200 riddles · answers on the last page · riddleup.com/riddles/medium-riddles
What does a rich man need that a poor man has?
A. Time
B. Friends
C. Peace
D. nothing
What month do people sleep the least?
A. December
B. April
C. September
D. February, the shortest month.
I am a term used to confirm. But take away my front, my face, I become known as human avarice.
A. Assent
B. Accord
C. Approve
D. agreed
It is able to speak because it has a hard gong. You know what it is as soon as it has sung. What is it?
A. A gong
B. A chime
C. A whistle
D. bell
I can be driven, but have no wheels. I can be sliced, but still remains whole. What am I?
A. A hockey puck
B. A baseball
C. A tennis ball
D. golf ball
What must take a bow before it can speak?
A. A cello
B. A theater actor
C. An archer
D. violin
What builds its house with earthen string and ensnares its prey with a biting sting?
A. Scorpion
B. Wasp
C. Ant
D. spider
Plant whose name sounds like a dish full of dairy spread.
A. Marigold
B. Daisy
C. Sunflower
D. buttercup
What is it that no man ever saw, which never was, but always will be?
A. The future
B. Eternity
C. Destiny
D. tomorrow
They are two brothers. However much they run, they do not reach each other.
A. Train tracks
B. Shadows
C. Gears
D. wheels
I am bigger than elephant but lighter than a feather. What am I?
A. A shadow
B. A cloud
C. A dream
D. wind
As strong as love, more dangerous than cancer.
A. Addiction
B. Jealousy
C. War
D. hate
What devours all and can kill a king. Destroy a town and crushes mountains down?
A. War
B. Death
C. Erosion
D. Time
What can you add to a bucket full of water to make it lighter?
A. Air
B. Ice
C. Foam
D. Hole
A shimmering field that reaches far. Yet it has no tracks, And is crossed without paths.
A. Desert
B. Sky
C. Prairie
D. Ocean
The most beautiful and useless of human acts.
A. Poetry
B. Dance
C. Music
D. Art
What does no man want, yet no man want to lose?
A. Debt
B. Weight
C. Argument
D. Job
What has a bell but isn't a church. Is full of air but is not a balloon?
A. Tuba
B. Horn
C. Bagpipe
D. Trumpet
Almost everyone sees me without noticing me, for what is beyond is what he or she seeks.
A. Glass
B. Screen
C. Mirror
D. Window
When I live I cry, If you don't kill me I'll die.
A. Fire
B. Lamp
C. Match
D. Candle
What hole do you mend with holes?
A. Sieve
B. Fishnet stocking
C. Colander
D. Net
If you slash it, It heals at once.
A. Skin
B. Gel
C. Wax
D. Water
What travels from coast to coast without ever moving?
A. Railroad
B. River
C. Border
D. Highway
What is eaten but not grown and was born in water but will disappear if soaked?
A. Sugar
B. Ice
C. Pepper
D. Salt
What is better than the best thing and worse than the worst thing?
A. Everything
B. Zero
C. Perfection
D. Nothing
What comes in many varieties and can't be seen or touched, but it often makes you move?
A. Emotion
B. Wind
C. Electricity
D. Music
What is the middle of water but is not an island?
A. H
B. Atlantis
C. Isle
D. T
Who works when he plays and plays when he works?
A. Actor
B. Athlete
C. Comedian
D. Musician
During the 1800's these turned women into hourglasses and is becoming more popular again these days.
A. Bustle
B. Girdle
C. Crinoline
D. Corset
Slowly creeping, I am weeping, changing shades, and growing.
A. Ivy
B. Moss
C. Autumn
D. Spring
Look into my face and I'm everybody. Scratch my back and I'm nobody.
A. Photograph
B. Window
C. Portrait
D. Mirror
I have married many women but has never been married. What am I?
A. Wedding planner
B. Judge
C. Matchmaker
D. Priest
The older they are the less wrinkles they have.
A. Balloons
B. Shoes
C. Elephants
D. Tires
What falls but never breaks?
A. Rain
B. Snow
C. Leaves
D. Night
Voiceless it cries, wingless flutters, toothless bites, mouthless mutters.
A. Ghost
B. Rain
C. Whisper
D. Wind
What do you use to hoe a row, slay a foe, and wring with woe?
A. Tools
B. Fists
C. Arms
D. Hands
What is long and slim, works in light; has but one eye, and an awful bite?
A. Sewing machine
B. Nail
C. Splinter
D. Needle
Which bus could cross the ocean?
A. Greyhound
B. Titanic
C. Mayflower
D. Columbus
They cut doors in half and wear wooden shoes.
A. Amish
B. Scandinavians
C. Swiss
D. Dutch
Sometimes black, sometimes white, I have veins but no blood.
A. Wood
B. Onyx
C. Granite
D. Marble
What goes with a car, comes with a car, is no use to a car, but the car can't move without it?
A. Horn
B. Exhaust fumes
C. Radio
D. Noise
Dies half its life. Lives the rest. Dances without music. Breathes without breath.
A. Flower
B. Grass
C. Leaf
D. Tree
What word is the same written forward, backward and upside down?
A. Mom
B. Eye
C. Wow
D. Noon
What is it that you ought to keep after you have given it to someone else?
A. Secret
B. Gift
C. Word
D. Promise
I have two bodies joined together as one. When standing still, I ran and ran. What am I?
A. Scissors
B. Handcuffs
C. Dumbbell
D. Hourglass
What relies on columns but isn't a house, and asks for help but can't speak itself?
A. A magazine
B. A billboard
C. A phone book
D. A newspaper
There is someone, and there is always another, for without the other, there wouldn't be one.
A. Siblings
B. A couple
C. Friends
D. Twins
What has a spine, tail, and leash but isn't a dog?
A. A book
B. A stingray
C. A puppet
D. A kite
What goes further the slower it goes?
A. A budget
B. A savings account
C. A turtle
D. Money
I am nothing really at all, Yet I am easily found; Ignore me at your own peril, and you might end up crowned!
A. A toothache
B. Tooth decay
C. A dentist visit
D. A cavity
It flavors your food and divides the year up.
A. Time
B. Spice
C. Weather
D. Season(ing)
Men cut this by attaching a razor to a broom handle or just have their wives do it.
A. A beard
B. Their nails
C. Nose hair
D. Back hair
What has four wings but cannot fly and uses the wind but does not know why?
A. A pinwheel
B. A weathervane
C. A fan
D. A windmill
A great mysterious place that the bold have been known to journey into.
A. Outer space
B. A cave
C. The wilderness
D. The unknown
What is that which, though black itself, enlightens the world without burning?
A. A pen
B. A book
C. Coal
D. Ink
You can draw me, fire me or fill me in. What is it?
A. A blank
B. A cannon
C. A crossbow
D. A gun
All about the house, with his lady he dances, yet he always works, and never romances.
A. A mop
B. A vacuum cleaner
C. A duster
D. A broom
What fruit is of great use in history?
A. A fig
B. An apple
C. A plum
D. A date
If you agree give me one of these.
A. A thumbs up
B. A nod
C. A high five
D. An amen
Locked up inside you and yet they can steal it from you.
A. Your soul
B. Your love
C. Your secret
D. Your heart
Has feathers but can't fly. Rests on legs but can't walk.
A. A pillow
B. A bed
C. A sofa
D. A mattress
When I get closer my tail grows longer, but when I go away my tail leads the way.
A. A shooting star
B. A meteor
C. An asteroid
D. A comet
A house full, a yard full, a chimney full, no one can get a spoonful.
A. Fog
B. Steam
C. Ash
D. Smoke
One of the few times it's encouraged to lock lips with a stranger.
A. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
B. A rescue kiss
C. First aid
D. CPR
Has no feet, but travels far. Is literate, but not a scholar. Has no mouth, yet clearly speaks.
A. A postcard
B. A telegram
C. A book
D. A letter
What covers its face with its hands, speaks no language, yet most known what it's saying?
A. A sundial
B. A watch
C. A calendar
D. A clock
Tucked out of sight. I sing best at night. No instrument around, but you'll find me on the ground.
A. A frog
B. A cicada
C. An owl
D. A cricket
I'm an old relative who's hand's can't hold anything and eyes can't see anything. What am I?
A. An antique clock
B. A pocket watch
C. A sundial
D. A grandfather clock
This small creature kills even the largest one.
A. A virus
B. A mosquito
C. A parasite
D. Bacteria
Bury deep, Pile on stones, My mind will always Dig up them bones
A. Guilt
B. Grief
C. Secrets
D. Memories
It's a game played by serious people that takes place on a global scale.
A. Diplomacy
B. Chess
C. War
D. Politics
What is it something that you always have but you always leave behind?
A. Footprints
B. A shadow
C. Memories
D. Fingerprints
The stack just might be sent all over. Full of what's new, yet it's nearly obsolete.
A. Magazines
B. Junk mail
C. Catalogs
D. Newspapers
What can an elephant and a shrimp both be?
A. Gray
B. Heavy
C. Wild
D. Jumbo
What is red and nailed to a wall?
A. A poster
B. A horseshoe
C. A photograph
D. A herring
What grows in winter, dies in summer, and grows roots upward?
A. Frost
B. A snowdrift
C. Hoarfrost
D. An icicle
Break it and it is better, immediately set and harder to break again.
A. A bone
B. A promise
C. A rule
D. A record
What is put on a table, cut, but never eaten?
A. A cake
B. A newspaper
C. A tablecloth
D. Cards
What can you fold but not crease?
A. A napkin
B. A letter
C. An origami crane
D. A poker hand
You can only have it once you have given it.
A. Trust
B. Love
C. Loyalty
D. Respect
Iron roof, glass walls, burns and burns and never falls.
A. A candle
B. A furnace
C. A streetlamp
D. A lantern
Forwards I am heavy, but backwards I am not.
A. Net
B. Not
C. Tin
D. Ton
I am heavy forward but backwards I'm not. What am I?
A. Weight
B. Pound
C. Load
D. Ton
What can be found at the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, and the beginning of every end?
A. The letter T
B. The letter S
C. The letter N
D. The letter E
What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it you'll die?
A. Debt
B. Greed
C. Hunger
D. Nothing
This is needed both for courage and hardcover books.
A. Backbone
B. Cover
C. Binding
D. Spine
We are two brothers on opposite sides of the road, but we never see each other. Who are we?
A. Ears
B. Nostrils
C. Eyebrows
D. Eyes
The older this thing grows the more valued it becomes. It is always much better when its breathing is done.
A. Cheese
B. Whiskey
C. An antique
D. Wine
Hoofed frolicking.
A. A rodeo
B. A stampede
C. A gallop
D. Horseplay
My life is measured in hours. I serve by being devoured. Thin, I am quick; fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe. What am I?
A. A cigarette
B. An hourglass
C. A match
D. A candle
I am good at concealing what's real and hiding what's true. Sometimes, I bring out the courage in you! What am I?
A. A mask
B. A disguise
C. A costume
D. Makeup
A man says: 'Brothers and sisters, have I none, but that man's father is my father's son.' Who is he pointing at?
A. His nephew
B. Himself
C. His brother
D. His son
There is one in every corner and two in every room.
A. The letter R
B. The letter M
C. The letter C
D. The letter O
What turns from red to black as soon as it touches water?
A. Charcoal
B. Iron
C. Ash
D. An ember
A tiny bead, like fragile glass, strung along a cord of grass.
A. Frost
B. Rain
C. A pearl
D. Dew
A plant whose name sounds like a dish full of dairy spread.
A. Marigold
B. Daffodil
C. Clover
D. Buttercup
How much dirt is in a hole 4 feet deep and 2 feet wide?
A. 8 cubic feet
B. A wheelbarrow full
C. Depends on the soil
D. None
A white field, and when it is plowed, its soil is black.
A. A chalkboard
B. A canvas
C. Snow
D. Paper
What is higher without the head than with it?
A. A hill
B. A stack of books
C. A cushion
D. A pillow
What breaks without falling?
A. Dawn
B. News
C. A record
D. Day
What do you get when you cross a vampire and a teacher?
A. A pop quiz
B. Detention
C. A night class
D. A blood test
It has no top or bottom, but it can hold flesh, bones, and blood all at the same time.
A. A bracelet
B. A tube
C. A necklace
D. A ring
Can be achieved in a car or as a position during conflict.
A. Park
B. A ceasefire
C. A stalemate
D. Neutral
As I walked along the path I saw something with four fingers and one thumb, but it was not flesh, fish, bone, or fowl.
A. A mitten
B. A hand puppet
C. A mannequin hand
D. A glove
He stands beside the road in a purple cap and tattered green cloak. Those who touch him, curse him.
A. A nettle
B. A cactus
C. A rose bush
D. A thistle
Causes dancing in children when it fills up.
A. A balloon
B. A water gun
C. A bathtub
D. A bladder
This sparkling globe can float on water. It is light as a feather, but ten giants can't pick it up.
A. A balloon
B. A snow globe
C. A soap film
D. A bubble
By the way, what never moves, wears shoes, sandals and boots, but has no feet?
A. A doormat
B. A road
C. A shoe rack
D. A sidewalk
You will have this response if you would go salivating at the mention of a cheeseburger.
A. A hunger pang
B. A reflex
C. A craving
D. Pavlovian
I can be written, I can be spoken, I can be exposed, I can be broken.
A. A secret
B. A promise
C. A rumor
D. News
What can your pocket hold while it is completely empty?
A. Lint
B. Air
C. Nothing
D. A hole
Both peaches and a certain couture have this in common.
A. Fuzzy
B. Sweet
C. Ripe
D. Juicy
I have been the beginning of ideas for all time, yet I am just one simple small object. The things that you can use me for can be frustrating and also I can be pretty. I have some of the most valuable things in the world on me, yet almost everyone owns me. With me you can make anything. What am I?
A. A pencil
B. A phone
C. A canvas
D. Paper
What is the difference between one yard and two yards?
A. Three feet
B. A property line
C. A driveway
D. A fence
My children are near and far. No matter that, I know where they are. The gift I give them makes their day. But if I were gone they would wander away.
A. A mother
B. A shepherd
C. The moon
D. The sun
Though easy to spot, when allowed to plume, it is hard to see, when held in a room.
A. Steam
B. Fog
C. Dust
D. Smoke
When the horse strokes the cat, the wood begins to sing.
A. A cello
B. A guitar
C. A harp
D. A violin
By Thursday you're over this.
A. Wednesday
B. The workweek
C. A cold
D. The hump
Without it sounds would not be there, but through it music's ring is clear. It is a symbol for your woe, but only if your name's Van Gogh.
A. Sound wave
B. Eardrum
C. Hearing aid
D. Ear
I am what brings things together. Without me everything you see would be a total mass of debris everywhere. What am I?
A. Glue
B. Magnetism
C. Friction
D. Gravity
What happens every second, minute, month, and century, but not every hour, week, year, or decade?
A. The letter M
B. The letter E
C. The letter T
D. The letter N
It is the time in your life when you simultaneously know everything and nothing at an instance.
A. Your twenties
B. Childhood
C. Retirement
D. Being a teenager
Everyone loses us as a child, and neglecting us makes us holy. What are we?
A. Innocence
B. Baby hair
C. Manners
D. Teeth
I am wood that is neither hard, straight, nor crooked. What am I?
A. Bark
B. Mulch
C. Kindling
D. Sawdust
If you happen to wear one of these warm garments around, you might get doused in red paint.
A. A wool sweater
B. A leather jacket
C. A down jacket
D. A fur coat
A slow, solemn square-dance of warriors feinting. One by one they fall, warriors fainting, thirty-two on sixty-four.
A. Checkers
B. Backgammon
C. Dominoes
D. Chess
What goes round and round the wood but never goes into the wood?
A. The wind
B. A woodpecker
C. Sap
D. Bark
Royalty whose burgers are broiled and whose bed is large.
A. An emperor
B. A duke
C. A prince
D. A king
What is drawn by everyone without pen or pencil?
A. A conclusion
B. Attention
C. A blank
D. Breath
Where on earth do the ways always blow from the south?
A. The equator
B. The South Pole
C. The Arctic Circle
D. The North Pole
What needs to be taken from you before you have it?
A. A portrait
B. A video
C. An autograph
D. A picture
In addition to the dental benefits, having one of these hanging out of your mouth will make you look like a wiseguy.
A. A cigar
B. A cigarette
C. A straw
D. A toothpick
A house of wood in a hidden place. Built without nails or glue. High above the earthen ground. It holds pale gems of blue.
A. A treehouse
B. A beehive
C. A birdhouse
D. A bird's nest
What do rich people have that can be changed into the law.
A. Influence
B. Power
C. Money
D. Wealth
What makes my left hand my right?
A. A glove
B. A twin
C. A reflection pool
D. A mirror
Four holes, one going in and three coming out; When you are going in you are out and when you are coming out you are in.
A. A sweater
B. A jacket
C. A sleeve
D. A shirt
Nothing specific, but more than a few. This many clustered, together will do.
A. A group
B. A handful
C. A cluster
D. A bunch
A blind superhero and Evel Knievel's profession.
A. Stuntman
B. Batman
C. Ghost Rider
D. Daredevil
What work of writing can one never finish?
A. A diary
B. A memoir
C. A journal
D. An autobiography
Vikings use this for warmth.
A. A fire
B. A cloak
C. Mead
D. A pelt (fur)
I am found by the ocean and offer you a bed. Whether you want me or not, to your house I am led?
A. Seaweed
B. A seashell
C. Salt water
D. Sand
A bird done at every meal.
A. A peck
B. A gobble
C. A crane
D. A swallow
A path between high natural masses; remove the first letter to get a path between man-made masses.
A. A canyon
B. A gorge
C. A pass
D. A valley
Even the oldest ones can be described as current, but a little mainstream.
A. A stream
B. The news
C. A trend
D. A river
Good for telling the future or racking up in a game.
A. A crystal ball
B. A tarot deck
C. Dice
D. An eight ball (Magic 8-Ball / pool)
I am bushy headed but have no air. No moisture will not enter my skin, but it's good at keeping it in. What am I?
A. A bush
B. A hedge
C. A shrub
D. A tree
I help to mature your spirits. When moistened I fulfill my purpose. Should I dry out, my task will fail and my quarry may be worthless.
A. A barrel
B. A wine cellar
C. A cellar door
D. A cork
Who plays when he works and works when he plays?
A. A musician
B. An athlete
C. A comedian
D. An actor
They have not flesh, nor feathers, nor scales, nor bone. Yet they have fingers and thumbs of their own. What are they?
A. Mittens
B. Puppets
C. Socks
D. Gloves
If you give it a tug, you can sit in the dark. Tug it again and a light will spark. What is it?
A. A light switch
B. A flashlight
C. A candle
D. A pull-cord lamp
A tower at the root of all confusion.
A. Pisa
B. Babylon's ziggurat
C. The Eiffel Tower
D. The Tower of Babel
It has no legs to dance, it has no lungs to breathe, it has no life to live or die, and yet it does all three.
A. A shadow
B. Wind
C. A candle flame
D. Fire
In buckles or lace, they help set the pace. The farther you go, the thinner they grow.
A. Laces
B. Socks
C. Sneakers
D. Shoes
Sometimes you'll find me hard and cold, other times I'm hard to hold, always present in the air, if I'm ever gone, beware.
A. Ice
B. Humidity
C. Oxygen
D. Water
Where humans breathe liquid.
A. The lungs
B. The ocean
C. A submarine
D. The womb
White bird, featherless, flying out of paradise. Flying over sea and land. Dying in my hand.
A. A cloud
B. Rain
C. A snowflake
D. Snow
What has a head, can't think, but drives?
A. A screwdriver
B. A nail
C. A golf club
D. A hammer
I have legs but walk not, a strong back but work not. Two good arms but reach not. A seat but sit and tarry not.
A. A sofa
B. A bench
C. A stool
D. A chair
Soft and fragile is my skin. I get my growth in dirt. I'm dangerous as much as pretty. For if not careful, I draw blood.
A. A cactus needle
B. A splinter
C. A rose
D. A thorn (on a rose)
There are millions of me. I am very small but when moving fast I am deadly.
A. Bullets
B. Dust
C. Hailstones
D. Sand
It covers you, you lose it every day and you'd die without it.
A. Hair
B. Clothing
C. Blood
D. Skin
Something you do with guests at a fancy party hoping to get a leg-up in your career.
A. Network
B. Mingle
C. Flatter
D. Schmooze
What has one foot but no body?
A. A yardstick
B. A tape measure
C. A shoe
D. A ruler
What holds names and memories which are not its own?
A. A photo album
B. A time capsule
C. A diary
D. A gravestone
I run through hills. I veer around mountains. I leap over rivers. And crawl through the forests. Step out your door to find me.
A. A trail
B. A river
C. A railway
D. A road
One pace to the North. Two paces to the East. Two paces to the South. Two paces to the West. One pace to the North.
A. A rectangle
B. A triangle
C. A circle
D. A square
A tangly game and a destructive weather phenomenon.
A. Jenga
B. Tornado Alley
C. A cyclone
D. Twister
I am a three letter word. Add two more letters and you'll have fewer. What word am I?
A. Low
B. Lot
C. Bit
D. Few
I fly through the air on small feathered wings, seeking out life and destroying all things.
A. A bullet
B. A dart
C. A hawk
D. An arrow
What becomes too young the longer it exists?
A. A photograph
B. A statue
C. A mirror image
D. A portrait
A small hill with seven holes.
A. A mountain
B. An anthill
C. A skull
D. A head
I come in winter. I cannot see, hear, or feel. I can't eat, but you can eat parts of me.
A. An igloo
B. A snowball
C. A gingerbread man
D. A snowman
What comes in many different sizes but is always only 1 foot long?
A. A ruler
B. A sock
C. A boot
D. A shoe
So cold, damp and dark this place. To stay you would refrain, yet those who occupy this place do never complain.
A. A dungeon
B. A basement
C. A cave
D. A grave
Ladies used to party with this kitchen device.
A. A blender
B. A mixer
C. A cookie tin
D. Tupperware
It flies when it's on and floats coming off.
A. A kite
B. A leaf
C. A balloon
D. A feather
A prehistoric reptile that lives today and the inspiration for the name of a popular sports drink.
A. A crocodile
B. An iguana
C. A turtle
D. An alligator (gator)
What is born long, dies short, and spends its life leaving a trail?
A. A candle
B. A snail
C. A comet
D. A pencil
I will go within you, and destroy you. Only because you wanted me too. What am I?
A. Poison
B. Alcohol
C. Addiction
D. Drugs
In birth I spring forth, in life I unfold. In death I wilt and die, but rebirth restores all.
A. A flower
B. A season
C. A butterfly
D. A leaf
I am something many people don't enjoy having as a friend, including you. But I am called upon anything someone is injured.
A. A doctor
B. Fear
C. Medicine
D. Pain
When you are a child you are forced to take them. When you are an adult you want to take them.
A. Vitamins
B. Baths
C. Vacations
D. Naps
I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud! I am not a gossip but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business.
A. A blender
B. A washing machine
C. A hair dryer
D. A vacuum cleaner
You get one if you miss one at golf.
A. A bogey
B. A mulligan
C. A penalty
D. A stroke
Brothers and sisters I have none but this man's father is my father's son. Who is the man?
A. The speaker himself
B. The speaker's father
C. The speaker's nephew
D. The speaker's son
In we go, out we go. All around and in a row. Always, always steady flow. When we'll stop, you'll never know. In we go, out we go.
A. A river
B. A pendulum
C. A heartbeat
D. The tides
It can cause deflation of tires when dropped from the rear of spy cars.
A. Nails
B. A grenade
C. Oil slick
D. Spikes
I'm the source of all emotion, but I'm caged in a white prison.
A. Brain
B. Soul
C. Lungs
D. Heart
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.
A. Gap
B. Dent
C. Crater
D. Hole
I am neither a guest nor a trespasser in this place. I belong that belongs to me. Where is it?
A. Hotel
B. Apartment
C. Land
D. Home
I belong to everyone. Sometimes make you happy, sometimes make you sad. I will never end until the day you do. What am I?
A. Emotions
B. Memories
C. Feelings
D. Thoughts
Its title means book.
A. Scripture
B. Testament
C. Codex
D. Bible
The higher I climb, the hotter I engage. I cannot escape from my crystal cage.
A. Alcohol
B. Water
C. Glass
D. Mercury
People chop this off for a good cause.
A. A ponytail
B. A wig
C. A beard
D. Hair
You seek it out, when your hunger is ripe. It sits on four legs, and smokes a pipe.
A. Oven
B. Grill
C. Fireplace
D. Stove
What has six faces and twenty-one eyes?
A. Domino
B. Coin
C. Card
D. Dice
If I say "everything I tell you is a lie", am I telling you the truth or a lie?
A. Truth
B. Riddle
C. Paradox
D. Lie
A dark-colored creature serenaded by Lennon and McCartney.
A. Crow
B. Raven
C. Sparrow
D. Blackbird
What grows bigger the more you contract it?
A. Interest
B. Loan
C. Balloon
D. Debt
The French word for 'fun size' in women's clothing.
A. Mignon
B. Chic
C. Boutique
D. Petite
Answers
nothingA poor man has "nothing," and ironically that's exactly what a rich man doesn't need — nothing more.
February, the shortest month.With the fewest days in the year, February offers the least total time for sleep.
agreedRemoving the first letter "a" from "agreed" leaves "greed," the word for human avarice.
bellA bell "speaks" because of its hard clapper striking its metal body, and you recognize it the instant it sounds.
golf ballIn golf you "drive" the ball off the tee, and a poorly hit shot is called a "slice" — yet the ball stays intact and has no wheels.
violinA violin must be played with a bow drawn across its strings before it produces ("speaks") any sound.
spiderA spider spins silken web to build its home and bites prey to subdue it, described here loosely as a "sting."
buttercup"Buttercup" sounds like "a cup of butter," a container full of dairy spread.
tomorrowTomorrow never actually arrives as itself — it's always just ahead, perpetually "will be" but never "was."
wheelsThe two wheels of a vehicle spin endlessly side by side without ever meeting.
windThis is a loose fit — the classic version of this riddle usually answers "nothing" or "a shadow," but the source lists "wind," reasoning that a storm can dwarf an elephant in scale while having no weight to hold.
hateHate is often described as an emotion as powerful as love but far more destructive.
TimeTime eventually consumes everything -- kings die, towns crumble, and even mountains erode over time.
HoleAdding a hole lets water leak out, reducing the total weight in the bucket.
OceanThe ocean stretches far and wide with no roads or tracks, yet ships cross it constantly.
ArtArt is often praised as beautiful yet criticized as impractical or 'useless' in a strictly functional sense.
JobNo one wants the burden of having a job, but losing one (unemployment) is worse.
TrumpetA trumpet has a flared 'bell' at its end and is filled with air (breath) when played, but it's a musical instrument, not a church bell or balloon.
WindowPeople look through windows to see what's beyond, rarely noticing the window itself.
CandleA lit candle 'weeps' melted wax as it burns, and it will eventually burn itself out (die) whether or not you extinguish (kill) it.
NetA net is made entirely of holes, so mending it means adding more knotted holes.
WaterIf you slash (cut) through water, it immediately closes back up, unlike a wound that needs time to heal.
HighwayA highway stretches from coast to coast but is a stationary road.
SaltSalt comes from evaporated seawater ('born in water') and dissolves ('disappears') when soaked in water again.
NothingNothing is better than the best thing (since nothing beats it) and also worse than the worst thing (since nothing is worse) -- a classic logic pun.
MusicMusic comes in many genres, is intangible, yet it often makes people dance or move.
TThe middle letter of the word 'WATER' is T.
MusicianA musician 'plays' music as their profession -- their work and their play are the same activity.
CorsetCorsets were tightly laced Victorian-era undergarments that cinched the waist into an hourglass shape, and waist-training corsets have seen a modern resurgence.
SpringThis describes the season of spring: nature slowly comes alive, plants seem to 'weep' with dew or blossoms, colors shift from bare to green, and everything grows.
MirrorA mirror reflects the face of whoever looks into it (everybody), but scratching its silvered back ruins the reflective coating.
PriestA priest officiates (marries) many couples throughout his career without ever marrying anyone himself.
TiresAs tires wear down with age and use, their tread grooves ('wrinkles') smooth out, unlike humans who gain more wrinkles as they age.
NightNight 'falls' each evening, but unlike a dropped object, it never physically breaks.
WindThe wind seems to 'cry' and 'flutter' as it moves, and it can 'bite' with cold or 'mutter' through trees, all without a body.
HandsYour hands are used to hoe a garden row, defend yourself against a foe, and wring out laundry in sorrow.
NeedleA sewing needle is long, thin, has a single 'eye' for thread, and its sharp point can give a painful prick.
ColumbusThis is a pun on the name 'Columbus' (as in Christopher Columbus), which contains the word 'bus,' and he's famous for crossing the ocean.
DutchThe Dutch are known for split 'Dutch doors' and traditional wooden clogs.
MarbleMarble stone is often black or white with natural mineral veining, but of course has no actual blood.
NoiseA car makes noise when it runs; the noise itself doesn't help the car move, but you never see a working car without it.
TreeA deciduous tree appears to 'die' in winter (losing its leaves) and comes back to life in spring; its branches sway ('dance') in the wind without music, and it doesn't breathe like animals do.
Noon'NOON' reads the same forwards, backwards, and even upside down, thanks to the shapes of its letters.
PromiseWhen you make a promise to someone, you must still keep it yourself even after giving it to them.
HourglassAn hourglass has two glass bulbs joined together, and sand 'runs' through it continuously even while the object itself stays still.
A newspaperA newspaper is organized into printed columns and often features advice or help-wanted columns, yet the paper itself has no voice.
TwinsTwins only exist as a pair -- you can't have just one twin, since being a twin depends entirely on there being another.
A kiteA kite has a central spine, a trailing tail for stability, and a string ("leash") holding it, but it's an object, not an animal.
MoneyMoney spent carefully and slowly stretches out and "goes further" than money spent quickly.
A cavityA cavity is just an empty hole, but ignoring it lets decay spread, and treating it often literally ends with getting a dental crown.
Season(ing)"Season" your food with spices, and the year is also divided into seasons -- one word, two meanings.
Back hairHard-to-reach back hair is jokingly said to require a razor taped to a long handle, or a helpful spouse, to shave.
A windmillA windmill has blades that look like wings and is turned by the wind, but it never actually flies through the air.
The unknown"Journeying into the unknown" is a common phrase for brave people venturing somewhere mysterious and uncharted.
InkInk is black, yet the printed words it forms spread knowledge and "enlighten" readers, all without any fire involved.
A gunYou can "draw" a gun, "fire" a gun, and "fill" it with ammunition -- though "fill me in" is a looser fit than the other two clues.
A broomA broom "dances" across the floor alongside the dustpan ("his lady") while sweeping, but it's simply doing chores, not courting.
A dateA "date" is both a sweet fruit and the word for a specific point in time, which historians constantly use to record events.
An amenSaying "amen" is a traditional way of voicing agreement or approval, especially after a statement or prayer.
Your heartYour heart is physically sealed inside your chest, yet someone can figuratively 'steal your heart' by winning your love.
A mattressA feather mattress is stuffed with feathers and often rests on bed legs, but being furniture it can neither fly nor walk.
A cometAs a comet nears the sun its icy tail lengthens, and as it moves away that same tail points ahead of its direction of travel.
SmokeSmoke can fill a house, yard, and chimney entirely, yet it's too insubstantial for anyone to scoop up with a spoon.
CPRPerforming CPR sometimes involves rescue breaths, essentially pressing your mouth to a stranger's to save their life.
A letterA written letter can travel long distances through the mail, is made of words, and 'speaks' its message without ever having a mouth.
A clockA clock's 'hands' point across its 'face' to show the time, and everyone understands it without it speaking a word.
A cricketCrickets hide in grass, chirp loudly after dark, and produce their 'song' by rubbing their wings, not by using an instrument.
A grandfather clockA grandfather clock is named like a family elder, and its 'hands' are just pointers and its 'face' has no real eyes.
BacteriaMicroscopic bacteria can cause fatal infections even in the largest animals, like elephants or whales.
MemoriesEven when painful memories are 'buried' and hidden away, the mind keeps unearthing them, just as bones might be dug up.
PoliticsPolitics is often described as a 'game' of strategy and power played by leaders across the whole world.
FingerprintsYour fingerprints are unique to you and stay with you, yet you leave a trace of them on everything you touch.
NewspapersNewspapers are distributed everywhere and are full of the latest news, yet print papers have become nearly obsolete in the digital age.
Jumbo'Jumbo' describes an enormous elephant, but is also the name for a large size of shrimp on a menu.
A herringThis is a classic nonsense joke: the herring is red because it was painted red, and it's nailed to the wall simply because the joke says so -- a deliberately absurd 'red herring' pun.
An icicleIcicles form and 'grow' downward from a fixed point during cold winters and melt away in summer, appearing to grow root-first from above.
A recordBreaking a record (like a sports record) is a good thing, and the new record is immediately 'set,' becoming harder to break again.
CardsA deck of playing cards is placed on the table and 'cut' before dealing, but obviously isn't food.
A poker handIn poker, you 'fold' your hand (give up the round), which doesn't involve creasing any actual material.
RespectYou typically earn respect from others only after you've shown respect to them first.
A lanternA lantern has a metal frame and glass panes protecting a flame that burns steadily without being blown out or falling.
Ton'TON' is a heavy unit of weight, but spelled backwards it becomes 'NOT' -- as in 'backwards I am not' heavy.
Ton"Ton" spelled backward is "not," so while a ton is heavy, its reversed spelling literally says it's "not."
The letter EThe letter E starts "Eternity," ends "timE" and "spacE," and begins the word "End."
NothingThis is the classic riddle about the word "nothing": nothing is greater than God, nothing is more evil than the devil, the poor have nothing, and if you ate nothing you would starve.
Spine"Spine" refers to a person's inner courage, or nerve, as well as the sturdy bound edge of a hardcover book.
EyesYour two eyes sit on either side of your nose, the "road," yet, positioned as they are, can never actually see each other.
WineFine wine improves with age, and "letting wine breathe," exposing it to air before drinking, is a well-known step in serving it.
Horseplay"Horseplay" is a term for rowdy, playful behavior, punning on the word "horse," a hoofed animal, combined with "play."
A candleA candle burns for a set number of hours, is consumed as it burns, burns faster when thin and slower when thick, and can be blown out by wind.
MakeupMakeup can hide someone's natural appearance and sometimes gives a person the confidence to feel more put-together in public.
His son"My father's son," who isn't the speaker's brother since he has none, must be the speaker himself, so the man is pointing at his own son.
The letter OThe word "corner" contains one letter O, while the word "room" contains two — matching the riddle exactly.
An emberA glowing red ember instantly turns black and stops glowing the moment it's doused with water.
DewMorning dew forms delicate droplets that cling to blades of grass like tiny glass beads on a string.
Buttercup"Buttercup" sounds like a "cup" full of "butter," a dairy spread, though it's actually the name of a yellow wildflower.
NoneA hole, by definition, is empty space; it contains no dirt at all, since the dirt was removed to create it.
PaperA blank sheet of paper is the "white field," and writing on it with ink, "plowing" it with a pen, leaves black marks like turned soil.
A pillowA pillow is compressed and lower when your head rests on it, but "higher" when your head is off it.
Day"Daybreak" is when day "breaks," a figure of speech, not a literal fall.
A blood testThe joke plays on a vampire's thirst for blood and a teacher's habit of giving tests, combining into "a blood test."
A ringA ring is a continuous loop with no top or bottom, yet it encircles a finger's flesh, bone, and blood when worn.
Neutral"Neutral" is a gear setting in a car and also describes a non-aligned stance taken during a conflict.
A gloveA glove is shaped like a hand with four fingers and a thumb, but it's made of fabric or leather, not living tissue.
A thistleA thistle has a purple flower head atop rough green, spiky leaves, and its sharp prickles make anyone who touches it wince and curse.
A bladderA full bladder makes children do the classic "potty dance" as they try to hold it in.
A bubbleA soap bubble is nearly weightless and can float on water, yet it's so fragile that even the gentlest grip, let alone ten giants, would pop it instead of picking it up.
A sidewalkPeople wearing shoes, sandals, and boots walk over the sidewalk all day, even though the sidewalk itself never moves and has no feet.
PavlovianPavlov's experiments showed that a learned cue, like the mention of food, can trigger an automatic physical reaction such as salivating, a "pavlovian" response.
NewsNews can be written in a paper, spoken on air, exposed by investigation, and "broken," as in breaking news.
A holeAn empty pocket can still "hold" a hole, the opening or tear where things fall through, even though there's nothing else inside.
JuicyPeaches are known for being "juicy," which is also the name of the fashion brand Juicy Couture.
PaperIdeas often start as notes or sketches on paper; paper carries valuable things like money and documents, nearly everyone has some, and you can fold, write, or draw on it to make almost anything.
A fenceThis is a pun -- a fence is literally what separates (is the difference between) two neighboring yards.
The sunEverything on Earth depends on the sun's light and warmth, its "gift," to survive; without the sun, everything would drift aimlessly in the dark.
SmokeSmoke billowing outside is easy to spot, but when trapped and thinned in a small room it becomes harder to visually pick out in the air.
A violinA violin bow is strung with horsehair, drawn across strings historically made of catgut, producing music from the instrument's wooden body.
The humpWednesday is nicknamed "hump day," the midpoint of the workweek, so by Thursday you're already past, or "over," the hump.
EarWe hear ("music's ring is clear") through our ears, and an ear became a symbol of tragedy for Vincent van Gogh, who famously cut off part of his own ear.
GravityGravity holds matter together into planets, stars, and everyday objects; without it, matter would simply drift apart into scattered debris.
The letter NThe letter N appears in "second," "minute," "month," and "century," but not in "hour," "week," "year," or "decade."
Being a teenagerTeenagers are famously seen as feeling like they know everything about life while still having so much left to learn, a case of knowing "everything and nothing" at once.
TeethChildren lose their baby teeth naturally, and neglecting to brush your teeth leads to cavities, which is a pun on "holey" and "holy."
SawdustSawdust is made from wood but, once cut into fine particles, is no longer hard, straight, or crooked like a plank or branch.
A fur coatAnimal-rights activists have historically thrown red paint on people wearing fur coats to protest the use of animal fur.
ChessChess has 32 pieces moving across a 64-square board, poetically described as warriors 'falling' (being captured) one by one.
BarkTree bark wraps entirely around the wood of the trunk without ever penetrating into the wood itself.
A kingBurger King flame-broils its burgers, and a "king-size" bed is the largest common mattress size -- both use the word "king."
BreathEveryone "draws" (breathes in) breath continuously, playing on the double meaning of "draw."
The North PoleAt the North Pole, every direction you face is south, so any wind necessarily blows from the south.
A pictureA picture (photograph) must be "taken" of you before you can "have" a copy of it, playing on the double meaning of "take."
A toothpickClassic gangster ("wiseguy") movie imagery includes a toothpick dangling from the mouth; toothpicks also have the practical dental benefit of cleaning teeth.
A bird's nestA bird builds its nest from twigs high in a tree without any tools, and it can hold pale blue eggs like a robin's.
WealthThis is a loose fit in the source material -- a sharper pun would be 'bill' (a dollar bill / a legislative bill that becomes law), but the stated answer, 'wealth,' points to how the wealthy can shape legislation.
A mirrorA mirror image reverses left and right, so your left hand appears to be a right hand in the reflection.
A shirtPulling on a shirt (going in) leaves you not yet dressed (out), while finishing (coming out through the neck and sleeve holes) means you're now properly dressed (in it).
A bunch'A bunch' vaguely means more than a few of something gathered together, without specifying an exact number.
DaredevilDaredevil is a blind Marvel superhero, and 'daredevil' is also the term for a fearless stunt performer like Evel Knievel.
An autobiographyAn autobiography covers your own life story, which isn't over until you die -- so it can never truly be finished while you're alive to write it.
A pelt (fur)Vikings historically wore animal furs and pelts to stay warm in cold climates.
SandBeach sand provides a place to lay down ('a bed'), and it inevitably tags along home in shoes, towels, and bags whether you like it or not.
A swallow'Swallow' is both a bird and the act of swallowing food, done at every meal.
A valleyA 'valley' runs between mountains, and removing its first letter leaves 'alley,' a narrow passage between buildings.
A riverA river always has a 'current' (flow of water) and a 'mainstream' (main channel) -- a clever double meaning even for the oldest rivers.
An eight ball (Magic 8-Ball / pool)A Magic 8-Ball answers yes/no fortune questions, and the '8 ball' is also a numbered ball racked up in a game of pool.
A treeA tree's canopy of leaves looks bushy, and its bark is a barrier that helps keep moisture locked inside the trunk.
A corkA wine cork must stay moist to keep its seal tight; if it dries out and shrinks, the wine ('spirits') aging inside can spoil.
An actorAn actor's job is to 'play' a role, so performing on stage is both their work and, in a sense, their play.
GlovesGloves are made of fabric or leather, not living tissue, yet they're shaped with individual fingers and a thumb.
A pull-cord lampA pull-string lamp turns off with one tug, plunging the room into darkness, and turns back on with another.
The Tower of BabelIn the Bible, the Tower of Babel is where humanity's single language was confused into many different tongues.
FireFlickering flames seem to 'dance,' fire needs oxygen as if it 'breathes,' and it can be 'born' and 'die out' despite having no actual life.
ShoesShoes are fastened with buckles or laces and help you keep a walking pace, while their soles wear thinner the more ground you cover.
WaterWater can freeze into hard ice, slip through your hands as liquid, and exist as vapor in the air -- and life is impossible without it.
The wombBefore birth, a baby floats in amniotic fluid inside the womb and effectively 'breathes' liquid rather than air.
SnowSnowflakes are poetically described as white, featherless 'birds' falling from the sky, and they melt ('die') the moment they land in your warm hand.
A hammerA hammer has a solid metal 'head' with no mind of its own, but it's used to drive nails into place.
A chairA chair has legs, a back, arms, and a seat, but as furniture it never actually walks, works, reaches, or sits itself.
A thorn (on a rose)A rose's petals are delicate and grow from soil, but its beauty comes with sharp thorns that can prick and draw blood.
SandIndividual grains of sand are tiny and harmless, but wind-driven sand moving fast enough, as in a sandstorm, can be dangerous.
SkinSkin cells constantly shed and regenerate every day, and skin itself is essential for survival.
Schmooze'Schmoozing' means chatting in a friendly, ingratiating way with people, often to gain a professional advantage.
A rulerA ruler is often exactly one 'foot' long (12 inches), but obviously has no physical body.
A gravestoneA gravestone is inscribed with the name and memory of the deceased person, information that belongs to someone else, not the stone itself.
A roadRoads wind through hilly and mountainous terrain, cross rivers via bridges, and cut through forests, right outside your front door.
A squareTracing those directions and distances out closes a path that forms a square shape.
Twister'Twister' is both the name of the game where players tangle their limbs on a mat and a common term for a tornado.
Few'Few' has three letters; adding 'er' makes 'fewer,' which means a smaller amount.
An arrowAn arrow has feathered fletching that stabilizes its flight, and it's shot to strike and kill living targets.
A portraitA portrait captures a person at one fixed age forever; the longer it exists, the further behind -- 'younger' -- it falls compared to how old the real person becomes. This is a loosely worded riddle that relies on a somewhat poetic reading.
A headThe human head is like a small hill with seven natural openings: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth.
A snowmanA snowman is built in winter and has no real senses, but children often give it a carrot nose or candy features that can be eaten.
A shoeThis plays on 'foot' meaning both a unit of length and a human foot -- a shoe always fits exactly one foot, no matter its size.
A graveA grave is cold, dark, and unwelcoming to the living, yet its permanent occupants -- the dead -- never object to staying.
TupperwareTupperware parties were a popular mid-20th-century social gathering where hosts demonstrated and sold plastic kitchen storage containers.
A featherA feather helps a bird fly while attached, but once it comes loose it gently floats down to the ground.
An alligator (gator)Gatorade was named after the University of Florida Gators; an alligator (gator) is a reptile whose lineage dates back to prehistoric times and is still alive today.
A pencilA pencil starts out long, gradually gets shorter with use, and leaves a trail of graphite marks wherever it writes.
DrugsDrugs are willingly taken by the user, yet they can ultimately cause serious harm or destruction to the body from within.
A leafA leaf sprouts in spring, opens up through the growing season, withers and falls in autumn/winter, then returns again each new spring.
PainNo one wants pain as a companion, yet it's exactly what shows up the instant someone gets hurt.
NapsKids are made to take naps against their will, while tired adults often wish they still had time to nap.
A vacuum cleanerA vacuum cleaner has a wide 'mouth' (its nozzle), runs loudly, and gets involved in cleaning up everyone's dirt.
A strokeEvery swing in golf, hit or miss, counts as a stroke -- so missing the ball still adds a stroke to your score.
The speaker's sonSince the speaker has no siblings, 'my father's son' can only be the speaker himself, which means the man's father is the speaker -- so the man is the speaker's son.
The tidesTides rise (in) and fall (out) in a steady, endless rhythm around the coastline, and no one can say exactly when that cycle will ever stop.
SpikesSpy movies often show tire-deflating spike strips deployed from the back of a getaway car to stop pursuers.
HeartThe heart is often said to be the seat of emotion, enclosed and protected within the white cage of the ribs.
HoleAll sorts of things -- digging, drilling, wear, decay -- can create a hole, and it can grow or shrink over time in any shape.
HomeIn your own home you are neither a guest nor an intruder -- it is simply the place that belongs to you.
ThoughtsEveryone has thoughts, which can bring happiness or sadness and only stop when a person's life ends.
BibleThe word "Bible" comes from the Greek "biblia," meaning "books" or "book."
MercuryAs in the earlier thermometer riddle in this set, this describes mercury inside a glass ("crystal") tube, rising higher as the temperature increases -- the two riddles share almost identical wording and the same answer.
HairPeople donate their cut hair to organizations that make wigs for those who've lost theirs, such as cancer patients.
StoveA stove stands on four legs and vents smoke through a pipe, and it's exactly where you head when you're hungry to cook a meal.
DiceA single die has six flat faces, and the total number of pips ("eyes") on all its faces (1+2+3+4+5+6) adds up to twenty-one.
LieThis is the classic liar's paradox; the riddle's given resolution treats the statement itself as a lie, though logically the sentence is self-contradictory.
BlackbirdThe Beatles' song "Blackbird," written by Lennon and McCartney, gives this dark-feathered bird its serenade.
DebtEvery time you "contract" (take on) more debt, the total amount you owe grows larger, despite "contract" usually implying shrinking.
Petite"Petite" is French for small, and it's used in women's clothing sizing much like "fun size" describes small snacks.