# Origin of "pull my finger"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747 "2004-02-11T23:41:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747/1 "2004-02-11T23:41:30Z")

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How did the classic “pull my finger” fart gag get started?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747/2 "2004-02-11T23:59:49Z")

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It has been reliably attributed to the Neanderthal Og, who invented it in 38,542 B.C.

But I used to think my uncle invented it.

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**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747/3 "2004-02-12T01:57:33Z")

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Didn’t God pull it on Moses as captured by Michaelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?  
I not a real religous type, I hope I got the names right.

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**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747/4 "2004-02-12T02:04:56Z")

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I have it on good authority that it is based upon the pulling of the lanyard to fire a cannon.

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**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-pull-my-finger/228747/5 "2004-02-12T02:16:02Z")

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A few weeks ago at the Super Bowl. But with all the crowd noise Justin didn’t hear Janet’s instructions correctly.