Questions tagged [knowledge]
A puzzle whose solution relies on external sources such as tables, dictionaries, Wikipedia, or specifics that may not be common knowledge.
2,055
questions
21
votes
1answer
2k views
Assassinate Shakespeare!
Factoid: The noun "assassination" first appeared in print in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
However, forget that. The puzzle is to reproduce the following ngram.
The correct answer will be a link to the ...
21
votes
1answer
2k views
What will the Frenchman say?
An Englishman, a Frenchman and a German are speaking.
First the Englishman says : "M".
Then the Frenchman says : "M" as well.
And the German also says : "M".
They all agree and decide to ...
21
votes
2answers
1k views
Setting up the trap
Start with eleven in one e four e six;
add what is missing from otherhood, oke, icks;
improving position, go upwards by one;
mix up for organs, remove fifty-one.
Add to the end an ...
21
votes
1answer
682 views
On The Subject of ???
(This is the last of a series of puzzles written for Timwi for a Secret Santa puzzle exchange, themed around various custom modules for the game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Note: Unlike previous ...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
A Minesweeper Crossword
This is a Random thought that occurred to me. It consists of combining aspects of Minesweeper, Nonograms, and Crosswords together to create this rather interesting and, I believe, difficult puzzle.
...
20
votes
14answers
4k views
I can be found near gentle green hills and stony mountains
I can be found near gentle green hills and stony mountains,
Alongside the gas in the clouds and the iron of the earth,
At times I can be white and frosty, red and fiery, or blue and stormy,
What am ...
20
votes
8answers
5k views
Unlock My Phone! February 2018
I forgot my password again! I changed it a few days ago but already forgot!
What is my phone's password this month?
Hint #1:
Hint #2:
20
votes
7answers
4k views
Misspelled Movies
Continuing in the Twisted TV Titles and TV Title Mondegreens vein, here are some Misspelled Movies.
Each title is a homophone of (i.e. sounds the same as1) a real movie title, but is spelled and/or ...
20
votes
13answers
3k views
A Hard-Luck Farmer
I work on a farm, but it's not as romantic as you think: I need to wake up around sunrise to go to work, and I get paid just 4 pennies per minute. I had to take a second job to pay the bills. Honestly,...
20
votes
8answers
3k views
Just a simple riddle
You can see me running but no legs can be seen.
I like to return to places I've just been.
Sometimes I get all angry and mad.
So I love to wrap up warm with my dad.
Often I'll just jump left ...
20
votes
3answers
4k views
Don't mistake me for my brother, he's fatter than I am
I am one of many, but one thing's for sure,
If you are hit by me, your death I'll assure.
Don't blame me if you get hurt, I'm just a kid,
I'll end the war that's happening. Hope, I'll rid.
I like ...
20
votes
7answers
2k views
What's my real name?
Though quite well-known, few know my name.
And in it, you'll find others' fame.
For what it's worth, I'll name a few,
I'm sure you want me to - don't you?
What's up? Are you not having fun?
Would you ...
20
votes
7answers
3k views
The Wall of Walls
I present to you... The Wall of Walls!
\begin{matrix}
\text{sniper} & \text{bauxite} & \text{marshmallow} & \text{viper} & \\ & \\
\text{sparrow} & \text{absolution} & \...
20
votes
2answers
3k views
My memory was erased by some external force. Where did I travel?
The higher-ups (my peers) in our company drop f-bombs all the time, so I'd had enough of them and decided to go on an journey, escaping the current situation.
First, I headed south-east, and the first ...
20
votes
10answers
2k views
A Mythical Member of the Scientific Community
I've provided the link between man and machine.
In rivers and trees, respectively, I can be seen.
I've been key in measuring the speed of light.
The Pacific Ocean is where I developed flight.
...
20
votes
4answers
1k views
How would you like your face? Scrambled?
Great!
First day on the job here at the F.B.I., and I've got a mess on my hands.
Someone hacked into Langley's mainframe and scrambled twelve of the mugshots that we have on file, and it's my ...
20
votes
3answers
2k views
My Friend in Kanto
I have a friend in Kanto. He sent me a message and told me that he's looking for all sorts of creatures. Included was the following list of descriptions. I know there's a message hidden in there ...
20
votes
1answer
2k views
The great puzzle
Someone one was trying to find out something, according to the following UNIX commands.
...
20
votes
2answers
1k views
Elizabeth's six destinations
The ship departed from the Lisbon harbour. Elizabeth sat in her cabin, holding a small USB device in her hand. The important information it contained was meant for the authorities of six foreign ...
20
votes
1answer
669 views
A Pointless Endeavor
I found an box of weird junk in my Grandmother's storage closet earlier this week. It included:
A tin can, painted green
Another can, this one an old store-brand Diet Root Beer can in light brown
A ...
20
votes
2answers
1k views
Stella and the president's secret notes
Jason Trump, president of the Untitled Statues Association, has left a notebook containing presumably important information lying around on his desk. Stella, his nosy assistant, takes a look only to ...
20
votes
2answers
774 views
More important than the destination
This puzzle is the 26th and final part of Gladys' journey across the globe. If you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
Spoiler alert: This puzzle gives ...
20
votes
1answer
854 views
What is this story describing?
You sit in an open space with many others.
You tremble with fear as you hear It approach from behind.
You hear the terrible ominous sound, rhythmic and monotonous
and yet seeming to build in a ...
20
votes
1answer
335 views
20
votes
3answers
440 views
Cool language nerds won't hang out with me
It has long been my dream to be a part of the extremely exclusive Language Nerds' Club. Today, I walked into their clubhouse and stated my wish to become a bona fide member. See how I used Latin there?...
20
votes
1answer
1k views
Bankers with rancor
Three colleagues at the bank are boasting to each other…
Colleague 1: “Ask anybody – I’m clearly the best.”
Colleague 2: “And how do you figure that?!”
Colleague 1: “Well, just ...
20
votes
1answer
2k views
What is a Self-Absorbed Word™?
This is in the spirit of the What is a Word/Phrase™ series started by JLee with a special brand of Phrase™ and Word™ puzzles.
If a word conforms to a special rule, I call it an Self-Absorbed Word™.
...
20
votes
1answer
2k views
The Pitiable Coder
One day, I found an odd newspaper lying on a bench called '$\large\bf\text{The Pitiable Coder}$'.
I opened it and to my delight found an entire page on puzzles! Most were easy, but there was one I ...
20
votes
1answer
5k views
What video game is this?
Four days ago, one of my seven brothers told me he had a riddle for me.
He already told it to five of the others, but only two got the answer right, so I had to give it a try.
One thing I can ...
20
votes
2answers
891 views
20
votes
3answers
1k views
A smudge in his notebook
Lothar took his notebook and started scribbling some equations:
\begin{align}
2 + 3&= 412 \\
1+5& = 4321\\
0+4&=4320\\
4320-412&=40\\
4321120-0&=3\\
80-62&=0\\
6+6&=\text{■...
20
votes
3answers
2k views
What a peculiar family
I once met a family, well actually only the kids, quite a strange bunch. They said Dad was a busy man, so they were often alone.
I asked about Mom, and they just shrugged their shoulders and shook ...
20
votes
1answer
885 views
Look up to him, who is he?
Born on the first soil, aiming for the next
Stolen as replacement, his life a lie
To be loved, serve but never die
Death came in a flash, lost mother
Hideous rictus, fear and darkness
...
19
votes
3answers
977 views
Cryptic with missing capitals
Solve the clues and fill the grid. Each clue is missing a different European capital city.
Across
1. Funny beret men strike $??$ to convene (4)
3. Containers found in a $??$ plaza (...
19
votes
3answers
889 views
Fortune tellers have dinner
I've seen these before somewhere (maybe here?), but they're all mixed up!
Who/what is being described by the clues below?
Consequence of a disastrous harvest
What a mathematician might do to ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
Today's horoscope: You will solve this riddle
You may see me in 7 if it's your time
Though you will probably see me in 6 all around town
Some say my predecessor can hold up the world
In the west I am a group of siblings in a cow
Though in ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
Fun Friday: This puzzle does what NintenDONT
It's Friday, lunch is over, and why get back to work - when you can relax with a quick 5 minutes video game puzzle!
Enjoy!
Text Version
19
votes
4answers
2k views
The strange story of Lord Lefthide
Lord Lefthide was found dead in his mansion, to what it would seem of a heart attack. But it appears that moments before his death, he was writing some uncanny childish story. He was indeed found dead ...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
Name that Movie
The following each describe a movie title. Figure out what they are! (I'm really bad at intros.)
1.
:*:*!!
2.
...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
Italy is to Hungary as Netherlands is to France
This puzzle talks about a certain (clear and justifiable) relationship between certain independent countries. With respect to this relation, we have
Italy : Hungary = Netherlands : France = Austria ...
19
votes
9answers
2k views
An unwanted guest
I am here, but not really
My presence is eerie.
Why the long face, why the frustration
After all I am only a sensation
You and my body went separate ways
I fill out the empty space
...
19
votes
3answers
1k views
A curious little planet
Somewhere in this universe, there is an extremely tiny planet covered entirely in water. The only inhabitable surface on The entire planet is a raised Platform that keeps the animals on the planet ...
19
votes
1answer
3k views
I don't have luck on my side, but I have fortune on my side. Who am I? And why?
Hi. My name is six letters long.
Sometimes, women try to avoid me for fear of something – not for fear of me, mind you! But they find it hard to resist me and my charming tanned body.
As weird as it ...
19
votes
2answers
553 views
Planning a round-the-world trip
My friend is preparing for her upcoming round-the-world trip and is excitedly making lists of places she wants to visit. She sent me a list of her current top 20 destinations. Mostly I see what the ...
19
votes
1answer
825 views
Bob's unnecessary trip to the shops
Alice and Bob live in London, UK. On a Friday, as per usual, Bob leaves for work before Alice. At lunchtime he receives a WhatsApp message from his friend Charles:
Sorry to cancel on you last ...
19
votes
2answers
1k views
Let us all join the party for hope!
The students at Hope's Peak Academy decided to throw a party to have some thrills and chills (and let's stop there, please!)
They played all sorts of games with each other, and now it's time for the ...
19
votes
1answer
1k views
4 sums of flags
The previous 'Sum of' puzzle can be found here
+ =
+ =
+ =
+ = ?
Which flag should replace the question mark?
19
votes
3answers
988 views
Super High School Level Crossword
Note: This crossword contains objectively more references to Japanese popular media than necessary. Does that fill you with despair? Upupupu...
Clues
...
19
votes
1answer
820 views
A puzzling conversation
“I’m thinking of a word,” said Lionel. His hands moved quietly while he spoke, setting pieces in their accustomed places. “It has two zeds in it.”
“How puzzling,” said Adolf, allowing himself a ...
19
votes
2answers
450 views
Mint, orange or pear
My prefix prefix comes from near the Med,
my infix infix is slightly weird,
my suffix suffix is brightly coloured,
I am something sweet which may be sprayed.
