I am always running, but never get tired or hot. What am I?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: A river.
Explanation (300 words):
This classic riddle plays on metaphorical language and the double meanings of common words. The riddle says, “I am always running, but never get tired or hot.” To understand it, let’s analyze each part:
- “Always running” – This phrase is typically used to describe someone or something that is constantly moving or active. However, in the natural world, a river is a perfect example of something that is always “running.” Rivers flow continuously from higher elevations to lower ones, usually toward oceans, lakes, or other rivers.
- “But never get tired” – This part adds a twist. People and animals get tired when they run, but rivers don’t. This is a clue that the subject isn’t a living being. It’s something that acts like it’s running but doesn’t experience fatigue.
- “Or hot” – Again, living beings typically get hot when they exert themselves, but rivers do not “feel” heat, nor do they overheat from running. Their temperature is affected by the environment, not by their “running.”
Riddles like this often rely on personification — giving human traits to non-human things. Saying a river is “running” is a poetic way to describe the flow of water. It’s not actually running with legs, but the continuous movement resembles running. Because the river is inanimate, it doesn’t get tired or feel temperature the way living beings do.
Therefore, this riddle uses clever language to disguise a simple concept in a poetic way. The river matches all the clues provided: constant movement, absence of fatigue, and no overheating — making “a river” the most fitting and logical answer.