I Am And Yet Cannot

I am and yet cannot,
I’m an idea, yet can rot,
I’m two but none,
On land but on sea.

What am I?

A paradox / pair of docks.

Posted in Riddles

Kings And Queens May Cling To Power

Kings and queens may cling to power
and the jester’s got his call
But, as you may all discover,
the common one outranks them all

An ace (in a deck of cards).

Posted in Riddles

The Longest Double Letter Word

What is the longest unscientific English word that uses every letter in the word exactly twice? For example, noon has two Ns and two Os, but it’s not nearly long enough.

Happenchance. There are two Hs, two As, and so on for all the letters in the word. The longest scientific word with the same property is probably esophagographers.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Tends To Overlook

I am something everybody tends to overlook, no matter how careful they are. What am I?

Your nose.

Posted in Riddles

A Seed of Three Letters

I am a seed, three letters in the name,
Take away two and I sound quite the same.

What am I?

Pea.

Posted in Riddles

Why This Particular Order?

Why are these letters grouped in this particular order?

1) DFGHLPRU
2) KSTV
3) CO
4) AIW
8) MN

The letters are grouped by the number of U.S. States beginning with that letter. M and N are tied for each starting eight states.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Slice My Head

You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I’m dead.

An onion.

Posted in Riddles

Mysterious Math

This problem can be solved by preschool children in five to ten minutes, by programmers in an hour and by people with higher education…well, check it yourself.

8809 = 6
7111 = 0
2172 = 0
6666 = 4
1111 = 0
3213 = 0
7662 = 2
9313 = 1
0000 = 4
2222 = 0
3333 = 0
5555 = 0
8193 = 3
8096 = 5
1012 = 1
7777 = 0
9999 = 4
7756 = 1
6855 = 3
9881 = 5
5531 = 0
2581 = ?

What is the missing number and why?

Two. The number is how many closed circles there are in the 4 digits. 0, 6 and 9 each have one, 8 has 2.

Posted in Brain Teasers

I’m On A Horse

You’re riding a horse. To the right of you is a cliff and in front of you is an elephant moving at the same pace and you can’t overtake it. To the left of you is a hippo running at the same speed and a lion is chasing you. How do you get to safety?

Get off the merry-go-round.

Posted in Brain Teasers

A Room With No Windows

You are in a room with no windows, doors or any exit. The only items are a mirror and a table. How do you escape?

Hint: This is not a typical brain teaser.

Look in the mirror, then at the wall and back at the mirror to see what you saw. Use the saw to cut the table in half and join the two halves to make a whole. Put the “hole” on the wall and climb out.

I know, it’s lame. I like to have brain teasers that you can realistically guess, but this one’s so popular, I feel an obligation to include it.

Posted in Brain Teasers
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