New Riddles With Answers - page 31 of 53
A man is driving in his car, there are no headlights or streetlights for him to see the road. But somehow, he saw an old lady crossing the street and stopped for her. How is this possible if there are no lights?
There's no need for artificial light if the sun is already shining.
A monkey, a squirrel, and a bird are racing to the top of a coconut tree. Who will get the banana first, the monkey, the squirrel, or the bird?
Coconut trees don't grow bananas, so no matter how fast any of the three racers climbs, none of them can win a banana at the top - the riddle's trick is in the mismatched fruit.
The tallest trees fall, at my glorious call, some may resist, but only for so long. What am I?
This invisible force eventually pulls everything, even the tallest things, down to the ground.
What do you call a tree-chopper who sleeps on the job?
This is a pun combining 'slumber' with 'lumberjack'.
What is the name of the ugliest tree?
This is a pun on 'yew' sounding like 'you' (as in 'ugly, aren't you').
Heart of stone within a tree, I'll help your words to outlive thee. But if you push me as I stand, the more I move, the less I am. What am I?
This writing tool has a graphite 'lead' core encased in wood, and wears down as you use it.
I can hold you prisoner Or set you free I can swing with ease (Though not from a tree) I have many shapes I have many sizes Yet, 'til we shake hands I'll hide my surprises. What am I?
This household object swings on hinges and you 'shake hands' with its handle to open it.
It shouts along the street, hasn't any lungs, It tugs at leaves and hurls them at people old and young. What is it?
This invisible force can be loud and moves leaves without having a body.
There are 2 cops parked along a one-way street looking for traffic violations. They spot a taxi driver going in the wrong direction, yet they do nothing. Why?
The word 'driver' is misleading; the person wasn't operating a vehicle at all.
Why are Christmas trees bad at knitting?
This is a pun on pine needles and knitting needles.
I reach for the sky, but clutch to the ground; sometimes I leave, but I am always around. What am I?
This plant grows upward while its roots stay firmly in the earth.
What did the tree wear to the pool?
This is a pun on a tree's 'trunk' and swimming 'trunks'.
An old-fashioned bike wheel has 21 spokes. How many spaces are there between the spokes?
Just like any wheel, the number of gaps between spokes equals the number of spokes themselves.
One-fourth of the population of a newly discovered planet has 4 legs. All others have 2 legs. If the total number of legs is 128, and the population is x, express x in terms of the legs.
Working through the fractional population clues given in the riddle arrives at a total planet population of 24.
Where do astronauts leave their spaceships?
Wordplay — "meteors" sounds like "meters," as in parking meters.
Why isn't the moon a good vacation destination?
Wordplay — "atmosphere" refers to both breathable air and an enjoyable vacation vibe, both missing on the moon.
Empty as space, Scary as a ghost. What am I?
Darkness feels as vast and empty as outer space and as unsettling as a ghost.
I'm behind you In front of you And still surround you though not around you. What am I?
Space extends in every direction, existing behind, ahead, and around all objects universally.
What did the falling space rock say as it crashed to earth?
Wordplay — "Meteor" sounds like "meat here," playing off bacon, a breakfast meat.
How are prisoners like astronauts?
Wordplay — prisoners want "out of" their cell, sounding like "outer," while astronauts study "outer space."
A glow in the dark, A place without life. What am I?
Space appears to glow with distant stars and light, yet is famously devoid of life.
What is bright but sometimes doesn't give off light?
The moon only reflects sunlight, so during a new moon phase it appears dark despite still being known as "bright."
I get fiercely hot. I vary in size. I illuminate darkness. What am I?
A lightbulb comes in many sizes, heats up while lit, and is used specifically to light up dark spaces.
Finish the sequence: J F M A M J J A S O N _
The sequence lists the first letters of the months in order, so the twelfth letter is "D" for December.
Very few men have ever been here, and it is very close to the earth. What is it?
Only a handful of astronauts have ever walked on the moon, despite it being Earth's closest celestial neighbor.
Inside me, there is a teacup, a planet, and all the world's secrets. What am I?
The universe contains everything that exists, from tiny objects like a teacup to entire planets and every mystery yet unsolved.
The ghost of the mountain never to be seen. What am I?
Snow leopards are famously elusive and rarely spotted, earning them the nickname "ghost of the mountain."
What sea is in space?
Wordplay — "galaxy" sounds like "galax-sea."
There was a man driving a truck with no lights on. There was no moon out and no streetlights either. Suddenly a woman crossed the street in front of him. How did he see her?
A trick question — headlights aren't needed to see during the day.
Blacker than black, colder than cold. What am I?
The vacuum of space is both pitch black and extremely cold, more extreme than any earthly comparison.
Why did all the pecans go to space?
Wordplay — "Astro-nuts" sounds like "astronauts," fitting for actual nuts.
If you don't move I move, if you move I don't move. What am I?
The moon appears to move across the sky relative to your own stillness or motion, an illusion of relative motion.
Sometimes I am black, sometimes I am white. What am I?
The moon can appear dark during a new moon or a lunar eclipse, and bright white when full.
Soldiers line up spaced with pride, marching side by side. What am I?
A zipper's teeth line up evenly like soldiers marching in formation.
Large as a mountain, small as a pea, Endlessly swimming in a waterless sea. What am I?
Asteroids vary greatly in size and drift endlessly through the "sea" of space, which has no water.
It's been around for millions of years, yet it's still only a month old. What is it?
The moon itself is ancient, but its visible phase cycle repeats roughly every month.
I can be half without getting thinner. What am I?
A "half moon" phase doesn't mean the moon shrank — it's still the same size, just partly lit.
I'm far away from you, but I still shine bright. Millions of my kind light the night. What am I?
Stars are vast distances away yet still visibly shine, appearing in huge numbers across the night sky.
You can see through me, yet I am not transparent. I'm often the reason people feel hurt. What am I?
People can eventually "see through" a lie even though it isn't physically transparent, and it often causes emotional pain.
I am strongest when you see me as round. What am I?
A full, round moon is at its brightest and most visually powerful phase.
I surround you but I'm not clothes, I let you see but I'm not eyes. What am I?
Light fills the space around you and enables sight without being a physical garment or body part.
Can you complete each list? 1. Red, White, and 2. Look, 3. Wishing on 4. Ready, Set, 5. Reading, Writing, and
Each item completes a well-known phrase or saying, such as "Red, White, and Blue" or the "three R's" of schooling.
Why did the moon skip dinner?
Wordplay — a "full moon" describes both the lunar phase and being full from eating.
People have stepped on me, but not many. What am I?
Only a small number of astronauts in history have ever set foot on the moon.
What is an alien's favorite outdoor game?
A "flying disc" resembles the classic image of a flying saucer UFO.
My father is the moon, my mother is the sea, my brothers make music yet cannot be seen or touched. What am I?
The moon's gravity creates ocean tides, which in turn generate waves.
From the beginning of eternity To the end of time and space From the beginning of every end And the end of every place. What am I?
The letter "e" sits at the start of "eternity" and the end of "time," "space," "end," and "place."
What object has keys that open no locks, space but no room, and you can enter but not go inside?
A keyboard has "keys" (buttons), a "space" bar, and an "enter" key, none of which are literal.
What kind of music can you hear in space?
Wordplay — "Neptune," the planet, sounds like "Nep-tune," a musical tune.
A man was just doing his job when his suit was torn and he died within seconds. What was his job?
A torn suit is only lethal within seconds outside a normal atmosphere, pointing to an astronaut exposed to the vacuum of space.
I'm a god, a planet, and a measurer of heat. What am I?
Mercury is a Roman god, the closest planet to the sun, and the liquid metal used in old thermometers.
I always follow you around, everywhere you go at night. What am I?
The moon appears to follow you as you walk because of its great distance and constant position in the sky.
Which one of Santa's reindeer can you see in outer space?
Comet is both a reindeer's name and an object seen streaking through outer space.
I am the beginning of the end and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?
The letter 'E' sits at the tail end of 'the,' 'time,' and 'space,' and appears throughout the fabric of 'creation' and 'place.'
How far is it from March to June?
Wordplay — March, April, and May make up spring, so March to June spans "a single spring" season.
What is another name for the season of fall?
"Autumn" is simply the other common name for the fall season.
Why are trees in winter like troublesome visitors?
Bare trees keep their leafless look for a long stretch of the season, just like a guest who won't go.
I am a stop sign, what you see in blood, a rose, and, of course, an Autumn leaf. What am I?
Red appears in a stop sign, blood, roses, and autumn leaves alike.
Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
Asparagus and rhubarb are perennial vegetables that regrow from the same roots year after year, unlike most vegetables which must be replanted annually.
I am spring-bloomed petals birthed from Turkish gardens. I am a creature not bound by land or sea I am the champion of human rights. What am I?
Wordplay — "tulips" sounds like "two lips," which champion free speech, a human right.
Why is snow like a maple tree?
Wordplay — snow "leaves" (melts away) just as tree "leaves" fall, both happening around spring.
A man is in a room and the door is locked so he can't get out. He has with him a piano, a calendar, and a bed. How does he eat, drink, and get out?
He eats the calendar's "dates," drinks water from the bed's "springs," and escapes by finding the right piano "key."
David's birthday is in December, but it is never in the winter. Why?
In the Southern Hemisphere, December falls during summer, not winter.
You are falling out of a window. What season is it?
Wordplay — "falling" out of a window matches the season "Fall."
Upside-down or on its side, this merry-go-round is quite a ride. In the summer heat, it is quite a treat with blades so dull, that they will not slice. It spins too fast, for your sight. What is this ride?
The "merry-go-round" imagery describes a fan's spinning blades, which move fast enough to blur but never actually cut like a blade.
In what year did Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall in the same year?
Both Christmas and New Year's Day happen every single year, making the riddle's question deceptively simple.
What lives in winter, dies in summer, and grows with its roots upward?
An icicle forms and grows downward from a fixed point, its "root," in cold weather and melts away in summer heat.
Walk on the living, they don't even mumble. Walk on the dead, they mutter and grumble. What are they?
Walking on live grass makes no sound, but walking on dry fallen leaves creates a crunching, "grumbling" noise.
A woman went to Virginia to get a job. She promised her mother she would come back and visit sometime. Then, in the middle of winter, her mother shouted, 'April is here!'. How is this possible?
The riddle plays on the name "April" being both a month and the woman's given name.
An abundance in arms, but lacking in legs. A tall skinny body, but missing a head. I change with the seasons, it's winter I dread. What am I?
A tree has many branches ("arms") but no legs, and it visibly changes with each season, bare in winter.
What is whiter than the first snow, redder than the blood of the righteous, greener than the spring grass, bluer than a cloudless sky?
Light can appear in all these comparative extremes — pure white, vivid red, green, and blue — depending on how it's reflected or filtered.
What shoes do frogs wear in the summer?
Wordplay — "open toad" sounds like "open-toed," a type of summer shoe.
In spring I am gay in handsome array; in summer more clothing I wear; when colder it grows I fling off my clothes; and in winter quite naked appear. What am I?
A tree grows leaves in spring, thickens with foliage in summer, sheds them in fall, and stands bare in winter.
What is in seasons, seconds, centuries, and minutes but not in decades, years or days?
The letter "n" appears in "seasons," "seconds," "centuries," and "minutes," but not in "decades," "years," or "days."
What do you call a snowman in the summer?
In summer heat a snowman melts completely, leaving only a puddle of water behind.
A forest exists somewhere on Earth. This forest has no life except for trees. After a storm, a tree was hit by lightning and fell. What sound would it make?
This is the classic philosophical riddle asserting that without a listener present, there is no one to perceive the sound, so effectively none exists.
One-fourth of the population of a newly discovered planet has 4 legs. The rest have two legs. There are 60 legs in total. How big is the population of the newly discovered planet?
With 1/4 of the population (6 individuals) having 4 legs and 3/4 (18) having 2 legs, 6x4 + 18x2 = 60 legs, totaling 24 individuals.
I'm teary-eyed but never cry, silver-tongued, but never lie. double-winged, but never fly, air-cooled, but never dry. What am I?
This describes both the liquid metal mercury (shiny, wet, never fully dries) and the winged Roman god Mercury who never actually flies.
It is everywhere yet nowhere and time mars it not. All things are within its grasp and it is within the grasp of all things. It has no limits, for it does and does not exist. What is it?
'Nothing' paradoxically both does and doesn't exist, is present everywhere as an absence, and is unaffected by time.
I'm mean, I'm green, I am an eating machine. What am I?
A Venus flytrap is a green carnivorous plant known for snapping shut to 'eat' insects.
Fire is often maintained above me, and if you remove my first letter, you will find the home shared by everyone you have ever known. What am I?
A hearth is where a fire burns, and removing its first letter 'H' leaves 'earth', the shared home of all humanity.
Test Mars. What is the anagram word?
Rearranging the letters of 'Test Mars' spells the word 'Smartest'.
Inside me, there is a teacup, a planet, a shelf, and you! What Am I?
The universe contains everything that exists, including small objects like a teacup and vast things like a planet, and you yourself.
I am in the beginning of the earth. I am at the end of time. I appear two times in a week. I appear once in a year. What Am I ?
'E' begins 'earth', ends 'time', appears twice in 'week', and once in 'year'.
I welcome the day with a show of light, I steathily came here in the night. I bathe the earthy stuff at dawn, But by the noon, alas! I'm gone. What am I?
Dew forms silently overnight, is visible glistening at dawn, and evaporates once the sun warms the day.
The higher I climb, the hotter I engage, I can not escape my crystal cage. What am I?
As temperature rises, the mercury inside a glass thermometer climbs higher while remaining sealed inside the glass tube.
Why did Mickey Mouse go to space?
Pluto is both Mickey Mouse's cartoon dog and the name of the dwarf planet.
How can we tell that Saturn was married more than once?
Saturn's iconic rings are humorously compared to multiple wedding rings from repeated marriages.
How does NASA throw a party?
'Planet' is a pun on 'plan it', fitting for a space agency.
I'm a god, a planet, and a measurer of heat. Who am I?
Mercury is a Roman god, the closest planet to the sun, and the liquid metal once used in thermometers to measure heat.
A traveler came to the river side, with a donkey bearing an obelisk. But he did not venture to ford the tide, for he had too good an *. What is the missing word?
The rhyme requires a word matching 'obelisk,' and 'a-*-risk' completed with 'ster' spells 'asterisk,' punning on 'ass to risk,' meaning the donkey was too valuable to risk losing in the river.
What's the most romantic part about the ocean?
This puns on 'buoy meets gull' sounding like 'boy meets girl.'
Many-manned scud-thumper, Maker of worn wood, Shrub-ruster, Sky-mocker, Rave! Portly pusher, Wind-slave. What am I?
This is an Old English-style kenning riddle describing the sea: it's crewed by many sailors, wears down wood (ships), and is driven by the wind.
My first is a creature whose breeding is unclear. My second, a price you must pay. My whole can be found in the river of Time and refers to events of today. What am I?
'Cur' is a mongrel dog of unclear breeding, 'rent' is a price you pay, and together 'current' means both a river's flow and present-day events.
Four men were in a boat on the lake. The boat turns over, and all four men sink to the bottom of the lake, yet not a single man got wet! Why?
This is a pun on 'single' meaning unmarried versus not getting 'wet' -- since all were married, none were 'single,' the riddle's real trick.
How do you get into the great lakes?
This puns on 'Florida Keys' sounding like the 'keys' you'd use to unlock a 'lake' (lock/key wordplay).
I dance in the wind and I bow to a storm. I grow best in temperatures that are warm. By the riverbeds I like to grow, where the people in boats like to row. What am I?
River reeds sway in the wind, bend under storms, thrive in warm climates, and grow along riverbanks where boats pass.
How does a river flood?
This puns on someone getting 'too big for their britches,' swapped here to 'bridges' over a river.
Who's fault will it be if California falls into the ocean?
This puns on 'fault' meaning blame and the San Andreas Fault, the famous geological fault line running through California.
What can grasp the world's edges with great precision, yet always perceives the imagery as vague conceptions?
Peripheral vision detects motion and edges at the sides of your view precisely, but the images there appear blurry and indistinct.