Here’s an old-fashioned wordplay riddle: What has a neck but no head and wears a cap?
The answer: A bottle
Many bottles have a long, narrow upper part called a neck. A bottle may also have a cap that closes its opening. But of course it doesn’t have a head.
Why the clues work
When we hear words like neck, head, and cap, we often think of a person. The trick is remembering that familiar words can describe everyday objects as well. In this case, the words all fit a bottle.
The cap clue is particularly helpful, because many drink bottles use screw caps and other types of closures. Once you imagine a bottle rather than a person, the answer seems obvious.
Did you guess it immediately? Try asking a friend without giving away the answer.
