# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/21 "2003-11-10T17:04:59Z")
Tongue curling is a genetic trait. I learned this back in high school biology. I believe it is a dominant trait. We had this worksheet to screen ourselves and our family on: ability to curl tongue, possessing hitch-hiker’s thumb, red hair, a widow’s peak, and attached ear lobes. My entire family can curl their tongue, my mom, brother and I have hitch-hiker’s thumb, mom has red hair, no widows peaks in the whole family, unattached earlobes. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/22 "2003-11-10T17:39:04Z")
Not only can I curl it into a u, but also a kind of W, well almost a VW, with the center u large, and the outer u’s smaller and higher. before some guy hits on me for this talent, may I point out, that I’m a guy ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/23 "2003-11-10T17:48:47Z")
Yup. I can also raise either eyebrow independently of the other. Can’t figure out what either of these things is good for. Well…maybe the one. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/24 "2003-11-10T18:07:59Z")
The needs of the many Outweigh The needs of the few, **Chefguy** (Or the one) I can do the tongue thingy. Among other tongue thingies. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/25 "2003-11-10T18:41:30Z")
It comes in handy when you’re trying to distance yourself from a lugey. ---
**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, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/26 "2003-11-10T19:06:09Z")
What the heck is ‘hitchhikers’ thumb’? ---
**Author:** ![Alto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Alto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alto)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/27 "2003-11-10T19:31:34Z")
I can curl. I’ve been told, however, that _no one_ can curl it upside down (like an n). Can anyone here do that? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/28 "2003-11-10T19:37:23Z")
**Sunspace** , hitchhiker’s thumb is a thumb where the upper portion curves back naturally. When you give a thumb’s up, it looks like you’re trying to hitch a ride. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/29 "2003-11-10T19:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alto \* > \*_I]no one_ can curl it upside down (like an n). Can anyone here do that? \*\* Well, when attempting this there is no opening or hollow area that happens when the opposite is done, my tongue just gets narrower and thicker. It kinda hurt. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/30 "2003-11-10T20:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EddyTeddyFreddy \* > \*\*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\*\* Now now, there’s always someone worse off than you. I _can’t whistle at all!_ I make the face I’ve been told to, I close my eyes and blow. Hard, soft… No matter. No whistling comes out. just air. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/31 "2003-11-10T20:25:33Z")
I can curl my tongue, though. 🙂 ---
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/32 "2003-11-10T22:14:57Z")
If I blow air out my tongue tube it makes a faint, extremely high pitched sound. I can also put my tongue between my teeth like I’m saying “THHH”, and make a high whistle. There’s a gap between my front upper incisors. Makes a really good cricket sound. I can do the W tongue (can any of the women do that?) and the eyebrow raise (left only). And I have hitchhiker’s thumb. And I can make my eyes wiggle. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/33 "2003-11-10T22:23:45Z")
Can’t do it, OR the Vulcan live long and prosper sign. WAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ---
**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, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/34 "2003-11-10T23:43:14Z")
Ah! At least I can do “Live long and prosper”! With both hands! Now I feel better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/35 "2003-11-11T03:09:39Z")
I can curl my tongue. What the hell is up with it being genetic? It’s just such a random skill. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/36 "2003-11-11T03:18:32Z")
I can curl mine, and turn it upside down. I can do the rock’s eye thing. I can put my thumb on the back of my hand. I can go half cross-eyed (one eye stays focused forward, the other one looks to the right. Ever since I badly injured my foot I can make a complex crackling sound with it. tongue curling involves pushing the tongue against the top of the mouth, which forces it into a curl. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/37 "2003-11-11T03:24:13Z")
I can do the spok thing too, forgot about that. Is it right that Will Shatner can’t? Can anyone make their eyes pop out of their head, or cry milk, or put their neck-skin on their chin? ---
**Author:** ![DaisyFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/38 "2003-11-11T03:27:21Z")
I don’t mean to hijack but other people were sharing their talents. As I previously mentioned, I can curl my tongue. I can also raise one eyebrow (right only) bend only the first knuckle of my forefingers, Make the vulcan sign with both hands, touch my tongue to the tip of my nose and (drumroll please) tie a cherry stem with my tongue and teeth. OK, now I’m feeling like that was a little TMI 😛 ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/39 "2003-11-11T03:36:57Z")
> [@](#): > > tie a cherry stem with my tongue and teeth. Yep. Here too. _sheesh_ you’d think that after all the tongue talents I’ve fessed up to in this thread, at least _one_ female would ask me “how YOU doin”. ---
**Author:** ![DaisyFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341/40 "2003-11-11T03:39:35Z")
OK, I’ll bite, **Carmen** How YOU doin’? :dubious: 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-in-groove/212341.md?page=3)