Sunday, November 16, 2008

Riddle #31: The Phone Call

Here's the latest riddle. I'm thinking this one may be a bit harder and may require some questions and answers, but you never know. Here goes:

A man is having problems sleeping. He makes a phone call, says nothing, hangs up, and after that he is able to sleep. Why?

NOTE: The answer to the riddle has been guessed. To read it, see the comments section.

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Lateral Thinking Puzzlers by Paul Sloane has lots of classic riddles, clues and answers. Click here to order it.
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22 comments:

  1. Ancient Greek PhilosopherNovember 18, 2008 at 9:12 PM

    Does the operator's voice lull him
    to sleep?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 21, 2008 at 5:46 PM

    Is it his psychiatrist?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Marcia CNovember 21, 2008 at 10:49 PM

    No, the operator's voice does not lull him to sleep.

    No, it is not his psychiatrist.

    Any other guesses or questions?

    ReplyDelete
  4. marharringNovember 23, 2008 at 3:20 PM

    He phoned his banker/broker and used their automatic account service to check on his account, not needing to utter a word. The news was good enough to let him sleep.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 23, 2008 at 3:42 PM

    Was he afraid his clock was wrong or not working, and called somewhere that gives the time in an automated fashion, and when he learned that his clock was right he could relax and sleep?

    ReplyDelete
  6. HollandsNovember 23, 2008 at 4:39 PM

    Here are a couple yes/no q's:
    Did he get a busy signal?
    Is he having trouble sleeping b/c he's worried?
    Gina

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 5:13 PM

    No. He didn't phone his banker or broker or anything like that. Good thought, though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 5:14 PM

    No, it didn't have anything to do with his clock.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 5:15 PM

    Hollands,

    No, he didn't get a busy signal.
    No, he wasn't worried. He couldn't sleep for a different reason.

    Good questions. Any more "yes" or "no" questions?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Washington Bacon'sNovember 23, 2008 at 6:28 PM

    Is the man in his own bed? Is he at a hotel?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 7:01 PM

    Washington Bacon,

    No, he is not in his own bed.
    Yes, he is in a hotel.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Washington Bacon'sNovember 23, 2008 at 7:11 PM

    is he dialing to for a wake up call?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 8:46 PM

    Well, Washington's Bacon, I will tell you this: The person he called did not request a wake-up call.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousNovember 23, 2008 at 9:29 PM

    Was his phone ringing off and on from a wake-up service, and his call to them cancelled the request so he could go back to sleep?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 9:32 PM

    No, Anonymous, that wasn't it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousNovember 23, 2008 at 9:42 PM

    Did he use touch-tones instead of speaking during his phone call?

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousNovember 23, 2008 at 9:45 PM

    Is he a guest at the hotel?
    Does he work at the hotel?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 9:58 PM

    Good questions, Anonymous.

    No, he did not use touch tones on his phone.
    Yes, he is a guest in the hotel.
    No, he does not work at the hotel.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousNovember 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM

    Is someone snoring in the room next door loudly, and he calls them to wake them up so they stop snoring? Then he is able to sleep because it is quiet?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 10:29 PM

    Yes, yes, Anon, that is correct! Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Marcia CNovember 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM

    Now, I suppose that means I've got to come up with another riddle tonight! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  22. john smithMarch 9, 2017 at 2:40 PM

    Relax Sleep

    ReplyDelete

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