# This riddle is driving me crazy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 4, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917 "2009-07-04T19:08:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/41 "2009-07-06T04:23:00Z")
I’m getting something like 1. An Enforcer (an e four c r) 2. Something to do with precognition - Forseeing …(something) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/42 "2009-07-06T04:56:56Z")
Four Chakras In An Eastern Religion. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/43 "2009-07-06T05:03:08Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I’m getting something like > > 1. An Enforcer (an e four c r) > 2. Something to do with precognition - Forseeing …(something) I don’t think you get this type of riddle. The idea is that each letter is supposed to stand for a word as part of a common phrase. For example 24 H in a D = 24 hours in a day. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/44 "2009-07-06T05:05:51Z")
I say we take off and nuke this thread from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/45 "2009-07-06T05:12:50Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I don’t think you get this type of riddle. The idea is that each letter is supposed to stand for a word as part of a common phrase. For example 24 H in a D = 24 hours in a day. Indeed. See [http://www.24-h-in-a-d.com](http://www.24-h-in-a-d.com) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/46 "2009-07-06T05:20:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Although I can’t remember the letters in question now, I know I looked it up back then and found it in lists of similar puzzles. It seems to have stumped everyone universally. Wasn’t it from one of those college-entrance exams? The GRE or something like that? No, it wasn’t on any list of any puzzle- in fact any searches (just like with this one) sent us to the SDMB. There are two possibilities; either they are/were having us on, or more likely mis-remembered a minor but crucial letter or number. But if the OP doesn’t come back then we must assume it’s the first.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/47 "2009-07-06T05:41:38Z")
How is this a riddle? Aren’t riddles something like “A black coat in a white coat” and then you’re supposed to realize that the answer is the sun or something? This is just a bunch of letters that can mean anything. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/48 "2009-07-06T05:55:52Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I don’t think you get this type of riddle. The idea is that each letter is supposed to stand for a word as part of a common phrase. For example 24 H in a D = 24 hours in a day. I have seen a lot of them before … stuff like: mce, mce, mce = three blind mice (they have no eyes) * * * read = read between the lines * * * etc …I just can’t remember the name of them ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/49 "2009-07-06T06:20:38Z")
Four Cardiologists in an Emergency Room ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/50 "2009-07-06T06:46:36Z")
Its prophecy, Forseein’ an Ear. OK, its pretty stupid prophecy, like Nostradumbass. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/51 "2009-07-06T07:06:01Z")
Is it possible the answer is “airforce”? Force (4c) in an “air” (er) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/52 "2009-07-06T07:15:21Z")
is it possible the answer is “airforce”? 4 c (force) in an air (er)? A bit of a stetch buy, hey, I’m guessing… Or for you intelligent types, any chemical symbols that an be built around Z"an ER" that would be changed by adding four Cs? ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/53 "2009-07-06T07:49:01Z")
My guess: Force in an ear= equilibrium ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/54 "2009-07-06T07:54:39Z")
Four clowns in an elephant’s rectum? ---
**Author:** ![ashman165](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ashman165](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashman165)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/55 "2009-07-06T07:55:33Z")
These types of riddles are never phonetic. It always in the form of x number things in y type of construct. 9 J in the SC, for instance for 9 justices of the supreme court. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/56 "2009-07-06T08:32:50Z")
> [@ashman165](#): > > These types of riddles are never phonetic. It always in the form of x number things in y type of construct. > > 9 J in the SC, for instance for 9 justices of the supreme court. Is that never, as in it violates the laws of physics. Or would that be never as in 'It’s my opinion that this riddle is of the format…?" ---
**Author:** ![ashman165](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ashman165](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashman165)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/57 "2009-07-06T08:47:28Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Is that never, as in it violates the laws of physics. Or would that be never as in > 'It’s my opinion that this riddle is of the format…?" It’s neither opinion nor a law of physics; it’s simply the form that this type of riddle takes. Otherwise, the goal of finding out what number of the suggested items are present in the type of construct wouldn’t work so well. Moreover, it wouldn’t make sense to suggest that 4 and c are one word when they’re separated by a space, which is how we mark the separation between two things. No one suggests that fo rce would be proper; it’s force. So too would it be the case that 4c would how one would want to write it were force the goal, not 4 c. ---
**Author:** ![bundykala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bundykala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bundykala)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/58 "2009-07-06T10:48:13Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I have seen a lot of them before … > > stuff like: > > mce, mce, mce = three blind mice (they have no eyes) > > * * * > > read = read between the lines > > * * * > > etc …I just can’t remember the name of them Nah, those are rebus puzzles. These are different. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/59 "2009-07-06T13:55:52Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Four Cardiologists in an Emergency Room But how would the average person know that it’s standard for there to be four cardiologists? What if some hospitals only have three? For this kind of riddle to work, assuming the construct really is a “7D in a W = 7 days in a week” type of thing, it has to be something that is very common or a famous quote, requiring no specialized knowledge (unless the riddle was designed for a particular group and not the general public), and universally understood. So 12 M in a Y is twelve months in a year can be understood by almost everyone. But I have nothing, so I’m just going to guess: “four crises in an emotional rollercoaster” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917/60 "2009-07-06T14:12:00Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > But how would the average person know that it’s standard for there to be four cardiologists? What if some hospitals only have three? Because it’s the Law! I dunno, I was just choosing something vaguely plausible to hopefully inspire the correct guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-riddle-is-driving-me-crazy/501917.md?page=4)