# Animal House: What did Bluto yell before everone drops down on the floor and shakes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343 "2005-08-16T22:56:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/1 "2005-08-16T22:56:33Z")
In the movie _Animal House_, the Delta House toga party is going full blast, and the dance floor is packed while the band gives its very considerable all. Suddenly Bluto yells something at the top of his lungs, and then the next thing you know everyone’s on their backs shaking as if they have epilepsy. So…what did Bluto say? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/2 "2005-08-16T23:01:45Z")
There’s a discussion of this [here](http://imdb.com/title/tt0077975/board/flat/16260485). The consensus seems to be that he shouts “gator.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/3 "2005-08-16T23:34:47Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > There’s a discussion of this [here](http://imdb.com/title/tt0077975/board/flat/16260485). The consensus seems to be that he shouts “gator.” I agree, I had always heard it as ‘gator’. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/4 "2005-08-16T23:40:16Z")
There’s a _discussion_ of this? Doesn’t anyone do the Alligator anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/5 "2005-08-16T23:50:30Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > There’s a _discussion_ of this? Doesn’t anyone do the Alligator anymore? No joke. It’s right there in the Preppy Handbook. Wish I could find my copy so I could cite a page #. Yes, I own the Preppy Handbook. Yes, I once made people call me Muffy. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/6 "2005-08-17T01:44:24Z")
Let’s not forget that classic song by The Eagles: \*"There was beer all over the dance floor, And the band was playing rhythm ‘n’ blues You got down and did the Gator And half an hour later You were barfing all over your girlfriend’s shoes Cause the Greeks don’t want no freaks…"\* ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/7 "2005-08-17T02:20:13Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > No joke. It’s right there in the Preppy Handbook. Wish I could find my copy so I could cite a page #. Page 111, under Deviant Behavior. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/8 "2005-08-17T02:46:42Z")
I did a 'gator once. Hurt like hell and now I’m not welcome in half of south Florida. Deviant behavior indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/9 "2005-08-17T03:06:29Z")
We did the same thing at our prom. However, somone yelled “Turtle!” and not “Gator!” ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/10 "2005-08-17T03:09:15Z")
Never mind. Just read **pinkfreud** ’s link. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/11 "2005-08-17T05:01:41Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > We did the same thing at our prom. However, somone yelled “Turtle!” and not “Gator!” We called it the “tuna” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/12 "2005-08-17T12:28:54Z")
You called what ‘tuna,’ exactly? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/13 "2005-08-17T13:12:46Z")
What is this “gator” of which you speak? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/14 "2005-08-17T14:35:46Z")
**Gator!** I’ve gatored in some pretty disgusting places - more muck and mung and the floor than I care to admit. (The Gator is a sort of dance where you fall to the floor and writhe around - it only had entertainment value if you’re **really** drunk) ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/15 "2005-08-17T14:36:57Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > (The Gator is a sort of dance where you fall to the floor and writhe around - it only had entertainment value if you’re **really** drunk) The fun part was really watching everyone try to get up afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/16 "2005-08-17T16:07:18Z")
> [@Katriona](#): > > Yes, I own the Preppy Handbook. Yes, I once made people call me Muffy. What did you make them call your Muffy? ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/17 "2005-08-17T20:22:07Z")
We did that in high school to _Rock Lobster_ when Fred says “_down…down_” ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/18 "2005-08-17T20:24:52Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > You called what ‘tuna,’ exactly? A piano, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/19 "2005-08-18T00:04:01Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Page 111, under Deviant Behavior. > > 🆒 I found my copy much later - yep, happily sandwiched between “Mooning” and “Fountain Jumping!” ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343/20 "2005-08-18T00:05:25Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > What did you make them call your Muffy? Heh - DH has been giving me fits since we passed a muffler place whose motto is…“No Muff Too Tuff.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-house-what-did-bluto-yell-before-everone-drops-down-on-the-floor-and-shakes/317343.md?page=2)