.
  114. Because it beat upon the shore.Pun on "beat," meaning both to physically assault someone and waves striking the shore.
  115. The building was found to be full off cracks.Pun on "cracks," meaning both structural cracks and cracking jokes.
  116. He was drained.Pun on "drained," meaning both exhausted and water being drained through pipes.
  117. Because she had a pumpkin as a coach, and ran away from the ball.Double pun on "coach" (a vehicle vs. a sports trainer) and "ball" (a dance vs. a sports ball).
  118. He shot his customers and blew them up.Pun on photography terms "shot" and "blew up" (enlarged a photo), which sound violent.
  119. It lost it's contacts.Pun on "contacts," meaning both a phone's contact list and eye contact lenses.
  120. She felt like he took her for granite.Pun on "granite" sounding like "granted," as in being taken for granted.
  121. Because it had been running all day.Pun on "running," since a nose can run (with mucus) and running causes fatigue.
  122. Because it was framed.Pun on "framed," meaning both put in a picture frame and falsely accused of a crime.
  123. It overswept.This puns on 'over-swept,' sounding like 'overslept,' referencing a broom's sweeping function.
  124. A remarkA remark, a spoken comment, can be "heard" and figuratively "caught," meaning understood, but has no visible physical form.
  125. An umbrellaThis plays on the word 'up': an umbrella that is 'up' (open) can be pushed up a chimney, but an open ('up') umbrella cannot be brought down through a chimney the same way.
  126. "You will hang me."If he says "you will hang me," it can't be confirmed true or false without contradicting itself, a paradox that spares him either penalty.
  127. The letter UDoubling the letter "u" gives "uu," which is exactly how the letter "W" got its name, "double-u," while U itself remains a single letter.
  128. Peripheral visionPeripheral vision detects movement and shapes at the edges of sight but never renders them in sharp detail.
  129. The moonThe moon casts a shadow (umbra) during eclipses and reflects glowing light that changes as it moves through phases.
  130. A rude word spoken to someoneOnce hurtful words are spoken aloud, they can never be truly taken back, unlike a written note that can be erased.
  131. One secondFollowing the doubling chain of equivalencies given, tracing back from "year" leads all the way down to "one second."
  132. A presentA "present" can mean a gift, being in attendance, or the current moment, fitting its many different forms and meanings.
  133. The vowel "e"The letter "e" appears in "Texas" but is absent from "Ohio," "Utah," and "Iowa."
  134. A beam of lightLight is visible yet intangible, and adding it doesn't add physical weight to anything.
  135. An apologyAn apology carries emotional worth and can mend relationships, yet it's free to give and has no cash value.
  136. A submarineA submarine can be submerged (underwater), attacked (under fire), damaged and burning (on fire), and flooding (taking on water) all simultaneously during combat.
  137. SaltSalt can irritate the eyes and sting cuts in the mouth, yet it's a common food seasoning eaten daily.
  138. Your voiceYour voice is entirely intangible, yet you consciously produce and control it.
  139. The windWind can sting your eyes, push you along, slow your steps against it, and even knock you off balance.
  140. TimeTime always moves in one direction, forward, and can never reverse.
  141. WordsWords can hurt emotionally in many ways, carry both honesty and deception, yet remain intangible and voiceless on their own.
  142. A tantrumWordplay — you "throw" a tantrum, an emotional outburst, but it can't be physically caught and reused.
  143. MemoriesA memory can bring the past -- even the dead -- back to mind, stir every emotion, and forms in an instant yet can last a whole lifetime.
  144. A grudgeYou metaphorically "hold" a grudge emotionally, and healing requires consciously "letting it go."
  145. A crackA crack becomes part of the cup's structure — it can't be physically removed once it's there.
  146. A promiseA promise is an intangible commitment that can be broken without any physical force applied to it.
  147. A jack in the boxWordplay — "wound up" means both cranking a mechanism and becoming irritated, but a toy can only do the former.
  148. Play the piano until finding the right key.Wordplay — a piano's "keys" double as the literal key needed to unlock the door.
  149. A trainWordplay — a "choo choo" train sounds like "chew," but a train obviously can't actually eat.
  150. A trailA trail itself stays fixed in place while countless hikers' feet travel across it daily.
  151. LifeLife can be "saved" through rescue, "taken" through death, and varies in length and emotional tone, but it cannot literally be manufactured or gifted.
  152. A bombA bomb detonates entirely upon use and cannot be used a second time.
  153. A holePunching a hole removes material from the barrel, making it lighter, unlike adding any object.
  154. IceIce melts rather than burns in fire, and since it's frozen water, it can't be 'drowned' by more water either.
  155. AirAir fills whatever container it's in, from a room to a bowl, while remaining formless itself.
  156. A refrigeratorA refrigerator "runs," meaning it operates continuously, but obviously cannot physically walk.
  157. KnowledgeKnowledge is earned through effort and time, and once gained, it can be used repeatedly without ever being taken away.
  158. A smileUnlike clothing trends, a smile is a timeless expression that never goes out of fashion.
  159. Its lidA saucepan's own lid is sized to cover it from outside, not fit inside the pan itself.
  160. A promiseA promise is an intangible commitment that can be broken without any physical object involved.
  161. LifeOnce life is lost, unlike most possessions, it cannot be given back or recovered.
  162. The letter RThe letter "r" sits in the middle of both "March" and "April" but not at either word's start or end.
  163. The letter VCounting letters in "gravity," the middle letter lands on "v."
  164. A noseWordplay — you can "pick" your nose, but you don't get to select which nose you have.
  165. LightLight fills a room by illuminating it without occupying physical volume.
  166. Your identityYour identity can be stolen through fraud or mistaken for someone else's, yet it remains fundamentally yours forever.
  167. Someone's heartYou can emotionally "touch" someone's heart without physically seeing the abstract feeling itself.
  168. PrideYou can "swallow your pride" and humble yourself, or let pride "swallow you" by becoming consumed with arrogance.
  169. A spongeA sponge's holes actually help it absorb and retain water within its structure.
  170. The temperatureTemperature rises and falls numerically without any physical object moving.
  171. A riverA river "runs," has a "mouth" where it meets the sea, a "head" at its source, and a "bed" as its channel.
  172. Your left handYour left hand can be held by your right hand, but your left hand can't hold itself.
  173. A coldWordplay — you "catch" an illness like a cold, but can't throw it.
  174. Your finger or a compassA compass needle or a pointing finger indicates direction but cannot travel there on its own.
  175. Two hours. Wind-up clocks can't be set more than 12 hours in advance.A wind-up alarm clock's dial only goes up to 12 hours, so it would ring at 10 a.m. (2 hours later), not noon the next day.
  176. 3.The three generations (grandmother, mother, daughter) each fill two roles at once, so only three actual people exist.
  177. 9! You have token the book with the label seven!Since the books are labeled by number, taking out 'book number seven' removes only one book, leaving nine.
  178. Only one, because after that it is no longer empty.The basket stops being 'empty' the instant the first egg is placed inside.
  179. 7, you took 7 peaches away with you. DuhhhhhThe riddle asks how many 'you' have, and you personally now hold the 7 peaches you took.
  180. The answer is 20! 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99.Counting every appearance of the digit 9 (both as a tens digit in 90-99 and as a units digit) across 1-100 totals 20.
  181. 9. All but nine die.'All but 9' means every sheep except those 9 died, so exactly 9 survive.
  182. You killed three flies which remain on the table. The others flew off when you swatted.The living flies would fly away after being startled, leaving only the three dead ones physically on the table.
  183. None. Because when that 1 bomb exploded, it caused the rest of the Bombs to explode too.A chain reaction from the first explosion is implied to detonate all the remaining bombs as well.
  184. You can't dig 1/2 an hole because once you begin to dig it is an hole.As soon as digging starts, the result is simply 'a hole,' not a fractional one, so half a hole doesn't logically exist.
  185. One because I went to city OZ on the way I saw...The narrator only met the women and their children on the way; nothing states they were also traveling to Oz.
  186. One. Then its not empty anymore.As soon as you eat the first banana, your stomach is no longer empty, limiting the true answer to one.
  187. All of them.Every month has at least 28 days -- February has exactly 28 (or 29), while the rest simply have more -- so the trick answer is all twelve months.
  188. Peacocks don't lay eggs.Only female peahens lay eggs; male peacocks never do, making the math question a trick.
  189. One. Just me because I met the others on the way to the fair.The narrator only says they met the man and his sons on the way, not that the group was also headed to the fair.
  190. One. After that, it's no longer empty.Once a single coin is thrown in, the pot is no longer "empty," so logically only one coin can go into an empty pot.
  191. 14 horses and 8 men. 14x4 plus 8x2 = 72 feet.Solving the system (heads: h+m=22, feet: 4h+2m=72) gives 14 horses and 8 men.
  192. 64. The space that comes after the 64th spoke, would be just before the first spoke.Since the spokes form a closed circle, the number of gaps between them equals the number of spokes, not one fewer.
  193. Two. The two you took.The riddle hinges on 'you' now owning the oranges you took away, not the one left behind.
  194. 13 people are in the family John+his 10 siblings+his mom and dad.Counting John himself, his 10 siblings, and his two parents gives 1 + 10 + 2 = 13 total family members.
  195. Nine Years.Since the height doubles every year, the tree was at half its final height exactly one year before reaching full height, i.e. year nine.
  196. 4 Bagels.Cutting a bagel in half creates two pieces of the same bagel, not two whole new bagels, so the count of bagels stays at 4.
  197. 4. The 2 you break are the ones you cook, which are the ones you eat.All three actions (break, cook, eat) happen to the same 2 eggs, so only 2 total are used, leaving 4.
  198. One brick.The 'last' brick placed is the one that technically completes the building, regardless of how many came before.
  199. Infinity! Technically you will never reach the door, as you can only move half the distance, no matter how small.Since each move only closes half the remaining gap, an infinitely small distance always remains - a classic illustration of Zeno's paradox of motion.
  200. None. If their names are in the phone directory, they do not have unlisted phone numbers!Anyone listed in the phone directory can't also have an unlisted number, making the percentage irrelevant to the sample.