Six riddles about things that describe themselves in borrowed language: objects with body parts they should not have, and one that destroys itself when named. Two easy, two medium, two hard.
#1easyUnsolved I have keys but open no doors, space but no room, and I let you enter but not go in. What am I?
Hint: You are probably within arm's reach of one right now.Answer: a keyboardA keyboard has keys, a space bar and an enter key, but none of them work on a door.
#2easyUnsolved What has one eye but cannot see?
Hint: You have to thread it before you can use it.Answer: a needleA needle's eye is the small hole the thread passes through.
#3mediumUnsolved What runs but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, and has a bed but never sleeps?
Hint: You would cross it on a bridge.Answer: a riverA river runs to the sea, meets it at its mouth, and flows along its bed.
#4mediumUnsolved What is so fragile that simply saying its name breaks it?
Hint: Libraries ask you for it.Answer: silenceThe moment you say the word out loud, the silence is gone.
#5hardUnsolved What has cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and water but no fish?
Hint: You unfold it before a long journey.Answer: a mapA map shows cities, forests and rivers as marks on paper, without containing any of the real things.
#6hardUnsolved If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you no longer have me. What am I?
Hint: Telling one is exactly how you lose it.Answer: a secretA secret stops being a secret the moment you pass it on.