Brain Teaser Riddles for Adults

A man walks into a bar and orders a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a pistol. The man says “Thank you” and leaves. Why?

What has cities without houses, forests without trees, and rivers without water?

Three light switches are outside a windowless room. Only one controls the bulb inside. You may enter the room once. How do you identify the switch?

You see a boat filled with people. It hasn’t sunk, yet when you look again you don’t see a single person aboard. Why?

What four-letter word can be written forward, backward, or upside down and still read the same?

Two fathers and two sons eat exactly three steaks for dinner—one each. How is that possible?

I am an eight-letter word. Take away the first letter and I remain. Take away the last letter and I remain. Remove the middle letter and I remain. What word am I?

A prisoner must pick one of three doors: fire, sharpshooters, or lions who haven’t eaten in years. Which door should he choose?

A farmer must cross a river with a fox, a hen, and grain. His boat carries only one item at a time. How does he get everything across safely?

What starts with T, ends with T, and has T inside?

I am the beginning of the end, the end of every place. I’m essential to life yet inside your face. What am I?

A man pushes his car to a hotel and tells the owner he’s bankrupt. What happened?

What number do you get when you multiply all the numbers on a telephone keypad?

What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters?

What single word fits all three clues: it can be in a minute, in a moment, and in a month?