What Has Hands But Cannot Clap Riddle Answer Explained
The answer to the riddle "What has hands but cannot clap?" is a clock.
Understanding the Riddle
This classic word puzzle plays with the double meaning of the word “hands”. While we usually think of hands as parts of the human body used for clapping, in this riddle, “hands” refer to the pointers on a clock or watch specifically, the hour, minute, and sometimes second hands. These are called “hands” because they indicate or “point” to the time, but they cannot perform actions like clapping.
Why the Answer is "A Clock"
A clock has two or three “hands”:
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The hour hand points to the current hour
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The minute hand points to the minutes
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The second hand (when present) tracks seconds
Despite being called hands, these parts don’t function like human hands. They only move around the clock face to indicate time and do not have any capability to clap, which makes this riddle both amusing and educational.
Fun with Riddles
Riddles like this one are often used in classrooms, games, and on social media to encourage quick thinking and help improve language skills. Puzzles involving wordplay challenge us to look at familiar words in new ways, drawing connections and finding unexpected answers. The simplicity and surprise of discovering that “hands” can mean more than just body parts gives this riddle enduring popularity.
How to Use This Riddle
Here are some creative ways to use this puzzle in your content or activities:
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Ice-Breaker: Begin meetings or classes with the riddle to engage the group.
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Quizzes: Include it in riddle or brain-teaser quizzes for children and adults.
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Learning Tool: Use it to explain homonyms and word meanings in English lessons.
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Social Media: Share the riddle to generate interaction and comments from your followers.
Possible Variations
This riddle can have variants. Some versions substitute a watch or reference objects with “hands” but no ability to clap (e.g., statues, gloves). However, “clock” remains the most popular and widely accepted answer.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general knowledge and entertainment purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, minor differences in interpretation may occur.
