# Can you raise one eyebrow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713 "2015-03-22T20:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/1 "2015-03-22T20:59:42Z")
Which one? Can you raise each one separately or do the weird caterpillar mating dance thing Jack Black does? I can raise my left eyebrow but not the right one. Like a mirror image of this guy. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_of\_Words](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@Jack\_of\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_of_Words)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/2 "2015-03-22T21:02:43Z")
Nope. I’ve spent several of my 5 decades trying to, and would consider surgery to incapacitate one of my eyebrows to facilitate it. Botox…would that work, in one eyebrow? I can flare my nostrils though. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/3 "2015-03-22T21:04:16Z")
Nope. And I’m insanely jealous of those who can. There are times when a single raised eyebrow is the only response that will do, and I just can’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/4 "2015-03-22T21:09:20Z")
I also can only lift the left one. Little known fact: when I figured out this ability of mine, I changed the part of my hair to make it easier to admire. Been wearing it parted on the left ever since. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/5 "2015-03-22T21:09:49Z")
I guess **Yinzer** and I have it covered between us. I can raise my right eyebrow, but not the left. I blame the scar over my left eyebrow. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/6 "2015-03-22T21:11:35Z")
Taught myself to do it in elementary school, the same time I learned how to do ‘live long and prosper.’ ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/7 "2015-03-22T21:32:25Z")
Yes, both independently. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/8 "2015-03-22T21:36:19Z")
Both, independently, not a raised very high, but the noticeable skeptic look works. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/9 "2015-03-22T21:39:18Z")
I can’t. But I trained my daughter to - she’s an ace. Or did I just encourage her natural ability - is it nature or nurture? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/10 "2015-03-22T21:43:37Z")
I can raise my left brow. It’s come in handy a time or two. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/11 "2015-03-22T21:49:58Z")
I have a trick of setting my left eye socket all a-twitchy. It’s gotten me out of a couple of fights. Apparently it makes me look like I’m about to go berserk or something. Eyebrows work in unison or not at all. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/12 "2015-03-22T23:12:58Z")
Yes. I can **also** split my fingers into the 'Live Long And Prosper" gesture. I _cannot_, however, stick two fingers in my mouth, and whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/13 "2015-03-22T23:24:40Z")
Yep. Both independently. I’m not sure that I had to teach myself that, but I did however have to “learn” how to do the “live long and prosper” hand gesture. I’m completely ambiSpocktrous. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/14 "2015-03-22T23:36:17Z")
Another who can do “both, independently” here. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/15 "2015-03-22T23:38:20Z")
I can’t, and this annoys me greatly because I really want to. I can do the Vulcan salute effortlessly with both hands, though, so I guess that counts for something. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/16 "2015-03-22T23:59:49Z")
I can lift either eyebrow independently of the other. Or make 'em dance by lifting them sequentially in rapid succession. Can also do the LLaP gesture with either hand. Working on doing it with my toes, but it’s much, much harder. I am _such_ a geek… ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/17 "2015-03-23T00:23:11Z")
Yes, but only my right one. My wife gets a big kick out me doing that, though. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/18 "2015-03-23T00:26:29Z")
Yes! As a second generation Star Trek fan (too young for the network run; caught it in syndication in the early 70s) I spent a summer holding down the brow of my right eye while until I strengthened just the left one on its own. Now, I wonder if I did the correct eye. ETA - can also Live Long and Prosper with either hand. Didn’t require training. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/19 "2015-03-23T00:30:25Z")
I can flair my nostrils, roll my tongue, and raise either eyebrow by itself, but, to my great sadness, I cannot roll an R. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713/20 "2015-03-23T00:35:32Z")
No – and for some reason that has always greatly annoyed me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-raise-one-eyebrow/715713.md?page=2)