# I can kill a housefly with my bare hands **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968 "2004-06-06T16:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/21 "2004-11-25T04:17:37Z")
If you want to just snatch them up in your hand, sneaking up from the side works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/22 "2004-11-25T05:38:17Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > At one time, I had five flies buzzing around the cafeteria, towing signs advertising the catering service. If I ever did anything that brilliant I’d be elated for a week and then sink into a terrible depression knowing that it could never be topped. Genius. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/23 "2004-11-25T06:04:15Z")
What do they do when you rip one wing off? 😕 The sadist in me wants to know!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/24 "2004-11-25T06:41:47Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > I nail 'em with rubber bands, from as far as fifteen feet away. Got probably a 60-70% kill rate. Can you tell I used to have a boring job in a fly (and rubber band) infested workspace? 22 feet is my record…with a 1/4 inch rubber band. Trigger spraying flys and bees was a hoot also. Used water, sometimes rubbing alcohol or Windex. But my mom’s Aquanet hairspray and a lighter was the best. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/25 "2004-11-25T06:52:52Z")
Two of my preferred methods; This one works really well. Take a tall clear glass and slowly place it over the fly. Fly must be landed at the time. Then when the fly is trapped in the glass slide a piece of paper under the glass for transport and you can then have your way with said fly. All manner of fun ensues. Other method, more messy. Take a bath towel and make a whip out of it. You know, the kind you used to whip your buddies after gym class with. You can whip flies clean out of the air, off the nearest table, and even smear them all over the wall if you wish. Lots of fun, preferred preferred method. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/26 "2004-11-25T14:52:21Z")
These performances are all well and good. Since I don’t like slaying and wish to avoid too much contact, I prefer to neuter the flies as they pass. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968/27 "2004-11-25T15:28:35Z")
Yeah, I can. I usually catch them between my two hands while clapping. There are these nasty greenish flies that come out of the woods and bite my horse. It’s very difficult to ride her while she’s being bitten. When I see one of those nasty flies on her, I make a motion towards it to get it to launch and than smash it between my hands. The skill has carried over to houseflies since those nasty green things are a bit faster. One of my dogs catches them in his mouth, swallows them, then belches. He always belches afterwards. I think eating them is a bit gross, even for a dog. But my 8 year old nephew and 6 year old neice think it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-kill-a-housefly-with-my-bare-hands/248968.md?page=1)