# What gets sharper the more you use it?

Source: https://silverapuzzles.com/riddles/what-gets-sharper-the-more-you-use-it

A tool riddle that behaves backwards. Knives and pencils dull with use, so the answer has to be something that improves the more it works.

**Answer:** Your brain.

Using your mind keeps it sharp.

Hint: Puzzles help.

## How to think about it

1. Physical blades get duller with use, so the riddle is not about a real edge.
2. Think of “sharp” in the sense of quick and clever: a sharp mind, a sharp wit.
3. What becomes quicker and clearer with practice?
4. Your brain gets sharper the more you use it, which is a good argument for puzzles.

## Why “your brain” is the answer

A mind that is exercised with reading, problems and puzzles stays quick, and we call that quality sharpness. Unlike a knife, the brain is not worn down by use; it gets better. The riddle moves the word “sharp” from the kitchen drawer to the head.

## Common wrong answers

- **A knife.** A knife gets duller with use and needs sharpening, which is the reverse of the riddle.
- **A pencil.** A pencil wears down to a blunt point as you write.