Meaning

A riddle wrapped up in an enigma

Categorised in: A list of phrases about politics ·Quotations

What's the meaning of the phrase 'A riddle wrapped up in an enigma'?

'A riddle wrapped up in an enigma' is a puzzle - something especially difficult to understand or to solve.

A riddle wrapped up in an enigma
A riddle wrapped up in an enigma - caption

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘A riddle wrapped up in an enigma’?

‘A riddle wrapped up in an enigma’ is a shortened form of a quotation made by Sir Winston Churchill, in a radio broadcast in October 1939:

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”

Historical trend

“wrapped up in an enigma” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1860–2020).

186018801900192019401960198020002020
  • wrapped up in an enigma