When is a door not a door
Riddle Answers

When is a door not a door? Riddle Answer + Meaning

3 riddles · tap Hint or Answer to reveal

by

Riddle: When is a door not a door?

Answer: When it's ajar!

How To Solve It

To solve this riddle, you need to:

  • Understand the different meanings of the word "ajar."
  • Recognize the play on words involving the state of a door.
  • Discard the literal interpretation that a door's essence changes based on its state.

The riddle plays on the common assumption that a door's definition is constant, challenging us to think about states in which its identity might be questioned.

Analyzing Key Components

"When is a door not a door?"

  • Literal meaning: Asking under what circumstances a door ceases to be considered a door.
  • Contribution to the riddle: Sets up a paradoxical scenario that seems impossible, as a door's identity typically doesn't change.

"When it's ajar!"

  • Literal meaning: When the door is slightly open.
  • Contribution to the riddle: Resolves the riddle's paradox with a play on words, revealing that the door's identity hasn't changed; rather, our perception of its state has.

Breaking Down the Language

This riddle relies heavily on wordplay and the dual meaning of "ajar":

  • Pun: "Ajar" sounds like "a jar," leading to a confusion of context. The humor arises from the misunderstanding that a door could transform into a jar.
  • Figurative language: The phrase plays on the literal and figurative meanings of being "ajar." Literally, it describes a door slightly open; figuratively, it suggests the door is not fulfilling its typical function (to either be fully open or closed).

Why the answer is "when it's ajar"

Everything in this riddle depends on hearing it rather than reading it. Spoken aloud, "ajar" and "a jar" sound exactly the same, so the answer can mean two things at once: the door is slightly open, and the door has turned into a glass jar. The question is so short and serious that it sounds like a puzzle about philosophy, which is part of the fun, because the answer is pure silliness.

It is hard for younger kids because "ajar" is not a word they use every day, so the pun can fly right past them. If a child doesn't laugh, try opening a door a little and saying "Look, the door is ajar," then holding up an empty jam jar. Other playful answers exist, like "when it's a gateway" or "when it's a window," but none of them rest on a single sound the way "ajar" does.

Where this riddle comes from

This riddle has been told for a very long time, and it is one of the best known puns in English, but who first asked it is unknown. It is a "when is a thing not a thing" riddle, a pattern that invites many copycat jokes. The riddles below all follow that same pattern or use the same kind of sound pun.

3 more riddles like this one

When is a car not a car?

Hint
Think about where you park at home and what the car does to get there.
Answer
When it turns into a driveway

When is a sailor not a sailor?

Hint
Say "on the ship" in another way, and listen for a piece of wood.
Answer
When he's aboard (a board)

When does a cart come before a horse?

Hint
Think about the order of words in a big book of word meanings.
Answer
In the dictionary

How to solve riddles like this

  • Say the answer choices out loud. "When is it not" riddles almost always rely on a word that sounds like two words.
  • Think of words that describe the thing's position or state, like open, closed, parked, or on board.
  • Try splitting longer words into smaller ones, such as "ajar" into "a jar" or "aboard" into "a board."
  • Accept silly answers. These riddles are meant to be groan-worthy, so the goofiest answer is often right.