# I just sneezed. What do you say?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 23, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786 "2004-06-23T12:58:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/1 "2004-06-23T12:58:35Z")
[ol]
[li]God Bless You[/li][li]Salut![/li][li]Gesundheit[/li][li]Nothing[/li][li]Other (Please Specify)[/li][/ol]
Winston
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### Author:  [@Tiggrkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiggrkitty)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/2 "2004-06-23T12:59:11Z")
I simply say “Bless you”
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/3 "2004-06-23T13:06:48Z")
> [@WinstonSmith](#):
>
> [ol]
> [li]Other (Please Specify)[/li][/ol]
>
> Winston
“Jesus—will you go home before we _all_ catch that?”
But then, I’m in a bad mood.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/4 "2004-06-23T13:12:24Z")
“Must be a barge comin’ down the river.”
No, wait–that’s for burps.
Gesundheit.
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### Author:  [@ebandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebandit)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/5 "2004-06-23T13:12:31Z")
I am in the “Bless You” camp. But sometimes I say Gesundheit and sometimes I say Wow that was LOUD! 😉
> **[Gene Black Creations](https://www.geneblack.com/)**
>
> Works on this site may be available for purchase. To inquire please contact me at geneblack@gmail.com
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### Author:  [@ThatDuckIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatDuckIsEvil)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/6 "2004-06-23T13:13:24Z")
“you are SOOOOOO good lookin”
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### Author:  [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/7 "2004-06-23T13:13:55Z")
How 'bout _Nice catch!_😃
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/8 "2004-06-23T13:14:45Z")
“Bless you”
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### Author:  [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/9 "2004-06-23T13:15:25Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#):
>
> 1. Other (Please Specify)
For chrissakes, _cover your mouth when you sneeze!_
Seriously, though, most of the time I just say “gesundheit”, but if a family member sneezes, then it’s “bless you.”
Sometimes one of us has a sneezing fit. Then, it goes more like:
::sneeze::
Bless you.
::sneeze::
Bless you.
::sneeze::
_Bless you._
::sneeze::
**Bless you.**
::sneeze::
**BLESSHOO**
::sneeze::
_ **Jesus Christ, shut UP already!!** _
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### Author:  [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/10 "2004-06-23T13:23:50Z")
**shazam!**
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### Author:  [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/11 "2004-06-23T13:29:06Z")
I don’t say anything. Really, what’s the point in acknowledging that the other person is sneezing? I hate it when people say “bless you” when I sneeze. I hate sneezing enough as it is, so I don’t need someone to recognize my doing it. The only time I do say something is if the person has a sneezing fit and has sneezed three or more times. At that point I ask them if they are okay. If I sneeze like this I start to get dizzy and light-headed, so I am thinking the other person may feel the same way. Otherwise, saying “bless you” or “Gesundheit” or some other cutesy foreign way of saying it seems so outmoded in this day and age.
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/12 "2004-06-23T13:37:18Z")
Generally, “Bless you”. Sometimes, “Gesundheit”. Occasionally, I do actually say “You’re SOOOO good looking” to my wife, and once in a while at work I respond with “Farfegnugen”, just to see if anybody is paying attention.
Variety is the spice of life.
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/13 "2004-06-23T13:46:55Z")
When someone else sneezes, I say nothing. The whole “bless you” thing to keep away the evil spirits or whatever just seems a tad outmoded. Does anyone actually believe that?
When I sneeze and someone says “Bless you” or whatever, I just say “Excuse me.” To me it feels silly to thank someone for a “bless you” that doesn’t really provide any benefit. Yes, I know they were being polite or whatever. That’s why I at least acknowledge it. But I’ll be glad if this little custom ever dies out. (Not holding my breath.)
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/14 "2004-06-23T13:51:01Z")
I simply say “Bless you.”
Tangent: **Eve** , you never fail to make me laugh. Thanks. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/15 "2004-06-23T13:56:05Z")
I say nothing as well.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/16 "2004-06-23T14:04:28Z")
I say Bless You.
Is it sad that I can tell who’s sneezing at work by the sound of their sneeze? My boss has a huge honking one I can hear even though her office is down the hall from my cube. My co-worker puts a little “Phew” at the end of her sneeze, and I have another co-worker who sneezes three or four times in a row.
I need a vacation.
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### Author:  [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/17 "2004-06-23T14:10:25Z")
I don’t say anything.
Sometimes it can get out of hand. I’ve been in various classes where someone will sneeze and several people will say “God bless you” while the teacher is talking.
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### Author:  [@ThatDuckIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatDuckIsEvil)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/18 "2004-06-23T14:18:32Z")
ok, hijack here, but after you sneeze yourself, do you say “excuse me”? I have gotten into the habit to saying that because one semester in college I sat next to a veyr well-mannered man who would always say that after he sneezed. 10 years later I still do it.
I think I acknowledge my own sneezes with an “excuse me” moreso than anyone saying “bless you”
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### Author:  [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/19 "2004-06-23T14:24:39Z")
I don’t say anything when someone else sneezes and I don’t want people blessing me when I do. I’m cranky that way.
I apparantly made a permanent enemy of some girl at work once for not following this convention. She never told me about it, but did tell everyone else- she was particulary offended that I didn’t thank her for blessing me.
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### Author:  [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-sneezed-what-do-you-say/251786/20 "2004-06-23T14:26:06Z")
Depends on the circumstances. Mostly, I say “Gesundheit”, although often I just say nothing. And, if the situation calls for it, “Ewwwwwww!”
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