Only the Sharpest Minds Can Name the Objects in These Close-Up Photos

By: Beth Hendricks
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Only the Sharpest Minds Can Name the Objects in These Close-Up Photos
Image: NoSystem images / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The Los Angeles Times once quoted a professional organizer who estimated that the average American household has more than 300,000 items. Things. Stuff. Knick-knacks and do-dads. Stacked on our nightstands. Stuffed in our kitchen cabinets. Hidden under our beds (sorry, Mom). 

But, have you ever thought about how much attention you've actually paid to those things? Whether you have 300,000 or you're more of a minimalist with 3,000, just how closely do you observe the items in your home on a day-to-day basis? Could you identify your favorite things by seeing just a corner of them or by observing a close-up image taken of them? We sure hope so! 

This quiz is packed with everyday objects displayed in a different way ... up close and personal! You'll probably discover that something you recognize when you see it in its entirety becomes harder to identify when you're looking at a "zoomed-in" version of it. And, you might even find something cool or artistic in it by looking at something common in a new and different way.

Use the clues and the photos provided in this quiz to see how many everyday objects you can pinpoint. Try to imagine what this bird's eye view of an item might look like if you "zoomed out." Now, grab your magnifying glass and get to guessing!

Basketball
Steven Errico / DigitalVision / Getty Images
It's round and orange, but you can't eat it. Which of these items is pictured?
Basketball
Sun
Road sign
Cantaloupe
Button
Kelly bowden / Moment / Getty Images
These can be used to open or close something. What are we referring to?
Saran wrap
Zipper
Clothespin
Button
Match
Sabine Scheckel / DigialVision / Getty Images
Is it getting hot in here or is it just us? What heat-producing item is pictured?
Kindling
Match
Charcoal
Lighter

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Credit Card
Towfiqu Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these, also pictured, requires a private combination of numbers?
Keypad
Credit card
Padlock
Safe
Banana
Yevgen Romanenko / Moment / Getty Images
This mystery item is a berry known for its waxy skin. Do you know what's pictured?
Mango
Banana
Starfruit
Pineapple
Toilet Paper
Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
This is one thing you'll find in every American household. What's pictured?
Dishrag
Toilet paper
Carpet
Air filter

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Dental Floss
Sidekick / E+ / Getty Images
Nearly one-third of people lie about how often they use this product. What is it?
Spool of thread
Dental floss
Fishing line
Chicken wire
Pasta
MirageC / Moment / Getty Images
There are believed to be more than 600 shapes of the item pictured here. What is it?
Pizza
Rice
Ring
Pasta
Tea Bag
Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Moment / Getty Images
This item was created entirely by accident. Can you identify it?
Paper towel
Toilet paper
Coffee filter
Tea bag

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Lipstick
Craig P. Jewell / Moment / Getty Images
It has been said that Cleopatra needed 70,000 beetles to craft a pound of this substance. What is it?
Lipstick
Play-Doh
Blush
Nail polish
Kitchen Sponge
Eduardo Ramos Castaneda / Moment / Getty Images
Scientists claim this item is more germ-packed than a toilet. What is it?
Kitchen sponge
Trash can
Cotton swab
Napkin
Razor
Juanmonino / E+ / Getty Images
When you're done with this item, you usually just toss it in the trash. What is it?
Nail
Razor blade
Knife
Screw

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Light Bulb
MassanPH / Moment / Getty Images
Thomas Edison is credited with inventing this item. What is it?
Record player
Telephone
Light bulb
Thermometer
Key
Yevgen Romanenko / Moment / Getty Images
Your car needs one of these and so does your house. Which of these is it?
Key
Window
Air conditioner
Floor mat
Rubber Band
Adrienne Bresnahan / Moment / Getty Images
Want this mystery item to last longer? Stash it in the refrigerator. What is the item pictured?
Bottle cap
Masking tape
Staple
Rubber band

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Avocado
Manoa / Moment / Getty Images
This fruit boasts just one large seed. What's pictured?
Kiwi
Avocado
Lemon
Banana
Swiss Cheese
MariusFM77 / E+ / Getty Images
Hole-y moley! Which of these hole-filled things is pictured here?
Swiss cheese
Bagel
Human nose
Golf ball
Lighter
Art at its best! / Moment Open / Getty Images
You can carry an element in your pocket with one of these. Do you know what it is?
Stove burner
Wrench
Blowtorch
Lighter

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Playing Card
Duncan Nicholls and Simon Webb / OJO Images / Getty Images
Find one of these and you're likely to see 51 others nearby. What's pictured?
Paperclip
Matchstick
Playing card
Cigarette
Nail File
Kokouu / E+ / Getty Images
This tool is used for shaping, trimming and buffing. What it is called?
Chisel
Hand saw
Nail file
Surfboard
Knife
Barbara Eddowes / Moment / Getty Images
The most expensive one of these sold for a cool $1.2 million. Can you guess what's pictured?
Fork
Knife
Spoon
Belt buckle

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Piano
Annie Otzen / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Which of these pictured items has more than 10,000 moving parts?
Piano
Drum
Clarinet
Guitar
A Cat's Tongue
©fitopardo.com / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these mystery items is covered with papillae?
A horse's hoof
A dog's tail
A cat's tongue
A rabbit's nose
Bobby Pin
AlesVeluscek / E+ / Getty Images
This item was named after a popular haircut. What is it?
Banana clip
Scrunchie
Bobby pin
Hair claw

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Yo-Yo
Steven Brisson Photography / Moment / Getty Images
The oldest one of these dates back to roughly 500 BC. What do we call it?
Yo-yo
Frisbee
Hula hoop
Silly putty
Waffle
R.Tsubin / Moment / Getty Images
This food item is said to have inspired Nike's first pair of tennis shoes. What is it?
Pancake
Waffle
Pizza
Bagel
Pearl
Adrienne Bresnahan / Moment / Getty Images
This item starts out in the sea, but might end up on your neck. What is it?
Mollusk
Seaweed
Sea shell
Pearl

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Corn Flake
Carol Yepes / Moment / Getty Images
This mystery item got its start with the Seventh-day Adventists. What is it?
Tortilla
Rice
Corn flake
Flour
Tire
Jonathan Kitchen / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Lego is the top manufacturer of which of these popular everyday items?
Block
Steering wheel
DVD
Tire
Lime
Essenin / E+ / Getty Images
This item is an ingredient in a popular recipe in the Florida Keys. What is it?
Mango
Orange
Lime
Lemon

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Quarter
Image Source / Image Source / Getty Images
George Washington is well-acquainted with the item pictured. What is it?
Quarter
Dime
Washer
Knife blade
Steel Wool Pad
Mikroman6 / Moment / Getty Images
So abrasive! Which of these items commonly used in household cleaning is pictured?
Duster
Toilet brush
Glass cleaner
Steel wool pad
Wrench
Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
If you need to tighten or loosen something, this mystery item's got you covered. What's pictured here?
Hammer
Wrench
Pliers
Screwdriver

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Toothbrush
Yagi Studio / DigitalVision / Getty Images
This apparatus has roughly 2,500 bristles. What is it a picture of?
Toothbrush
Toilet brush
Paint brush
Hair brush
Cork
Katsumi Murouchi / Moment / Getty Images
Most of this material comes from trees in the Mediterranean. Do you know what it is?
Linen
Cork
Rubber
Granite
Mushroom
Muriel de Seze / DigitalVision / Getty Images
This item is actually 90 percent water. Do you know what it is?
Mushroom
Turnip
Shoe
Tooth

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Book
Copyright by June Marie Sobrito / Moment / Getty Images
If you're a bibliophile, you'll probably get this one quickly. What's pictured?
Book
Record
Magazine
Mini-blinds
Adhesive Bandage
AlesVeluscek / E+ / Getty Images
You might reach for one of these if you have a boo-boo. What's pictured?
Adhesive bandage
Ibuprofen
Elastic bandage
Cotton pad
Ink Pen
Guillaume Seguin / Moment / Getty Images
The construction of this device relies on a small rotating ball. Which of these items are we talking about?
Mechanical pencil
Ink pen
Crayon
Permanent marker

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Hairbrush
Emilija Manevska / Moment / Getty Images
An old wives' tale supposed that 100 strokes a day with this item was good for you. What is it?
Toothbrush
Golf club
Hairbrush
Paintbrush