How to Escape?

A man is trapped in a room with only two possible exits. Through the first door is a room with an enormous magnifying glass causing the blazing hot sun to instantly burn anything that enters. Through the second door there is a fire-breathing dragon. How does the man escape?

Leave through the first door at night when the sun is down.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Consecutive Christmas Caroling

My family sings Christmas carols at the hospital where my wife works.
We do this every year and since we started, have not missed a single year.
The next time we do this will be the 18th consecutive Christmas.
My 15 year old daughter has been every time.

How is this possible?

She was born in March 1999 so the first year she came was December 1999 (before her 1st birthday).
Her first time was when she was 0, second time when she was 1, third time when she was 2, etc…

Now that she is 15, she has been 16 times. Oh and of course she was also present in December 1998 in her mum’s belly, due to be born the next March.

So, a total of 17 times and next time will be the 18th.

Thanks to Michael for submitting this real-life brain teaser about his family.

Posted in Brain Teasers

JAJWUTH

JAJWUTH
TFAPOW
JFDABHC

What are the next five letters in this sequence?
Hint: Think back to childhood rhymes.

AJCTA. These are the first letters from the nursery rhyme, “Jack and Jill Went Up The Hill”. AJCTA represents, “and Jill came tumbling after”.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Different Sizes, Colors and Shapes

What comes in different sizes, colors and shapes but creates a larger whole?

A jigsaw puzzle piece.

Posted in Riddles

Everyone Is Doing This Same Thing

Right now everyone in the world, no matter where they are, is doing the exactly same thing. What is it?

Getting older. Sad but true, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. If you thought of breathing, it’s not entirely accurate because not everyone takes a breath at the same time. Living is an arguably suitable alternate answer as well.

Posted in Riddles

After You Wake Up

You do this after you wake up,
And you get all wet,
If you didn’t you would cause,
Those nearby to fret.

What am I?

Getting dressed.

Posted in Riddles
Tagged with

A Final Screech

I saw a strange creature,
Long, hard, and straight,
Thrusting in a round, dark, opening,
Preparing to discharge its load of lives,
Puffing and squealing noises accompanied it,
Then a final screech as it slowed and stopped.

Note: This may not be appropriate for younger ages.

A subway train.

Posted in Riddles
Tagged with

A Mile From End To End

A mile from end to end, yet as close to as a friend. A precious commodity, freely given. Seen on the dead and on the living. Found on the rich, poor, short and tall, but shared among children most of all. What is it?

A smile.

Posted in Riddles

NDOLA

What does “NDOLA, PAMODZI” mean?

Thanks to the comments, it doesn’t mean anything per se, but it’s a location in Zambia. If that’s all it is, it’s not really a brain teaser, but since we’ve already worked on it, I’m marking it as solved leaving it up for posterity.

Below are former attempts to solve it.

I have yet to figure this one out. NDOLA could mean And lo, or An old, among other things. Pamodzi on the other hand didn’t have any particularly meaningful anagrams. Both words together had over 1,000 anagrams.

I haven’t come up with any other possible meanings.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Sever Bones and Marrow

My first is in wield, sever bones and marrow.
My second is in blade, forged in cold steel.
My third is in arbalest, and also in arrows.
My fourth is in power, plunged through a shield.
My fifth is in honor, and also in vows
My last will put an end to it all.

What am I?

Weapon

Posted in Riddles