Life is full of little imponderable questions that leave you scratching your head. In a recent newsletter we asked people to send in their rhetorical question and common curiosities as we’d try and answer them. Well we wish we didn’t ask now!
Here they are, and I’ve tried to answer them, although let’s not assume that every single one is factually accurate as I didn’t research them. I’ve just based my answers on life experience and writing about many different subjects in my work.
What is an Imponderable Question?
Imponderables are questions that is impossible or difficult to answer definitively because it deals with unknown or unknowable factors. It might be something to ponder while you lie in bed, or one of the millions of question children ask.
Readers Imponderable Questions
Why don’t they just make aspirin twice as big if doctors always say to take two?
Hah, my wife is a pharmacist so boom, no ambiguity here! Most over-the-counter aspirins have perforations, making them easy to cut in half. Half of one pill is the same dosage recommended for children.
If pills were made twice as strong, there would be no way to divide them into smaller doses for children, making it necessary to buy multiple types of aspirin for different family members.
Why, on TV, did “The Incredible Hulk’s” shirt always rip, but his pants never did?
Well obviously in 1962 the standards and practices committee wouldn’t allow nudity in commercially available comic books. This rule carried over to pre-watershed TV, where the FCC also prohibited nudity. While there were ways to shoot around nudity, it would have complicated production for a weekly television series.
If Superman could stop bullets with his chest, why did he always duck when the bad guy threw the gun at him?
It’s a reflex action I guess. Superman can’t get hurt, but the actors can.
Why is taking the skin off an animal called “dressing,” but taking our clothes off called “undressing”?
Good question! I assume this relates to something like dressing a crab for dinner. So it’s about presentation.
Don’t you have to “re-start” before refinishing a table?
No. The gloss on a table is called a “finish” because it is the last step in the process. Once you apply the gloss, you have “finished” it. “Refinishing” means you are doing the process again.
Where does all the white go when the snow melts?
Colour is made of light. White happens when all colours are reflected back to your eyes. Snowflakes are translucent ice crystals with air molecules inside them. The air pockets and complex shape of each flake scatter light in all directions, making the snow appear white.
When snow melts, the ice structure disappears, and light is no longer scattered in the same way, so there was never any actual “white” to begin with!
Where did all the white dog poo go?
In the last century (makes me feel old saying it like that), dog food often contained high levels of calcium-rich meat and bone meal. It doesn’t any more. Simples.
What is an occasional table the rest of the time?
An unused piece of furniture. It’s still a bed even when you aren’t asleep in it.
When does a large puddle become a pond, and a pond become a lake?
Well a puddle is only temporary after the rain. A garden pond would have a lining and some fish and be human-made, natural ponds are permanent.
I’d imagine there are size requirements for lakes, much like mountains and hills. But with water evaporating in the heat and increasing with rain, I assume it’s open to ambiguity on the classification on a particular landlocked body of water.
What I can tell you is a loch is a Scottish lake, and tarns can be ponds or lakes, just glacier water up in mountains usually. An d there is only one lake in the Lake District, the rest are “meres”.
Where is Heaven?
Now this is the only truly imponderable question of the bunch that is unanswerable. The Bible says “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” which suggests it’s not on earth, but I genuinely believe it’s where and how you want it to be. Many believe the existential proposition that it’s above us, and I won’t refute that as whatever helps people stay connected to their nearest and dearest is a good thing.
As for the people there, will they look the same as the last time you saw them or the day they died? I guess we will all find out when our time comes, but it’s thought-provoking.
Why can you walk “down” a road even if it goes uphill?
Regional variances here perhaps. I’d say I’m going up the road in all honesty. Is this really much of a quandary worthy of contemplation?
how many litres in a gallon?
Is that really the paradox that hat keeps you up at night? There’s 4.55 litres in a British gallon, and 3.79 litres in an American Gallon. We covered the why it’s different in our litres to gallons convertor.
Why are the buttons on men’s shirts on the opposite side of ladies’ garments?
Well most people are right handed, so much so that lefties were once considered in cahoots with the devil. Most people know spiral staircases favoured defending right-handers, so I’m taking a punt here it’s similar.
Men have dressed themselves for centuries, so buttons were placed on the right for right-handed people. Wealthy women, however, had maids to help them dress, so buttons were placed on the left to make it easier for the dresser.
Why is baseball called the World Series if it is only played in the US?
Actually, Major League Baseball is not played only in the US. There has been at least one Canadian team involved, and the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993.
Why do we say the alarm “went off” when, in fact, it went on?
It’s going off as it’s making a noise to alert you. The digital world is far after when most things were named.
If a dwelling catches fire, does it burn up or burn down?
It’s a fire until it burns the property down to the ground and becomes structurally unsafe. Then it needs to rebuilt, from the ground up.
If everyone lost 5 pounds, would it throw off Earth’s gravitational pull?
No, because everyone is still in the same place. Why is the question not related to a heavily populated country rather than everyone? This reminds me of that question what would happen if everyone in China jumped at the same time. Which apparently, is nothing as the earth’s mass is so big.
Where does weight go when people lose it?
Fat stores are converted into heat energy, which powers the body’s functions.
How do you “draw a blank”?
Because you can’t think of anything (to draw), meaning you come up with nothing. When your mind draws a blank, it’s not imagining anything.
If planets are in the sky, are we in the sky too?
Technically, yes! We are on a planet, which is in space, which is the sky. We’re just not in the sky above us, but we are in the sky of the other planets.
If shampoo comes in so many colours, why is the lather always white?
The foam and bubbles in lather reflect light in all directions, making them appear white.
If you choke a Smurf, what colour does it turn?
This is one of those unanswerable questions, mostly as Smurfs are not real. A slightly different shade of blue? I think maybe they gargamel in their final moments.
If Snickers satisfies, why do they make King Size?
Some people need that bit extra size for satisfaction! What’s the difference between ooohhh and aaahhh? 3 inches.
Why don’t you ever see baby pigeons?
They stay hidden in nests until they are nearly adult-sized, and you do see the ones who fall out of the nest. In Brighton we see baby seagulls all the time, possibly one of the most annoying birds in the UK for seasiders.
How can there be a competition for solo synchronized swimming?
Okay, I had to look this up. Apparently Solo Synchronized Swimming was a sport at the Olympic Games between 1984 and 1992. It’s just the same moves but solo.
Why do people say, “It’s always in the last place you look”?
Because as comedian Lee Evans used to joke, once you find something, you don’t keep looking do you.
Why is a building called a “building” when it’s already built?
Because it becomes a noun.
Why is there only one Monopolies and Mergers Commission?
To ensure consistency in the investigation process.
If one of the synchronized swimmers drowns, do they all have to?
I’m sure they’d happily lose points in that circumstances.
Why is a doctor’s office called a “practice”?
Because medicine is always evolving, and doctors are constantly learning.
If the No. 2 pencil is so popular, why is it still No. 2?
The number refers to the lead’s hardness and darkness. No. 2 became the standard because scantron machines read its markings best.
What would happen if you buttered the back of a cat and dropped it?
A cat always lands on its feet due to balance. Toast sometimes lands butter-side down due to the extra weight and how it’s dropped. A cat would still land on it’s feet then scratch you for putting butter on it’s back.
Why do people who ask, “Can I ask you a question?” always follow up with a question?
Because it’s polite, you can say no. In theory they are actually asking you a question anyway, so the intent is redundant.
If the Beatles were so good, why did Oasis have to rewrite all their songs?
To be fair a lot of music is the same chords according to Ed Sheeran’s law suit, and you can’t deny musical influences.
Why do we park in a driveway but drive on a parkway?
Driveway originally referred to a private road leading to a house, while parkway was designed as a scenic route.
Why do they sell cigarettes at petrol stations?
Considering petrol is highly flammable? It’s a convenience shop. They also sell toilet paper but you would be expected to wait until you left the premises to use it.
Do bees get wax in their ears?
No, they make beeswax in their abdomens.
Has anyone ever admitted to having an ugly baby?
Yes, but parental love is unconditional.
If psychics are real, why do they advertise?
Because the people they are advertising to are not.
If the black box flight recorder is never damaged in a crash, why isn’t the whole plane made of the same material?
Because it would be too heavy to fly!
Why do dogs hate when you blow in their face, but love sticking their head out of the car window?
A dog’s nose is highly sensitive to smells. Blowing air directly at them overwhelms their senses, while a car ride gives them fresh air and endless new scents!
If a dog’s sense of smell is 100 times greater than a human’s, why do they have to stick their noses up your butt?
It’s genuinely their way of gathering information, like reading a biography but in scent form!
Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
For communication and to protect against turbulence before the final dive. They were incredibly brave and the sacrifice was only worth it if they hit their intended target,
Why is the lethal injection needle sterilised?
Medical staff are trained to use sterile equipment in case of accidental jabbing.
How does the person who drives the snowplough get to work?
They park it at home.
If a fly lands on the ceiling, at what point does it turn upside down?
Great question and I admire your curiosity. Right before landing, it does a quick flip using its legs and wings in perfect coordination.
Why do we press harder on a remote when we know the battery is dying?
Better question, is why does it WORK!!!!
If it is zero degrees outside today and twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?
Twice as cold as zero? Well zero times anything is still zero.
Why do we say “light travels faster than sound,” but some people only seem bright until you hear them speak?
Because the speed of light is best proven with thunder and lightening in a storm rather than your pompous judging of people based on accents and a fleeting first impression?
Why do radio DJs play a great song and then not tell you who sings it?
To limit talking over songs. Plus these days you can see on their website songs played.
Why do old-aged pensioners always tell you their age?
Maybe because they’ve earned the right to be proud of it! My Grandma in Dublin is weeks away from 101 and I tell everyone on her behalf.
Why do people still hold onto old lottery tickets when the draw was months ago?
Just in case obviously. They are waiting for the announcement someone hasn’t claimed yet.
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
A linguistic contradiction, borrowed from the French appartement, meaning “a separated part of a building.”
If a man speaks in the forest and no woman is there to hear him, is he still wrong?
Absolutely. And if a tree falls, it’s his fault too.
Why do people say “It’s not rocket science” as if rocket science is the hardest thing ever?
To be fair, rocket science is quite complicated and people also say brain surgery in this instance. Both have horrific and deadly consequences when mistakes are made though, which warrants it’s reference to an easy task.
Why do we call it a “black box” when flight recorders are actually bright orange?
Originally called the “Red Egg,” the term “black box” likely came from journalists who referred to the device as something that contained dark or tragic information.
If the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?
Now that’s a real imponderable! Current theories suggest it’s not expanding into anything, it’s just getting bigger. But then metaphysics is not my speciality.
If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?
Hardly a paradox, it’s a success as you’ve met your aim.
How do you play Chinese Scrabble?
Great question! Scrabble is language-specific, so would it use characters instead of letters? No idea.
How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn’t grow in it?
I’m not going to dignify that with an answer
If we evolved from monkeys and apes, why do they still exist?
Humans didn’t evolve from modern apes, we share a common ancestor. Evolution doesn’t replace species; it creates new branches.
If you send something by car, it’s called a shipment. If you send it by ship, it’s called cargo. Why?
Linguistic oddities! “Shipment” comes from the verb to ship, meaning to send, and “cargo” comes from the Spanish word cargar, meaning to load.
If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
Yes, it’s procedure. Which if I’ve watched enough TV shows means failure to do means things said admitted to inadmissible in court.
Why is “abbreviated” such a long word?
And why is Dyslexic so hard to spell too?
If nothing sticks to Teflon, how do they get it to stick to the pan?
A roughened surface and high-temperature bonding help Teflon adhere to the pan.
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
Square boxes are cheaper to produce and easier to stack than round ones.
If you clean a vacuum cleaner, are you a vacuum cleaner?
Yes Monica.
Why are boxing rings square?
Historical reasons. Early rings were just roped-off squares, and the name stuck.
If swimming is good for your shape, why do whales look the way they do?
Genetics.
Why do we call it rush hour when nothing moves?
Because everyone is in a rush to get home.
Why do noses run and feet smell?
Knew this was coming. The English language is baffling like that!
Why do we drive on the left in the UK and the right in most other countries?
Historical reasons! It dates back to knights who needed to keep their sword-hand free when dismounting their horse. Although it was incorporated into the Highway Act of 1835 to reduce traffic congestion in London.
Why do people shake hands?
I was once told this by a Scottish guy I worked with, who gripped your forearm. It’s to make sure you can’t pull a weapon and stab them.
Why do toasters have settings that burn bread to an inedible crisp?
Great question, it’s a mystery. It’s minutes on the dial, so can only gue4ss for something that doesn’t burn easily.
If corn oil is made from corn, and olive oil is made from olives, what is baby oil made from?
Not babies, thankfully, just mineral oil and fragrances! It would be inexplicable if it was, and sadly not a moral dilemma for some if you made you look young.
If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we know?
Well boring answer is they are all miss-spelled over time from old English, hence why America has their own spellings and metric systems. But the lads and lasses at Oxford Dictionary have done a cracking job over the years keeping it well documented.
Why do people point at their wrist when asking for the time but don’t point at their mouth when asking for food?
Babies do. It’s called Makaton sign language.
Anyway it’s international sign language, like asking for the bill and making a signing motion, or saying you will call someone by making a phone receiver with your fingers. Don’t worry, that will disappear with our generation.
Why do we say “slept like a baby” when babies wake up every few hours?
Yes, but they don’t have any stresses or worries, so when they are sleep, bet it’s bliss.
Why do banks have braille on drive-through ATMs?
Where are these drive through ATM’s? Maybe because some people with visual impairments use taxis or have passengers who help them withdraw cash?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Because he brokers the deals.
Why do scientists call it “research” when they’re looking for something new?
Because they are re-searching past findings to prove it through multiple testing.
Why do we say “heads up” when we actually duck?
It means look up and pay attention.
Why do people wake up feeling tired after sleeping for eight hours?
Not sure if sleep cycles is still a thing, but it was often believed if you woke up from a deep sleep and not in the shallow, you’d feel tired. In modern times, we all work ourselves into exhaustion anyway.
Why does the sun lighten hair but darken skin?
UV rays break down hair pigment but increase melanin production in skin.
If money doesn’t grow on trees, why do banks have branches
Branches is just the name of a local branch of a company. Take your clever play on words elsewhere.
Why does the word “lisp” have an “s” in it?
So those with the impairment can explain the problem just by saying what they have.
If 7-Eleven stores are open 24/7, why do they have locks on the doors?
For emergencies, cleaning, and possibly just in case of unexpected closures.
Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?
At some point, they go mouldy.
If you jog backward, do you gain weight?
No, because you are still turning fat into energy.
Why is “phonetic” not spelled the way it sounds?
Good one. You need mnemonics to remember how it’s spelt.
Why do we call it “lipstick” if it doesn’t actually stick to lips for long?
Because it’s in a stick shape.
If quitters never win and winners never quit, what fool came up with “quit while you’re ahead”?
Because every win is not defined by a scale.
If a turtle loses its shell, is it naked or homeless?
Unfortunately, it’s dead as a turtle’s shell is part of its body!
Why do we call it fast food when it takes longer in the drive-thru than inside?
Fast compared to a sit-down meal, slow compared to your patience level!
Why do we say “after dark” when it’s actually after light?
Because it means after sunset, but technically spot on.
Why do we say something is out of whack? Was it ever in whack?
It was once in whack, though no one ever says that anymore!
Why does “slow down” and “speed up” mean the same thing?
Depends on the context, one’s about decreasing, the other’s about increasing, but both involve changing pace.
If it’s called “tourist season,” why can’t we hunt them?
Well tourism brings money, so plenty do. Selling tours and souvenirs is one thing, scamming another!
Why do doctors leave the room when you get undressed, only to come back in when you’re vulnerable?
It’s more about privacy while undressing than actually seeing you naked. Same reason they don’t put music on while you undress.
Why does Goofy stand upright while Pluto stays on all fours? They’re both dogs!
Cartoon logic is not real life: Goofy gets human privileges, Pluto doesn’t! You’d be surprised how many characters aren’t wearing pants.
Why does bottled water have a “best before” date?
The water doesn’t expire, but the plastic bottle can degrade over time. Also, the microplastics leech into the water which is grim.
Why is it called “getting your dog fixed” if it wasn’t broken?
Is this fixed as in “made incapable of reproducing” like being spayed or neutered? It fixes their temperament, less hormones, less angry if so.
Why do they call it “chili” if it’s served hot?
It comes from the Spanish chile, not the word for cold.
Why do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet Coke?
Taste preferences? PSA – Diet Soda’s are not good for you.
Why do hotdogs come in packs of 10 but buns in packs of 8?
Buns have a shorter shelf life.
Why is the “alphabet song” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” the same melody?
They both use the tune of an old French nursery rhyme, Ah! vous dirai-je, maman.
Why do we put cups in the dishwasher but dishes in the cupboard?
Same as washing the dishes, it’s just a collective noun.
Why does night fall but day break?
I always assumed as the sun goes down and the daylight disappears, and vice versa.
Why do people clap when a plane lands?
Relief.
Why do people say “no offense” right before they say something offensive?
Because they know it has a chance of offending.
Why do we call it a “pair of pants” when it’s just one item?
Originally, pants were two separate leg pieces held together at the waist, hence, a “pair”!
Why do we put candles on a birthday cake?
The tradition goes back to the Ancient Greeks, who used candles on cakes as offerings to Artemis, the goddess of the moon.
Why is “fun-sized” candy smaller? Shouldn’t fun be bigger?
Marketing trick
Why do we call them “stairs” inside but “steps” outside?
It’s usually a flight of stairs with banisters, and a few steps outside when you step into the house in my case.
Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing?
Because “inflammable” comes from the Latin inflammare, meaning “to set on fire,” not “not flammable.”
Why do we press the elevator button more than once?
Just to make sure. I’ve definitely wasted time thinking someone else had pressed it when they hadn’t.
If the plural of mouse is mice, why isn’t the plural of house “hice”?
It’s about the origin of the word. You can read all about it on our plurals guide.
Why do we say “open sesame” when opening something?
It comes from the tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Why does “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing?
Slim to none, and sarcasm I expect.
Why do we say something “goes without saying” and then immediately say it?
Because you have to cater for people who don’t get it.
Why do people pay to go to the gym to walk on a treadmill when they could just walk outside for free?
It’s a mindset thing. Plus weather, being indoors means you get optimal temperature as well as somewhere to leave your bag, and a shower afterwards.
Why do we say “I’m only human” when we make a mistake? What else would we be?
Not a robot. For the record, AI makes a lot of mistakes.
What is a collector of Beer bottles called?
A Labeorphilist. We’ve covered names of collectors before.
Why do we say “life is short” when it’s the longest thing we’ll ever experience?
Because it can all end tomorrow, so enjoy every moment.
If time heals all wounds, why do we still get scars?
Because it’s a saying, not science. Plus it doesn’t.
Why do people say “this is the beginning of the end”?
It’s the last chapter, not the first.
Why do we say “back to square one”?
I’m guessing radio commentary on sports, and the field broken up into squares.
Why do they call it “getting cold feet” when you’re nervous?
Feet get cold first I guess.
If a vampire bite each other zombie, does the vampire become a zombie or the zombie become a vampire?
Sounds like a Vampire vs Zombie movie in the making. Technically they are undead in different ways, and neither living which is key so you could argue nothing happens.
If you want to know who’d win out of a big battle, clearly the vampires would if human blood banks were around too. True Vampires are also risen from the dead, which is why they sleep in coffins. They have to be killed with a stake through the heart which zombies don’t have the capacity to do, so the vampires could use their super-strength to take down the hoards of Zombies if they were quick.
Obviously they can’t live off infected zombie blood though, so it wouldn’t be a stale mate, but a long-term Z-nation victory without humans for food Zombies don’t need sustenance in the same way.
Zombies are reanimated brain dead corpses of course, and the heart has stopped. In the immortal words of Sean of the Dead, the assailants can be stopped by removing the head or destroying the brain. They feast on the living, so you’d suspect they’d wander around aimlessly if no humans were about, ripe for picking for those vampire hunters.
Edit, I’ve just looked and of course there are some terrible movies out there with the two armies of the undead battling.
If you get out of the shower clean, why does your towel get dirty?
You are not clean, the towel takes off the wet dirt and dead skin.
Why do we call it a “restroom” when no one actually goes there to rest? Also, why is it called a “bathroom” if it doesn’t have a bath?
It used to be called the powder room, because in the past you didn’t announce your were off to do a very natural thing.
If ghosts can walk through walls, why don’t they fall through the floor?
Ghost physics means no gravity.
Why do we say “happy as a clam”?
What do clams have to be unhappy about?
If pro is the opposite of con, is progress the opposite of congress?
No comment.
If a word is spelled the same forward and backward, why is it called a palindrome instead of a “backword”?
Missed opportunity.
Why do people say “cold as hell” when hell is supposed to be hot?
It’s not referring to the same hell, it’s referring to being stone cold dead.
Why do people tell you “don’t sweat the small stuff” but also say “it’s the little things that matter”?
They mean different things. The first is to not let inconsequential things stress you out. The latter, to appreciate what you have and that not everything needs to be materialistic.
If conjoined twins commit a crime, do they each get one sentence or two?
What if only one does the crime??
