Say What You See puzzles are a type of rebus puzzle where pictures and symbols are used to represent words or phrases.
The goal is to decipher the hidden phrase or saying based on the visual clues provided. Some key characteristics of Say What You See puzzles:
- They are similar to rebus puzzles but use pictures instead of just letters and numbers
- The pictures and symbols represent words or parts of words in the hidden phrase
- Solving the puzzle requires identifying the words and putting them together to reveal the full saying or idiom
- They can be quite challenging and require lateral thinking to interpret the visual clues
For example, a “Say What You See” puzzle with the words, History History History might represent the phrase “History repeats itself”
Origins and Popularity
Say What You See puzzles have been around for a long time, but gained more mainstream popularity in the early 2010s with the release of a mobile puzzle app called “Say What You See: The Collection”.
The app, launched by Big Ideas Digital, featured large themed paintings with 50 rebus-style picture puzzles hidden in each one for players to find and solve.
It was a top 30 most popular app in 2011 and released over 50 puzzle canvases over the next few years.
While the original app was discontinued in 2014, there are efforts underway to bring it back via a Kickstarter campaign.
Say What You See puzzles have also been featured on TV shows like “8 Out of 10 Cats”.
Put simply, Say What You See puzzles have been around for ages but saw a resurgence in popularity with the release of a successful mobile app.
They require lateral thinking and visual interpretation skills to decipher the hidden phrases.
Examples: Can you solve these ‘Say What You See’ puzzles?
(To view the answer for each puzzle, click the toggle arrow beneath it. We’ve hidden the answers to avoid accidental spoilers.)
Puzzle #1
Check Answer:
Answer: Try to Understand
Puzzle #2
Check Answer:
Answer: Last but not Least
Puzzle #3
Check Answer:
Answer: Apple Pie
Puzzle #4
Check Answer:
Answer: First Aid
Puzzle #5
Check Answer:
Answer: Tricycle
Puzzle #6
Check Answer:
Answer: 6 feet under ground
Puzzle #7
Check Answer:
Answer: Reading between the lines
Puzzle #8
Check Answer:
Answer: Life after Death
Puzzle #9
Check Answer:
Answer: Bluetooth
Puzzle #10
Check Answer:
Answer: One step forward two steps backwards
Puzzle #11
Check Answer:
Answer: No one understands me
Puzzle #12
Check Answer:
Answer: Beginning of the End
Puzzle #13
Check Answer:
Answer: Too Good to be True
Puzzle #14
Check Answer:
Answer: Blackmail
Puzzle #15
Check Answer:
Answer: Just Between You and Me
Puzzle #16
Check Answer:
Answer: Once in a Blue Moon
Puzzle #17
Check Answer:
Answer: Neon Lights
Puzzle #18
Check Answer:
Answer: Fooling Around
Puzzle #19
Check Answer:
Answer: A thin line between love and hate
Puzzle #20
Check Answer:
Answer: But on A Second Thought