According to this riddle, what is the thing that you can "break" even though you can never physically touch it?

Introduction / Context:
This puzzle asks about something that you can "break" but cannot literally touch. It plays on a metaphorical use of the verb "break". In everyday language, we talk about breaking physical objects like glass or wood, but we also use "break" in more abstract ways for rules, agreements, or commitments. The riddle invites you to distinguish between literal, physical breaking and figurative, non physical breaking. The key is to find the option that is classically described as being "broken" while clearly not being a tangible object that you can hold in your hand.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The riddle is about something that you can "break" in an idiomatic or figurative sense.
• The thing cannot be physically touched as a concrete object, at least not in the sense used in the riddle.
• The options are Mirror, Word, Promise, and All of the above.
• We use normal English expressions and collocations to interpret which phrase is most natural.
• The question comes from a puzzles and wordplay category on the platform.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to read the riddle literally: "What can you break but not touch?" If you choose "Mirror", you can certainly break it, but you can also physically touch it, which violates the "not touch" condition. "Word" is abstract in one sense, but we usually say "break your word" as a phrase, which actually points to the idea of breaking a promise. "Promise" itself is an abstract commitment. You cannot touch a promise as you would a glass or stone, but you can break a promise by failing to keep it. The most standard riddle answer for this classic question is "Promise", and the phrasing in English strongly supports this choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret "cannot touch" as meaning you cannot physically handle the thing with your hands. Step 2: Examine the option "Mirror". A mirror is solid and can be both touched and broken, so it does not fit the second half of the riddle. Step 3: Examine "Word". You cannot touch spoken words, but you also do not usually say simply "break a word"; the more natural expression is "break your word", referring to a promise. Step 4: Examine "Promise". A promise is not a physical object. It is an agreement or commitment, so you cannot literally touch it, but "break a promise" is a standard, widely used phrase. Step 5: Evaluate "All of the above". Since mirror clearly fails the "cannot touch" condition, the whole combination cannot be correct. Step 6: Conclude that "Promise" is the only option that naturally satisfies the entire riddle.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, place each option directly into the sentence "You can break a ____ but you cannot touch it." For a mirror, the statement is false because you can touch a mirror very easily. For a word, the sentence feels slightly unnatural and incomplete; people tend to say "break your word" meaning break your promise, not break a word in isolation. For a promise, the sentence "You can break a promise but you cannot touch it" is a standard expression that sounds perfectly natural and idiomatic. This confirms that promise is the intended solution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A mirror fails because it is both breakable and touchable, which conflicts with the condition that the object cannot be touched. A word is not usually spoken of as being broken directly; instead, we use the concept of a broken promise through the phrase "break your word". "All of the above" fails because at least one of the listed items does not satisfy the "cannot touch" part of the puzzle. Therefore, only Promise fully fits the requirements of the riddle.

Common Pitfalls:
Some solvers quickly choose "All of the above" because they focus on the idea that all three can be metaphorically broken in different senses. However, the riddle explicitly stresses the impossibility of touching the thing. Careful reading is essential. Others may be distracted by the phrase "break a mirror" and forget the second half of the sentence. To avoid such mistakes, always match every part of the riddle against each option, not just one appealing detail.

Final Answer:
The thing that you can break but cannot physically touch is a Promise.