riddle

a riddle wrapped in an enigma

That which is so dense and secretive as to be totally indecipherable or impossible to foretell. It is a shortened version of a line used by Winston Churchill to describe the intentions and interests of Russia in 1939: "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest." Many versions, variations, and appropriations of the quote, its structure, and its meaning have since been in use. I can't make any sense of this calculus textbook, it's like a riddle wrapped in an enigma. I just don't have any idea what Mary expects from me; she's a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
See also: enigma, riddle, wrap

a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

That which is so dense and secretive as to be totally indecipherable or impossible to foretell. It is from a line used by Winston Churchill to describe the intentions and interests of Russia in 1939: "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest." Many versions, variations, and appropriations of the quote, its structure, and its meaning have since been in use. Political campaigns make my head hurt. They're just a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
See also: enigma, inside, wrap

be riddled with (something)

To be full of or consumed with something. Your proposal was completely unrealistic and riddled with flaws—that's why it was rejected. He is still riddled with guilt over the car accident he caused last month.
See also: riddle

Jimmy Riddle

slang The act of urinating. The phrase comes from rhyming slang in which "Jimmy Riddle" rhymes with "piddle" (a slang term for "urinate"). Primarily heard in UK. Those three cups of coffee are catching up with me. Be right back, I'm off to have a Jimmy Riddle.
See also: jimmy, riddle

riddle (someone or something) with (something)

To perforate someone or something in many places, as with bullets. Often used in passive constructions. Attackers riddled the detective's house with bullets as a warning to stop her investigation. Buildings were riddled with debris from the airplane that had exploded miles above the city.
See also: riddle

riddle me this/that

Used to humorously or sarcastically emphasize a question that undercuts another person's self-assuredness. One uses "this" when the phrase comes before the question and "that" when it comes after. Adapted from the catchphrase of The Riddler, a villain character in the Batman universe of comics, films, and video games. You act like you have it all figured out, but riddle me this: How are we supposed to get that much cash in less then a day? Besides, if you quit your job, how are you going to pay for all these plans, huh? Riddle me that!
See also: riddle, that, this

talk in riddles

To speak in a (perhaps intentionally) convoluted way. That record store clerk is like some kind of magic gnome who talks in riddles. He never gives a straight answer when you ask a question about something.
See also: riddle, talk
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

riddle someone or something with something

to fill someone or something with small holes, such as bullet holes. Max pulled the trigger of the machine gun and riddled Lefty with holes. The police riddled the wall with holes trying to shoot the escaped convict in the house.
See also: riddle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

talk in riddles

or

speak in riddles

If someone talks in riddles or speaks in riddles, they talk in a slightly strange, or mysterious way and it is not clear what they mean. Stop talking in riddles and tell me what you're getting at! `What did she mean by that?' `You know what Judy is like. She often speaks in riddles.'
See also: riddle, talk
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

talk (or speak) in riddles

express yourself in an ambiguous or puzzling manner.
See also: riddle, talk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be ˈriddled with something

be full of something, especially something bad or unpleasant: His body was riddled with cancer. Her typing was slow and riddled with mistakes.
See also: riddle, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

riddle with

v.
1. To pierce something in many places, especially with bullets or some other projectile: The troops riddled the side of the tank with gunfire.
2. To be permeated with some kind of puncture or hole. Used in the passive: The side of the house was riddled with bullet holes.
3. To be permeated in many places by something, especially by flaws. Used in the passive: That report was riddled with errors.
See also: riddle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a riddle wrapped in an enigma
  • enigma
  • a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma
  • by any stretch
  • good riddance
  • good riddance (to bad rubbish)
  • good-bye and good riddance
  • double Dutch
  • (one) has made (one's) bed
  • (one) made (one's) (own) bed
References in periodicals archive
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Learning through play: an ethnographic study of children's riddling in Ethiopia
Riddle added: "I don't like how he does it, I don't like the respect that he shows, and I don't like the work rate that he puts out.
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Dale draws on principles of eco-criticism and eco-theology to consider cultural and biblical influences on depictions of nature in the vernacular Exeter Book riddles.
The Natural World in the Exeter Book Riddles
All of Rack & Riddle's employees from Hopland were offered positions at the new facilities, and Garaventa said about 80% made the move.
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In Chapter 8, "The Lord of the Rings and the Riddle of Writing," Roberts acknowledges that he has followed a "roundabout road" to this point and that his concern with hands and rings arises from the fact that "this novel is handiwork, and rings adorn hands" (126).
Roberts, Adam. The Riddles of The Hobbit
One crucial thing that must be "kenned" in order to "riddle" Roberts's book and larger purpose, is the idea that Anglo-Saxon culture "tried to understand the puzzling nature of divine-mortal interaction was by having a god actually pose riddles to a mortal, in a contest" (45).
The Riddles of the Hobbit
In an original draft, Mr Riddle said he was satisfied the European Arrest Warrant was valid and extradition was "compatible with the defendant's Convention rights, including prison conditions".
New twist in Mafia extradition
Ishengoma (2005:144) defines a riddle as "an enigmatic statement or description that contains a hidden meaning to be guessed by those to whom it is addressed".
On mchongoano and riddles in Kenya
The riddle, which has nothing to do with the African mammal, is said to be easy to solve, but is tripping many users up as it spreads around the site.
Get Facebook riddle wrong and change your profile pic to giraffe
To send the answer to this riddle, you tell your friend you'll use a rail fence cipher with two "rails" (or rows) on the fence.
Decipher this message
In Riddle 59, a luminous object, passed from hand to hand, speaks.
Writing speaks: oral poetics and writing technology in the Exeter book riddles
William "Don" Riddle of the Sherwin-Williams Company was awarded the John D.
Sherwin-Williams' Doni Riddle wins John D. Keane Award of Merit for outstanding leadership in protective and Marine Coatings
Riddle has traveled far and wide from her native of town of Itta Bena, having lived in Japan, Korea, Germany and Iraq while practicing in diverse areas of the law.
From Itta Bena to space law: Riddle has traveled much, and gone far; now counsel for Space and Missile Defense Command