hardwhat am-i

There are several different kinds but the one you pick doesn't do its job. What is it?

A lock.

Why this works

This riddle plays on the concept of locks and their function. The phrase "the one you pick" refers to the act of 'picking' a lock, which is a method used to bypass its security and gain unauthorized access. In this context, the lock you pick no longer serves its intended purpose of securing something, thus humorously indicating that it "doesn't do its job." The clever twist lies in the dual meaning of "pick"—both selecting a type of lock and the act of picking it open!

Common Wrong Answers

“A key”

A key is actually designed to do its job of unlocking a lock; it is not an example of something that fails to perform its function.

“A door”

A door serves its purpose of providing entry or exit; it does not fit the description of something that fails to do its job.

“A switch”

A switch typically performs its function of turning something on or off, so it does not match the riddle's implication that the chosen item does not work.

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