# Tongue-in-Groove? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341 "2003-11-10T03:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/1 "2003-11-10T03:42:47Z")
This just in, courtesy of a “Silly Science Fact” on the back of a mini Three Musketeers bar: > [@](#): > > 85% of the population can curl their tongue into a “U”. I can’t. Can you? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/2 "2003-11-10T04:06:22Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/3 "2003-11-10T04:09:49Z")
ACK – I’m jealous. :mad: Did you have to go find a mirror to be sure? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/4 "2003-11-10T04:15:13Z")
I can too. I learned it was a genetic trait back in high school biology. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/5 "2003-11-10T04:15:21Z")
Since this is basically a poll . . . I’ll move it to **IMHO** for you. * * * **Cajun Man** ~ SDMB Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/6 "2003-11-10T04:16:18Z")
Yes, and no, you don’t have to look in a mirror. Your lips, gums, and teeth will all send the “uh-oh,-there-she-goes-curling-her-tongue-again” message to your appropriate brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![DaisyFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/7 "2003-11-10T04:23:56Z")
I can, my brother can, my dad can but mom can’t. and it causes her no little anxiety! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/8 "2003-11-10T04:29:09Z")
Thanks, **Cajun Man**. I was of two minds where to start it, but it seemed mundane and pointless enough to qualify for MPSIMS – if not downright silly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/9 "2003-11-10T04:31:17Z")
I can curl my tongue up into so tight a “u” that the top meets and it becomes a “marquise diamond” type of shape. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/10 "2003-11-10T04:37:45Z")
I can do it too! In an ideal world, this skill would add a delightful _je-ne-sais-quoi_ to my dating skills. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/11 "2003-11-10T04:47:32Z")
If you can’t do it, what does your tongue do? Just lay flat? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/12 "2003-11-10T04:51:07Z")
Basically, yeh. I’ve tried and tried, but it just quivers futilely. About the best I can do is get it to sag a smidgen into a crease down the center, but I have to lay a finger on it to get even that. At least I can stick it out and make the tip point up and down. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/13 "2003-11-10T05:04:35Z")
**ETF** , _I_ can’t do _that_. So… how _you_ doin’ ? [sub] **Sunspace** hopes **ETF** is of a compatible gender and inclination…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/14 "2003-11-10T05:14:37Z")
I’m doing fine, **Sunspace**. While I’m generally held to be compatible, [Eddy](http://community.webshots.com/photo/782975/16661429ioKueSKFqo), [Teddy](http://community.webshots.com/photo/782975/16661448tsShyxeBqJ) and [Freddy](http://community.webshots.com/photo/782975/16661471LEBuqXbgRu) are the truly pattable ones. The boys and their avatar do not share gender, or inclinations beyond a preference for eating well and often, and napping in warm places. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/15 "2003-11-10T05:24:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*I can curl my tongue up into so tight a “u” that the top meets and it becomes a “marquise diamond” type of shape. \*\* Me too. So how you doin’? 😃 IIRC, it’s a dominant gene so if either parent can roll their tongue, chances are it’ll get handed down. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/16 "2003-11-10T05:30:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m doing fine, Sunspace. While I’m generally held to be compatible, Eddy, Teddy and Freddy are the truly pattable ones. Prrt? Mneowrr… mrrt! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/17 "2003-11-10T13:01:20Z")
Hiss-SPIT-hissssssss Oh, sorry; haven’t had my morning coffee yet. miewp? ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/18 "2003-11-10T13:21:06Z")
Yup, another curlable-tongue owner here. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/19 "2003-11-10T16:36:06Z")
I can curl it into a tube. Try as I might, though, I can’t seem to whistle through the tube. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/20 "2003-11-10T16:51:28Z")
Oh, don;t bring up whistlint now! I can’t whistle through my teeth and make that wonderful piercing shrill audible-for-miles sound. Just the feeble fweep of a lip-pursed whistle. Now I’m even more envious – I feel SO inadequate… ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341.md?page=2)