# How well can you Wink? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880 "2010-08-20T15:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/1 "2010-08-20T15:42:50Z")
I can wink with both eyes, although I wink better with my left eye than my right eye. Winking my right involves curling the right part of mouth up and my right cheek. I don’t need to do this when winking with my right eye. I don’t know if there is a correlation, but I am right handed. Wait for poll ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/2 "2010-08-20T15:48:00Z")
I do the mouth and cheek thing on both sides, but only when giving the “fast wink”. Either side, I can wink so fast that it barely looks like a twitch. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/3 "2010-08-20T15:48:41Z")
I can wink with either without effort. I could even wink them in time with music, if I had any sense of rhythm. For what it’s worth, I can also wiggle my ears and twitch my nose. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/4 "2010-08-20T15:49:41Z")
Ambidextrous winker here. I’ve always assumed it was the reason for me getting laid as often as I do. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/5 "2010-08-20T20:25:51Z")
I’m right handed, but have to use a little more effort for the right eye. Left eye, I can wink it with no other face muscles. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/6 "2010-08-20T20:30:30Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I’m right handed, but have to use a little more effort for the right eye. Left eye, I can wink it with no other face muscles. Weird. Me too, and I determined years ago that I’m left-eyed. Of course, I can wink effortlessly with both eyes simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/7 "2010-08-20T20:31:33Z")
Both eyes, little effort. As an aside, I like a woman who can give a saucy wink, it can be very sexy. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/8 "2010-08-20T20:34:51Z")
Left eye easily, right eye with a little effort, but after winking with my right eye a number of times in succession, I can do it just as easily as I can with my left. I guess my left eye just gets more practice, not that I do it frequently. Right-handed. My mother can close either eyelid independently without involving the rest of her facial muscles. It’s sort of funny. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/9 "2010-08-20T20:38:57Z")
Whenever I try to wink I wind up blinking. \>.\< ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/10 "2010-08-20T21:34:50Z")
I can wink both eyes and it never occurred to me that someone might not be able to ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/11 "2010-08-20T21:45:22Z")
I can wink both easily, but the right eye is a _tiny_ bit more difficult. Still, very easy. Chose the first option. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/12 "2010-08-20T21:51:32Z")
Right handed, and I can wink very easily with either eye. I do usually wink with my right eye though. I can also do this: > [@corkboard](#): > > My mother can close either eyelid independently without involving the rest of her facial muscles. It’s sort of funny. …and I can raise either eyebrow with equal ease, either with or without simultaneously lowering the other brow. Unlike with winking, I usually raise my \*left \*brow. What’s really entertaining is when I alternate them up and down really quickly: \_ ^ ^ \_ \_ ^ ^ \_ Sigh. I can’t do it justice. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/13 "2010-08-20T23:32:36Z")
Thanks for once again pointing out my inadequacy. I have been traumatized ever since childhood by my inability to wink. I wasn’t able to play that game where you sit in a circle and the “killer” winks to “kill” somebody. I spent my life ostracized by my disability. Do you know what it’s like to never be able to give a reassuring wink across a room, to never send a flirtatious wink to a cute stranger…_sobs_… P-bun _(It doesn’t count if you can only do both eyes simultaneously-right?)_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/14 "2010-08-21T00:05:26Z")
Oh my god there are two others (as of this typing) who can’t wink at all! I’M NOT ALONE! :: sobs in relief :: I can try reeeeeeally hard and I may get one eye a bit open while the other is shut, but I’ll look like I’m totally hammered. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/15 "2010-08-21T17:48:15Z")
I play both sides of the field… maybe that has something to do with being able to wink at the hot guy on my right and the hot girl on my left… ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/16 "2010-08-21T17:54:04Z")
Not very well, unfortunately. So many missed opportunities. If I grotesquely screw my face up I can manage a wink with my right eye but that seems to defeat the whole purpose somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/17 "2010-08-21T17:54:07Z")
Until opening this thread, I was not aware that there were people who could not wink easily with either eye. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/18 "2010-08-21T18:04:26Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I can wink both eyes and it never occurred to me that someone might not be able to Same here; this poll was the first I’d heard that some people can’t. It’s not like it comes up in conversation much… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/19 "2010-08-21T19:21:05Z")
We interrupt this thread for a comedy flashback… From _the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show_ (radio) > [@](#): > > Gracie) It’s not his fault Blanche. All the women just love George > Blanche) Gracie! > Gracie) It’s true, the other day we were at the beach and George was in his swim trunks and every girl he passed gave him the double wink > Blanche) The double wink? > Gracie) Yes they closed both eyes And now back to your regularly scheduled thread ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880/20 "2010-08-21T20:51:46Z")
I can wink either side easily assuming I put the cheek into it. Doing it without contracting most of that side of the face, otoh, I have to think about. :tests: I see what the OP means. I may be right-eyed, thus finding it easier to keep that eye wider open alone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-can-you-wink/550880.md?page=2)