Riddle: Say "silk" five times. Now, spell "silk." What do cows drink?
Answer: Water
Riddle Explanation + Meaning
This riddle uses a clever trick to lead you in the wrong direction.
First, it makes you focus on the word "silk" by having you say it multiple times and then spell it.
This primes your brain to think about milk, since silk and milk rhyme, and are often associated with each other in our minds due to their similar sounds.
The riddle then quickly asks what cows drink, banking on the idea that many people will impulsively answer "milk" because their mind is still focused on the word "silk" and its association with milk.
However, cows do not drink milk; they drink water.
The trick of this riddle lies in its ability to misdirect your thinking through association and then ask a question that seems related but is actually about a completely different topic.
It’s a fun way to see how easily our minds can be influenced by prior suggestions, even when we know the correct answer.
