# "See a nun, touch a button" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500 "2015-01-10T20:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/1 "2015-01-10T20:57:32Z")
So I mentioned step on a crack, etc. and she said she learned in her family “see a nun touch a button.” This is delightfully absurd. Anyone ever heard of it? She: young, Jewish, parents professionals, suburbs NYC. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/2 "2015-01-10T21:17:38Z")
Moved to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/3 "2015-01-10T21:25:17Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > So I mentioned step on a crack, etc. and she said she learned in her family “see a nun touch a button.” > > This is delightfully absurd. Anyone ever heard of it? > > She: young, Jewish, parents professionals, suburbs NYC. I grew up Catholic, and was educated by nuns from kindergarten through eighth grade. I never heard this. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/4 "2015-01-10T21:30:05Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > I grew up Catholic, and was educated by nuns from kindergarten through eighth grade. > > I never heard this. That’s because you’re not supposed to touch any part of a nun. Especially not her button. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/5 "2015-01-10T22:11:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s because you’re not supposed to touch any part of a nun. Especially not her button. So going to hell you are. 😃 Bawahahahaha ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/6 "2015-01-11T00:16:25Z")
A young novitiate at a monastery asked the priest if it was okay to kiss a nun. The priest said, “Yes, it’s okay, as long as you don’t get into the habit.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/7 "2015-01-11T00:26:27Z")
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/8 "2015-01-11T01:28:10Z")
I’m Catholic and have never heard it before. In any case it’s fairly meaningless nowadays. It’s difficult to recognise a nun because they no longer wear habits, other than in some of the newly-established traditionalist orders. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/9 "2015-01-11T01:37:02Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > A young novitiate at a monastery The word you want is ‘novice’. The word ‘novitiate’ refers to the period during which the novice tests his vocation, or sometimes to the building where the novices live. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/10 "2015-01-11T02:07:39Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > A young novitiate at a monastery asked the priest if it was okay to kiss a nun. The priest said, “Yes, it’s okay, as long as you don’t get into the habit.” coif coif ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/11 "2015-01-11T03:39:05Z")
What’s black and white and red all over? A nun with a spear through her head. Anyway, never heard it. Grew up in West Texas and also lived in Albuquerque and Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/12 "2015-01-11T03:47:36Z")
The closest thing I can remember is having to touch a screw (and hold your breath) when going over a bridge in a car. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-a-nun-touch-a-button/709500/13 "2015-01-11T03:59:18Z")
I was raised Catholic and I have actually heard this but I never asked for an explanation. I didn’t hear it at chuch but from non-Catholic acquaintance. No good to you, I know. But I am witness to some people using the expression.