# Question about onions and crying
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-onions-and-crying/208263
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 18, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-onions-and-crying/208263 "2003-10-18T23:56:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-onions-and-crying/208263/1 "2003-10-18T23:56:53Z")
While chopping onions today, with my eyes burning profusely, someone handed me part of a hot dog bun and said “Here. Stick this in your mouth. I don’t know why but it keeps your eyes from burning.”
And it worked. It was amazing!
WHY does it work, though?!
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### Author:  [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-onions-and-crying/208263/2 "2003-10-19T00:08:55Z")
Here, read this.
[http://members.aol.com/stevef88/discuss/onions.htm](http://members.aol.com/stevef88/discuss/onions.htm)
According to him, it doesn’t work, but it helps. His solution isn’t all that helpful.
This person
[http://saramoulton.com/ks\_082102.htm](http://saramoulton.com/ks_082102.htm)
has a better answer regarding eye irritation, but if you still breathe through your nose…
Here’s a more technical answer.
[http://www.americanchemistry.com/chemmag.nsf/WebMagazineArticle?ReadForm&mfpk-543ms4](http://www.americanchemistry.com/chemmag.nsf/WebMagazineArticle?ReadForm&mfpk-543ms4)
My best solution?? “Honey?? Will you cut up an onion for me?”
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### Author:  [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)
#### Post date: [October 19, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-onions-and-crying/208263/3 "2003-10-19T01:06:33Z")
Thanks 🙂