A Riddle, a Riddle, as I Suppose Lyrics
A two-line riddle about something with a hundred eyes and no nose. The answer is hanging in many old kitchens.
A Riddle, a Riddle, as I Suppose
A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose,
A hundred eyes and never a nose!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/a-riddle-a-riddle-as-i-suppose/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken riddle
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
What Does A Riddle, a Riddle, as I Suppose Mean?
The answer is a sieve. A sieve is a round frame with a mesh or a base full of small holes, used to sift flour or drain water. Each hole looks like a tiny eye, so the sieve has a hundred eyes, but of course it has no nose. The fun of the riddle is picturing a strange face before you realize it is a kitchen tool.
History and Origin
The riddle is printed under the title "A Sieve" in The Real Mother Goose (1916). Mother Goose books are full of short riddles like this one, such as Little Nancy Etticoat (a candle) and Black Within and Red Without (a chimney).
Learning Activities
- Look closely: hold a real sieve up to the light and count some of its holes.
- Sift and see: sift flour or sand and watch what passes through.
- Make a riddle: describe another kitchen tool as if it had a face.