# Meaning of sticking your tongue out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252 "2004-05-26T22:52:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/1 "2004-05-26T22:52:11Z")
Can anyone put into words what the feeling behind sticking your tongue out is? Within Western cultures, are there differences? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/2 "2004-05-26T22:59:50Z")
I think of it like flipping the bird, but for six year olds. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/3 "2004-05-26T23:16:41Z")
Because it IS such a juvenile gesture I always associate good humor/good nature with it: “Let’s be kids/friends now, ok?” But also, like flipping the bird it represents the end of a discussion. I’ll do it here when I recognize that my opinion is 180 degrees from someone else’s, but that I lack either the ground or the desire to do battle about it. Of course, there’s always the neener neener factor–reserved for when people whom I consider idiots try to intimidate on a computer or flame my opinion. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/4 "2004-05-26T23:25:00Z")
I’ve always thought of it as a symbolic “I spit on you” gesture, and thus the reason why it is considered extremely rude by some in the US. Unless, of course, the tongue is extended in a flattened shape, with the tip gracing an arc upwards… in which case it means “I want to perform cunnilingus/fellatio upon you.” ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/5 "2004-05-26T23:55:20Z")
> [@bughunter](#): > > I’ve always thought of it as a symbolic “I spit on you” gesture, and thus the reason why it is considered extremely rude by some in the US. > > Unless, of course, the tongue is extended in a flattened shape, with the tip gracing an arc upwards… in which case it means “I want to perform cunnilingus/fellatio upon you.” I’m surprised that no one has made the connection between sticking out the tongue and infants spitting out food. It is a sign of rejection. Some folks think it is unforgivably rude while others think it’s cute. I think it depends on how personally you take it, and (as with many nonverbals) the context it is used in. –SSgtBaloo ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/6 "2004-05-27T00:41:20Z")
There’s the committed minority who believes it improves athletic performance. [http://img.slate.msn.com/media/48000/48665/Seidel\_Jordan.JPG](http://img.slate.msn.com/media/48000/48665/Seidel_Jordan.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/7 "2004-05-27T01:19:15Z")
In IM conversations, I use it more than the wink to indicate “just teasing” or “yeah, I’m being a brat here.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Llama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@The\_Llama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Llama)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/8 "2004-05-27T03:38:06Z")
As far as I know, it means “thhhbbbttttt!” ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/9 "2004-05-27T03:50:36Z")
> [@The\_Llama](#): > > As far as I know, it means “thhhbbbttttt!” Yeah, I already know that, I believe I asked to “put into words” the feeling behind it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/10 "2004-05-27T03:57:11Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > There’s the committed minority who believes it improves athletic performance. > > [http://img.slate.msn.com/media/48000/48665/Seidel\_Jordan.JPG](http://img.slate.msn.com/media/48000/48665/Seidel_Jordan.JPG) Actually, it DOES work for [Ronnie Belliard](http://insidethecomp.blogspot.com/2004/04/gotta-be-tongue.html) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Llama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@The\_Llama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Llama)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/11 "2004-05-27T03:58:16Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > Yeah, I already know that, I believe I asked to “put into words” the feeling behind it. Yeah, I did… and the word was “thhhbbbttttt!” Also, it was a joke. Lighten up. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/12 "2004-05-27T04:07:16Z")
> [@The\_Llama](#): > > Yeah, I did… and the word was “thhhbbbttttt!” > > Also, it was a joke. Lighten up. Sorry - got the joke! “thhhbbbttttt” is only one word. I’ve been getting shitty in another forum. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/13 "2004-05-27T04:08:30Z")
and not a “feeling”. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/14 "2004-05-27T04:26:39Z")
I see it as a funny little piece of non-veral communication, always reserved for use amongst friends and often with a meaning something like “you may be right, but nuts to you anyway.” A friendly insult. Sticking one’s tongue out at a stranger would be wierdly childish I think. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/15 "2004-05-27T06:29:53Z")
Since I was a little kid I’ve had what they call a “geographic” tongue–wide and deeply furrowed. Maybe I had some kind of Vitamin B deficiency during infancy… When we were little kids and someone stuck their tongue out we would say, “No, thanks–I use toilet paper.” 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/16 "2004-05-27T06:46:26Z")
I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been able to stick my tongue out anyway, so it wasn’t an insult I commonly used. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/17 "2004-05-27T07:10:41Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been able to stick my tongue out anyway, so it wasn’t an insult I commonly used. Yet Robyn still married you? :eek: Joking!!! ---
**Author:** ![cookeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@cookeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookeze)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/18 "2004-05-27T10:27:14Z")
To quote my ex-wife, “When a girl sticks her tongue out at you, it means she wants to kiss you.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/19 "2004-05-27T11:41:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m surprised that no one has made the connection between sticking out the tongue and infants spitting out food. It is a sign of rejection. Some folks think it is unforgivably rude while others think it’s cute. I think it depends on how personally you take it, and (as with many nonverbals) the context it is used in. Actually, this is precisely what cultural anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss says in one of his books ( **The Origin of Table Manners**?). Ordinarily I don’t agree with C L-S, being a Marvin Harris-Cultural Materialist type, but I think he (and you) have the right answer here. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252/20 "2004-05-27T11:43:21Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been able to stick my tongue out anyway, so it wasn’t an insult I commonly used. Hmmm Hmm hmmmmm … eh? Would it be rude to beg a hijack to explain? H’aint ya got no tongue, boy? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-sticking-your-tongue-out/247252.md?page=2)