riddle me that, Batman
Said to demand that the listener take notice of a question or situation just mentioned, especially one that is particularly difficult to solve or explain.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“If you are so smart, riddle me that, Batman.”
“He says he is busy but he is playing games; riddle me that, Batman.”
“The keys are not in my pocket or the door; riddle me that, Batman.”
“You say you want to save money but you just bought a new car; riddle me that, Batman.”
“The store is closed but all the lights are still on inside; riddle me that, Batman.”
“You claim you do not like spicy food yet you put hot sauce on everything; riddle me that, Batman.”
“The office is completely empty even though the manager said everyone must work on-site today; riddle me that, Batman.”
“If the system is designed to reward efficiency yet consistently produces such chaotic results, riddle me that, Batman.”
From the formulaic phrase *riddle me this*, with the addition of a reference to the Batman comic book universe. The expression evokes the fictional supervillain the Riddler, who was known for posing puzzles for Batman to solve.
Last updated August 10, 2026