Riddle: What thing can be broken without ever being physically held?

Introduction / Context:
This riddle plays on the different meanings of the word “broken”. In everyday life, we break physical objects like glass or sticks by applying force. In language, however, we also talk about breaking rules, laws, or promises, even though they cannot be held in our hands. The puzzle checks whether you can shift from a physical to a figurative meaning of the word.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The mystery object or idea can be broken.
• It does not need to be held physically in order to be broken.
• The riddle expects an abstract or non physical concept rather than a solid object.
• The options include Promise, Glass, Stick, and Balloon.

Concept / Approach:
A promise is a commitment that one person makes to another. If the person does not do what they pledged, we say that the person “broke a promise”. There is no physical object to hold, but the phrase is widely used. This fits the condition of something that can be broken without being held. Therefore, the answer must be “Promise”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret “broken” in both its literal and figurative senses. Step 2: Examine each option. Glass, Stick, and Balloon are all physical objects that we normally hold before breaking. Step 3: Notice that a Promise is not a physical item but a verbal or moral agreement. Step 4: Confirm that we often say “He broke his promise” even though there is nothing we can touch or hold. Step 5: Conclude that Promise satisfies the riddle fully.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can check normal usage in language. We do not say “I broke my glass without holding it” as a standard expression, but we very often say “I broke my promise” or “She broke her promise”. This shows that “Promise” is a common collocation with “broken” in a non physical sense. Since the riddle is about this exact type of usage, it confirms that Promise is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Glass, Stick, and Balloon are concrete objects. Breaking them generally involves physical contact or force such as dropping, snapping, or popping. While it is possible to cause them to break without literally holding them at the exact moment, the riddle is not about technical exceptions but about standard expressions. Only “Promise” naturally uses “broken” in a purely figurative way that does not require any physical object.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to think too literally and choose a fragile object like Glass or Balloon, imagining that it can break on its own. However, riddles often rely on normal patterns of speech, not rare edge cases. Another pitfall is to ignore that the question emphasizes “without being held”, which strongly suggests that the answer is not a simple physical object.

Final Answer:
The thing that can be broken without being held is a Promise.