# What is flop sweat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-flop-sweat/303319 "2005-05-11T01:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-flop-sweat/303319/1 "2005-05-11T01:16:49Z")
Is it like a cold sweat, or sweat from fear? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-flop-sweat/303319/2 "2005-05-11T01:24:56Z")
Both, it’s when you sweat because of pressure or nervousness. Say you have a fear of public speaking, and suddenly have to do a live radio or tv broadcast. You’ll have flop sweat. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-flop-sweat/303319/3 "2005-05-11T01:26:11Z")
Go ask that hot woman out, the one you’ve been thinking about for months. Wait for her to get that really weird look on her face. Listen to her full explanation of how she doesn’t want to do it. Observe the flop sweat. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-flop-sweat/303319/4 "2005-05-11T01:46:55Z")
And get squat on the flop. What?