Brain Teaser Meaning: Tricky Puzzles & Riddles

Meaning 1：a tricky puzzle (Brain teaser)

Brain teaser 🔊

/breɪn ˈtiːzər/

A fun little puzzle that makes you think hard, often with a tricky or surprising answer.

Friends laughing over a brain teaser puzzle on paper

a tricky puzzle 🔊

➕

/ə ˈtrɪki ˈpʌzəl/

A challenging problem or riddle that requires careful thinking to solve, often with an unexpected solution.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound of 'brain' (mind) and 'teaser' (something that teases or challenges).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'teaser' that 'teases' your brain to think harder.

📖 Example

During the family game night, my little sister loved the brain teaser about the farmer crossing the river with a fox, a chicken, and some corn. 🔊 During the family game night, my little sister loved the brain teaser about the farmer crossing the river with a fox, a chicken, and some corn.

🔗 Collocations

solve a brain teaser – To find the answer to a brain teaser

a fun brain teaser – An enjoyable and engaging puzzle

brain teaser puzzles – A collection of riddles or logic problems

🔄 Synonyms

puzzle (n.) – A game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge.

riddle (n.) – A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer.

conundrum (n.) – A confusing and difficult problem or question.

🚫 Antonyms

simple problem (n.) – An easy question or task that requires little thought.

obvious answer (n.) – A solution that is immediately clear without any challenge.

🌱 Derivatives

brain-teasing (adj.) – Causing mental challenge or effort.

teaser (n.) – A thing that puzzles or provokes curiosity.

📖 Cultural Story

The phrase 'brain teaser' emerged in mid-20th century puzzle culture. It describes a problem that stimulates mental effort, often requiring lateral thinking.