118 Riddles Designed For Adults

Nothing in games at Wimbledon,

Tough when enforcing discipline,

Into my clutches, you may fall,

Since I can conquer all.

I fly and heal wounds,

Killed when there’s nothing to do,

Visionaries are ahead of me,

It is said - I am money.

An octopus's defense,

Slang for a tattoo,

Used in pen or press,

When wet, an agreement is new.

I soar and dance, a mariner's kite,,

Transforming breeze to speed,

With veins of rope, skeleton of wood,

Propel a wooden steed.

We do not lie, it is said,

Given to those you wish to see again,

Ten pieces rearranged in any way,

Crunched by accountants every day.

Describes a mind in a daze,

Ships run aground in my haze,

An uncertain shroud in war,

A cloud close to the floor.

As fronts move I brew,

Sheet of gray over my view,

I come after the calm, unexpected,

And cry, leaving those beneath dejected.

If thick, you can handle criticism,

If thin, overly sensitive,

Irritating individuals get under me,

Body's largest organ.

Spread when gaining independence,

Clipped to limit freedom,

Invented by nature, harnessed by man,

With some speed, lift I can.

Dragged through me when disparaged,

Slung in political insults to embarrass,

I make slides you should avoid,

Hated by most, but leave pigs overjoyed.

Twin balloons,

I rest in a cage,

Cleared with a cough,

Iron-made in polio’s age.

Drawn at the end of days,

Closes final acts of plays,

Made of iron in the Cold War,

Seen by windows, not by doors.

A winding path down my cave,

It’s said you have me if you’re brave,

I start small and end large,

I keep the valuable, the rest discharge.

Born with two,

But one will still do,

Great pain with stones,

As beans, I’m known.

Roosters scream when I crack,

As gold overtakes the black,

Describes a sudden realization,

Start of day, time, or civilization.

A word to indicate possession,

Explosive device used in action,

Go in my depths with pickaxes,

Here in darkness, resources extracted.

Hit during a dance,

Found beneath your stance,

Given before oration,

Made of lava in child's imagination.

Stowing a car away,

Or place to spend a sunny day,

A walk through me is easy,

Springtime visits make some sneezy!

When principles ignored, I am sold,

When young yet mature, I am old,

Eyes are a window to me,

Searched when self-examining.

Used to disguise a message,

Or dictate how a student dresses,

Suffix of legal or genetic,

DNA of technology, stored in chips.

One stream of a river system,

Of the military, a subdivision,

Reach out to find light and spread seed,

Arms and fingers of a tree.

One part of a larger journey,

Pulled when being teased,

Feels like jelly after a race,

Wish to break me up on stage.

Only seen on chilly days,

But with you through day and night,

Hold on to me to mask your fear,

If I stop, your soul takes flight.

Given cold when ignoring,

Holds the weight of heavy burdens,

Great pain when out of place,

Cried on when comforting.

Silver slivers, slender shafts,

Pulled through ragged shirts and pants,

To relieve pain, stuck in backs,

Tough to find in a haystack.

At any moment we can snap,

Handy digits you can tap,

Crossed when wishing for good luck,

Check a pulse or guitar strings pluck.

Energy in motion, music in flight,

Movement of radio, sound, and light,

For a hello, a familiar sign,

In ocean's expanse, I rise and decline.

A display of locks and pins,

With a mat as the court,

Reversals and submissions,

In the world's most ancient sport.

My eye looks down upon a stage,

My knobs turned until focus gauged,

Makes things larger, without a spell,

Revealed the hidden world of cells.

A source of sweetness,

A tool of punishing pain,

With a handle atop my body,

Helps old folk walk without strain.

Refuge for ancient man,

Along with bloodsucking beasts,

What was said you hear again,

Chamber of spikes and leaks.

Used to stop spread of disease,

And at times to nourish skin,

To conceal identities,

Worn by hero and villain.

Something that attracts us all,

Gives our world its rounded shape,

Moves planets, stars, and even light,

Not felt in outer space.

Smaller than dust, yet mighty in role,

Building blocks of all, making things whole,

Not seen by the eye, but everywhere found,

In air, in water, and solid ground.

Used to trip in sneaky alarms,

Or for defenses when featuring barbs,

Very close contests go down to me,

I move data or power with speed.

Rows and rows of rooms you'll find,

Here are those who've crossed the line.

Within these walls, freedom's denied,

Escape a dream, but plenty have tried.

A stone rich in calcium,

A color and a fruit too,

Small but I can pack a punch,

Pushed into necks of brews.

Best not cold before your big day,

Dragged when attempting to delay,

Swept off of me when impressed,

In poor dancers, we are both left.

At times I’m tough to hold back,

Runs ear to ear as jokes are cracked,

A curve of joy painted on a clown,

A frown turned upside down.

Read by the deaf,

If loose, we can sink ships.

Smacked before a meal,

Meet others in a loving grip.

When opportunities slip by, I am missed,

Used to travel, sport, or fish,

If someone causes trouble, I am rocked,

Moved by wind, fin, or brawn.

On nations borders or in your home,

Hit by the tired in a marathon,

When written on, disaster is near,

Backed against me, escape routes disappear.

With the sun, I come to play,

Yet in the dark, I fade away.

I'm not solid, yet I'm seen,

Mimicking you, silent and lean.

A key that opens many locks,

A crew at its minimum,

Not a canvas - but a frame,

In the closet of those with shame.

Like a town without a soul,

Or a writer who stays unknown,

One who vanishes without goodbye,

Or how one looks when horrified.

Here servers bring you cookies,

Enjoy surfing through streams,

Web not spun by spider's feet,

Connecting worlds, helping hearts meet.

Lost by the worst gamblers,

Needed to receive service,

I have four openings,

One big, two small, one in-between.

I lay with queens and kings,

Yet never claim a throne,

Dressed in suits but wear no rings,

In hands, my power's shown.

When empty, I speak up,

When full, you’ve had enough,

I am soft yet acid-filled,

Within my walls energy is milled.

Full in the summer,

Footprints vanish swift,

Water and land,

I am wedged in the midst.

Quiet place, signed in stone,

Flowers left for none to take,

Digging one for yourself is a mistake,

Echoes of existence, encased in earth.

An agreement without ink or word,

Shows confidence when I am firm,

The closing to a tennis match,

Or sealing a deal as palms attach.

Those on me are undecided,

Running along lands divided,

Over me, grass is green,

Halting beasts though I am lean.

Five on a car, one on a ship,

Three on a date with an extra guest,

Ancient machine well-documented,

No need to be reinvented.

Circle of arms around the dear,

Greeting for a friend gone a year,

In love letters, one half of XO,

A cozy lock, a heartfelt hold.

Seen in times of change,

Or when leaving choice to fate,

Relic of trade in empires rich,

Cast in water to make a wish.

Rise from earth, fall into bags,

Adorned with strings and tags,

A whiff and sip perks you up,

As I steep within your cup.

Celestial pendulum swing,

If I rip, danger I bring,

It’s said I turn when fate shifts,

As I rise I lift all ships.

Many small cells contained,

Work then die when they are drained,

A positive and negative end,

Allows my power to expend.

Through a black void, I streak and I dart,

With a tail that glows so bright,

Celestial traveler with a luminous heart,

As I pass, I shine in the night.

Describes close calls with death or law,

Or when refreshing skills forgot,

An ancient tool in daily routine,

Or an instrument in artistry.

I have teeth that bite, but never chew,

Bit by bit, grind their way through,

Back and forth, I hum along,

To bring down giants tall and strong.

On one side, I’m benign,

On the other, a dangerous line,

Sometimes used for no good,

But more often to prepare food.

In times of triumph, I am made,

I can be revealed, but can’t be changed,

Repeats time and time again,

Written by those who come out ahead.

One who socializes without stress,

Or in your stomach, a nervous mess,

Vibrant colors, the last of three phases,

A delicate leaf floats and amazes.

I twist with teeth that bind,

Enabling motion, accounting for time,

They say I turn when deep in thought,

Or when I shift, changing the plot.

Silver and glass,

Feature of a carnival maze,

If broken I bring misfortune,

The world in reverse, I display.

When put on me, made famous,

When off of me, obscure,

A guide with scale and key,

Followed around the world.

Born from a vine in sunshine,

Look at my legs, admire my nose,

In cold darkness I bide my time,

Stacked up in rows and rows.

Lucky offspring are born with me,

Or when two lovers cuddle closely,

Rest atop my shiny kin,

Before rising towards your chin.

With stud, but no wall,

Or hoop, but no ball,

I shine, I dangle, I sway,

In a premade puncture lay.

The longer I live, the shorter I grow,

An ancient tool with a gentle glow,

A fleeting life, can be killed by a breeze,

But can be brought back to life with ease.

Shake and a pop, and I take flight,

Plugs up a neck, snug and tight,

Soft and buoyant, born from a tree,

Holding liquid, or your notes maybe.

Hierarchy through orders flow,

Reaction moving like dominos,

Smoking without a break,

As strong as my weakest link.

Treasure of the depths,

Beneath the crests,

Charming and white,

I am set on a chest.

White faces with black eyes,

With luck may win you a prize,

I’m tossed, I tumble, I stop,

And then gaze upon my top.

Developed by minds that are best,

Describes a short path to success,

Long body and bright tail,

No wings yet clouds I impale.

A precious dome lays atop this cloud,

Soft fluff in a silky shroud,

A weapon used in some fights,

Whereupon you dream through nights.

A language transcending humankind,

A world of logic, we have defined,

Through these rules we have outlined,

Answers and truth you will find.

Out of hands, I easily fall,

Spheres sparkle from slippery slime,

A melodramatic television opera,

Or basic solution to grime.

I can signal that help is needed,

But bring harm if limits exceeded,

Too much of me will cloud your day,

But a gust of wind may blow me away.

I helped men find their direction,

Hold shapes and figures on inspection,

A tiny speck to your eye,

But great behemoths across the sky.

Talking in sport that brews displeasure,

Unwanted to one, but another’s treasure,

Taken out when I start to pile,

To land that may stretch a mile.

Digits pick and slide on me,

To vibrate into harmony,

A hollow body with wires tight,

In skilled hands, a charming sight.

I descend, burning bright,

What I touch I may smite,

Don’t stop until I reach the floor,

The flash before a mighty roar.

In your hands, at dawn’s kiss,

Fragrant and bold, to many pure bliss,

Gives the groggy a jolt,

And makes hearts bolt.

Always in one of eight groups,

River running in endless loops,

In the cruel, I may be cold,

In the angry, I may start to boil.

In day I hum, in night I glow,

I don't move, but people flow,

A testament to human powers,

Jagged line of soaring towers.

I have teeth, but do not bite,

Aiding your image to look just right,

I separate, and also align,

Getting knots out of a bind.

I weave among ivory towers,

Slender twine with purpose scours,

To preserve a charming grin,

I remove filth, nested within.

From hand to hand, I often go,

Or as numbers on screen, I may flow,

Lifeless, but some say I talk,

Of trade and work, the bedrock.

I rest on a bridge between two spheres,

On some when young and many when old,

Brings focus and makes things clear,

A delicate tool that may fold.

Some days I rise, some days I fall,

Piece of a giant, though I may be small,

Bulls seek me out, bears tend to flee,

Holding wealth, though not touched or seen.

I may sleep year after year,

Then raze that which you hold dear,

Coughing up great pools of red,

Shaping land with tears I’ve shed.

Measure of health, to any degree,

A tool for scientific discovery,

Measure the day, but not time,

Mercury through a column climbs.

Support a car, or tell time’s flow,

For power I may stow,

Do take care, for when wound tight,

I will snap back with all my might.

In my chamber I rest, dark and tight,

Waiting for my chance to take flight,

Flying fast and flying true,

Stand in my path and I’ll riddle you.

Thriving where most life flees,

Unbent by an arid breeze,

Feared for my jagged spines,

A basin of life, in harsh confines.

Through ages I could foot the bill,

Men yearn for me, and at times kill,

Can’t be formed, but can be found,

In riverbeds or underground.

I may destroy, or create,

Break to shards, or fabricate,

Work with rhythm, loud and strong,

My head is hard, my body long.

All through the day, I open and close,

I reflect your world, the highs and the lows,

Give you direction as I capture light,

But then rest as you dream through the night.

An ancient craft, where patience is king,

Waiting for the tug that luck might bring,

I am so calm, a quiet delight,

In the mirror of waters, under sunlight.

Over here, love is none,

In this game, the sly have spun,

Service is seen in this court,

A rhythmic flow, back and forth.

In a circle, we gather round,

Faces masked, emotions bound,

With every flip of rank and suit,

In hands of fate, you may win the loot.

My life is fleeting, bright but a phase,

No fury I have, but can stir up a blaze,

Tiny and slender, yet power I hold,

Only a scratch, and this power unfolds.

Born through a craftsman's patient grace,

Fragrant clouds from me derive,

A roll of leaves, in tight embrace,

In fire's kiss, I come alive.

Through paper, screen, or simple word,

A multitude's will is heard,

Through me, leaders come to power,

Determine rule from the marble tower.

I feel soft before my arc,

But then come down and leave my mark,

Without a voice, yet I can crack,

In days of old, on horse's back.

Raise me in a game of war,

Or for that which you adore,

With four brothers I oppose,

In tricks split, or mock a nose.

A whirl of loops and underlines,

On blank lines, a home it finds,

A seal, unique as a star,

Binds agreements, near and far!

From vessel sealed, or foamy cascade,

Tales of joy and sorrow wade,

What am I, this liquid cheer,

That loosens tongues when I am near?

We do not lie, it is said,

Given to those you wish to see again,

Ten pieces rearranged in any way,

Crunched by accountants every day.

If thick, you can handle criticism,

If thin, overly sensitive,

Irritating individuals get under me,

Body's largest organ.

With veins of rope, skeleton of wood,

I transform breeze to speed,

I soar and dance, a mariner's kite,

And propel a wooden steed.

Describes a mind in a daze,

Ships run aground in my haze,

An uncertain shroud in war,

A cloud close to the floor.

Dragged through me when disparaged,

Slung in political insults to embarrass,

I make slides you should avoid,

Hated by most, but leave pigs overjoyed.

Hit during a dance,

Found beneath your stance,

Given before an oration,

Made of lava in child's imagination.

Spread when gaining independence,

Clipped to limit freedom,

Invented by nature, harnessed by man,

With some speed, lift I can.