# Remember "getting a flat" when someone stepped on the back of your shoe - do kids still do that? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740 "2025-12-16T01:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/1 "2025-12-16T01:09:22Z")
When I was a kid, a common prank (or something that sometimes happened by accident) was that the kid standing behind you in line put the front of his shoe on the heel of yours, so when you stepped forward, your foot came out of the shoe. Annoying. Do kids still have that problem today? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/2 "2025-12-16T01:36:34Z")
My grandson is 12, and most of the boys in his grade wear Crocs. Some have a back strap, but the ones he wears don’t. He slips them on in the morning and wears them all day, except for gym, when he has to change into tennis shoes. So, unless you’re talking about boys’ gym class, I don’t think giving someone a flat is still a thing these days, since I doubt girls would ever do it. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/3 "2025-12-16T02:13:06Z")
Shoe makers have really beefed up the heel caps (I had to look that up) on shoes since I was a kid. That part of the shoe was usually a flimsy piece of canvas. Now it’s stuffed with padding. I think Vans and Converse may still make some shoes susceptible to flats, though. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/4 "2025-12-16T13:32:21Z")
I have a pair of Skechers and they are MORE susceptible to flats than other shoes I wear. A pair of Crocs I used to wear were similar. I accidentally give myself flats all the time and so does my (big) dog. Both pairs of shoes jut out a lot more at the bottom of the heel than old-fashioned sneakers. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/5 "2025-12-16T14:33:08Z")
I still see kids do it occasionally, but they don’t have a name for it. It’s certainly not as widespread as it was when I was in Junior High (late seventies). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/6 "2025-12-16T14:58:36Z")
Yes, it’s called a “flat tire”, or was about 10 years ago and still is among people my age. I don’t really remember it being done as a prank, though. If someone stepped on your shoe by accident you’d say “Hey, you flat tired me!” but I don’t think people did it on purpose. There _was_ a thing particularly wild kids would do in PE sometimes, which is run up behind someone and slap them on the back with an open hand shouting “FIVE STAR!”. The idea was to leave a red handprint on their back - the eponymous five star. Luckily, it was usually a couple of usual suspects doing that sort of thing to each other, so bystanders were unaffected. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/7 "2025-12-16T15:05:05Z")
An entry level bully knew he made his bones when his victim felt the need to start wearing Chuck Taylors to school. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/8 "2025-12-16T15:59:47Z")
I wasn’t aware of the term but surely the practice is as old as footware and continuing to this day? It seems like it would have been around at least as long as Made You Look and Stop Hitting Yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/9 "2025-12-16T16:29:19Z")
I’m a 70s kid and don’t remember either the term, or people doing it deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/10 "2025-12-16T17:19:06Z")
I don’t remember getting a flat, but there was a similar prank that was pretty widespread when I was a school child: You walked up behind someone standing around, minding their own business, and knock your knee against the back of one of their knee joints, causing their leg to buckle. Anyone else recall this? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/11 "2025-12-16T17:22:11Z")
NVM; not quite the same. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/12 "2025-12-16T18:45:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > You walked up behind someone standing around, minding their own business, and knock your knee against the back of one of their knee joints, causing their leg to buckle. Totally. I hung with some guys who played rough and took it up to and including the ol’ Accomplice Crouches Behind Before Shoving the Victim. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/13 "2025-12-16T22:28:43Z")
I remember the term from the early 1970s - and it looks like it made it into the Urban Dictionary and a TikTok explainer. Used to happen when we were standing in line at school waiting for something - because kids often stand way closer to each other than adults would do. > [@Babale](#): > > Yes, it’s called a “flat tire”, or was about 10 years ago and still is among people my age. Glad to see some terms and concepts stick around… 23 Skidoo and 6-7 to you (that’s a big 10-4) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/14 "2025-12-16T22:35:19Z")
Not mentioned yet: the “Hey did you spill something on your shirt?” followed by a light flick of the nose when the victim looked down. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/15 "2025-12-16T22:35:40Z")
Less ambiguity about that one… ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/16 "2025-12-17T00:23:33Z")
I haven’t thought about flat tires in years, but I remember one kid from my junior high who was particularly adept at giving someone a flat and then in a continuation of the move, kicking the back of the victim’s shoe so it went flying forward. I have no idea how he did it, but he did it to me once. I had barely had time to realize I had been given a flat when I saw my shoe sailing away in front of me. I had to admit that it was both hilarious and remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/17 "2025-12-17T00:26:05Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Some have a back strap Those are called ‘feet belts’. They are by me, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-getting-a-flat-when-someone-stepped-on-the-back-of-your-shoe-do-kids-still-do-that/1025740/18 "2025-12-17T00:28:52Z")
Yup, middle school in the early 80s. The crocs comments above makes me want to repeat something I’ve been saying for years: “If everyone wore clogs there would be no war. You can’t chase someone while wearing clogs.” Or maybe there would just be a lot of sabotage. 😆