See: http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/taylor/topics/grypuzzle.htm
This riddle or a version of it, has been around for at least 20 years. In the ORIGINAL format (as you'll soon see), it makes sense and is a true riddle in the sense that, once you find the answer, you slap your forehead and go "Of course!"
So, what IS the correct version, you ask? Be patient, because first we have to consider the nature of riddles. By definition, they are mind-teasers that use word tricks. A riddle is not a trivia question for which you can go to a reference book and look up an answer. In a true riddle, there's always some sneaky little trick that makes such a straight answer impossible. So to find the sneaky little trick in this -GRY puzzler, think of the way magic is performed. The magician does something to divert your attention away from what he is actually up to. If you watch very closely when all those scarves are being waved about, you realize that much of the action on stage is simply a technique to confuse or befuddle you so that you will not catch on to the magician's sly movements. That lovely assistant who parades around in high heels and sequins is there primarily to keep you distracted so you won't figure out the trick. (Hey, it works on ME!) Now back to the riddle.
Here is the riddle in its original form (going back about 20 years):
"Think of words ending in -GRY. Angry and hungry are two of them. There are only three words in the English language. What is the third word? The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is."
In its proper, original form, the first two sentences have absolutely nothing to do with the question: "Think of words ending in -GRY. Angry and hungry are two of them." Ignore those two sentences. They are there only to throw you off course. (And it worked, didn't it?) What's left is the actual riddle itself: "There are only three words in the English language. What is the third word? The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is."
The key is the phrase "the English language." In this three-word phrase, the third word is simply the word "language." Get it? "Language" is definitely something that "everyone uses every day"! Without that quirky little twist, the puzzle would be just another trivia question, not a riddle.
You might be tempted to say something like: "That can't be the right answer. It's too stupid!" Hey, remember that most riddles ARE "stupid." For example, there's an old riddle which asks: "What is Bozo the Clown's middle name?" (The answer is "the." Now THAT'S "stupid"!)
A final note: There are, or have been in the past, a number of English words ending in -GRY, for example, "mawgry," and "iggry" and even an obscure noun, "gry," that means a small unit of measure. Many people thought they had solved this puzzle when they found one of these words in old dictionary or by scouring the Internet. But c'mon, folks, when's the last time you used a word like "mawgry" or "iggry" in everyday conversation? The thing about riddles is, you must follow them to the letter or they just don't work. This one got messed up somewhere along the way and has become somewhat of a cruel hoax (and perhaps even an "urban legend").
I hope this explanation has been helpful.
2006-08-28 21:03:00
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answer #1
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answered by An Unhappy Yahoo User 4
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Language.
2006-08-29 07:16:40
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answer #2
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answered by Cowgirl 3
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Gry Puzzle
The question of words that end in gry is actually a puzzle rather than a riddle. And the answer depends on which version of the riddle you have heard. We know of at least eight different versions of the riddle, and we give explanations of the answers in each case.
2006-08-28 20:57:56
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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the English language
2006-08-28 20:59:27
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answer #4
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answered by Kuji 7
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Energy.
Another take on the riddle is that the it is not specified that the order GRY is maintained. Therefore ENERGY is a valid answer.
Otherwise the correct answer is LANGUAGE in the riddle's correct form.
2006-08-28 23:49:54
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answer #5
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answered by JustAskMe 4
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Puggry
2006-08-28 21:03:03
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answer #6
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answered by Mr Mojo Risin 4
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The answer is LANGUAGE.
You screwed up the wording of the question though.
Thanks for the 2 points though!!!
2006-08-28 21:06:47
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answer #7
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answered by Mr. G 6
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Angry, Hungry, Ugry... as in totarry, badry, rimited keyboard keys.
2006-08-28 21:01:51
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answer #8
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answered by Bummerang 5
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language
2006-08-28 21:23:36
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answer #9
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answered by owlpostforever 2
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language
2006-08-28 21:05:47
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answer #10
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answered by alivciinaa 3
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