# Do you sneeze into your elbow? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509 "2010-05-15T03:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/21 "2010-05-15T15:36:08Z")
I’ve heard of the elbow thing but sneezing is so split second that I just automatically find myself doing the hand thing. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/22 "2010-05-15T15:39:27Z")
Hand, but immediately grab the hand sanitizer afterward. The children have been taught at school to sneeze into their elbows. Only one does it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/23 "2010-05-15T15:59:41Z")
What is this elbow-sneezing? How does it work? I’ve got to take my arm around to touch a shoulder blade before my elbow is anywhere even near my mouth. And it’s not even all that near! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/24 "2010-05-15T16:07:23Z")
Never heard of elbow sneezing, but I usually clamp my nose shut and stifle it. I’ve been assured the backblast can blow my brain out, but it’s not happened yet. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/25 "2010-05-15T16:14:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Never heard of elbow sneezing, but I usually clamp my nose shut and stifle it. I’ve been assured the backblast can blow my brain out, but it’s not happened yet. Put your finger down your ear canal and see if you can feel your brain starting to herniate. If it is, push it back with a Q-tip. This is a public service announcement. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/26 "2010-05-15T16:23:24Z")
What? Speak up! Eh? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/27 "2010-05-15T16:28:46Z")
Always into my elbow, unless I’m alone. In that case I cut loose and sneeze into, well, _the room._ ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/28 "2010-05-15T17:04:00Z")
I sneeze bandit-style, and I’m also a mouth sneezer, so it’s mostly just air and _maaaaybe_ some spittle that ends up on my chest. My sneezes are like the Sith. Always two, there are. No more. No less. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/29 "2010-05-15T17:14:21Z")
The shift came here somewhere between my two kids’ preschool experiences. The one born in '93 was taught to sneeze into his hand, but his sister ('05) was taught the elbow sneeze. I prefer the elbow sneeze, although I’ll admit it’s sometimes more of a bicep sneeze if it hits without much warning. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/30 "2010-05-15T19:15:31Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > Put your finger down your ear canal and see if you can feel your brain starting to herniate. If it is, push it back with a Q-tip. This is a public service announcement. I thought we were supposed to use the Q-tip on the falling girly parts. Now what am I going to do about my uterus when gravity takes its toll? ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/31 "2010-05-15T19:18:39Z")
When at home, I am a bandit shirt sneezer. Also a mouth sneezer, so they’re usually _moist._ While out and about, I usually carry two hankies and sneeze into one. The other one’s for when I get sweaty. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/32 "2010-05-15T19:38:45Z")
Not always (tough to do when eating or driving), but whenever I can manage, I do so. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/33 "2010-05-15T20:49:02Z")
Sorry, I’m NOT going to sneeze into my elbow. If it’s a wet one it’s nasty and even if it’s not, then the germs are exposed to everyone anyway because they’re either on your arm or hanging on your sleeve. Sounds stupid to me. I sneeze in a tissue that I take out of the side pocket of my purse, my clothing pocket or the tissue box in the car when I’m out and about. If I can’t make it, I sneeze in my hand and then wash my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/34 "2010-05-15T20:55:26Z")
None of the poll results fit me. I know you’re _supposed_ to sneeze into your elbow, but I’m not in the habit and I always forget. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/35 "2010-05-15T23:25:41Z")
I pretty much always have tissues with me, so if I dont sneeze into my elbow, I sneeze into a tissue. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/36 "2010-05-15T23:30:45Z")
I worked for a while in a hospital and they were real big on using the elbow. I got in the habit and never got out. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/37 "2010-05-16T00:04:42Z")
My 3.5yo daughter has been well indoctrinated at daycare, so we’re all elbow sneezers here. However, what cracks me up is when she sneezes into her elbow, and then promptly uses her hand to wipe the sneeze residue off her elbow. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/38 "2010-05-16T00:38:57Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > What is this elbow-sneezing? How does it work? I’ve got to take my arm around to touch a shoulder blade before my elbow is anywhere even near my mouth. And it’s not even all that near! 😕 It’s not sneezing into the bony part, but into the “v” of your bent arm. I learned about it in Health class, which would’ve been around twelve years ago, and do it when I remember to. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/39 "2010-05-16T01:13:25Z")
They have PSA posters about it on he NYC subway, so I usually remember. People will give you an evil look if you sneeze into your hand and then put your hand on a pole. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509/40 "2010-05-16T01:19:56Z")
I’m currently trying to teach one of my clients (a 4-year-old autistic boy) to sneeze into his elbow. (Currently he sneezes into my face.) However, I can never seem to catch him at the moment of the sneeze, only afterward, so he seems to think that I’m prompting him to wipe his nose on his sleeve. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-sneeze-into-your-elbow/539509.md?page=3)