What Can You Catch but Not Throw? plays with one of the most useful words in English. Have a think, then tap Show Answer to see if you were right.
Need a hint?
You don’t catch this with your hands. In fact, you’d rather not catch it at all, especially in winter.
Answer and explanation (spoiler!)
The answer is a cold.
We use “catch” for balls, but we also say we “catch a cold” when we get ill. You can’t throw a cold back to someone the way you’d throw a ball, so it fits the riddle perfectly.
The trick is that the riddle makes you think about games and sport, when the answer is about everyday health.
Difficulty: Easy · Best for: ages 6 and up
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FAQ
Are there other answers?
Yes, people also say “your breath”, “a glance” or “feelings”. All of them can be caught but not thrown, so they’re fair answers too.
Why do we say “catch a cold”?
It’s an old English saying. People used to think you picked up illness from cold air, so you “caught” it like something passed to you.