# What is this arm pumping motion by a performative drunk

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** star-trek-paramount\
**Created:** [August 19, 2024, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897 "2024-08-19T07:42:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chelonaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chelonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chelonaut)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897/1 "2024-08-19T07:42:11Z")

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Example here in clip from Star Trek: First Contact at 0:45. I’ve seen it elsewhere in tv or movies, never in real life that I recall.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VcKp7Iiepsg/maxresdefault.jpg "Star Trek - Zefram Cochrane drunk! Funny scene!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcKp7Iiepsg)

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897/2 "2024-08-19T07:47:52Z")

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It’s just a random physical reaction to the strength of the liquor. I’ve seen whiskey newbies hit their thigh with their fist or kick out their foot when they swig too fast, as a comparative example. In this case it’s played up for comedy.

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**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897/3 "2024-08-19T07:57:11Z")

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First time I saw it was in _Easy Rider,_ when Jack Nicholson’s character takes a slug.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ySgOds3bzcc/hqdefault.jpg "Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySgOds3bzcc)

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2024, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-arm-pumping-motion-by-a-performative-drunk/1005897/4 "2024-08-19T08:39:15Z")

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There are similar reactions in various performances by The Three Stooges - there’s one near the end of this video that is quite similar (although played up for comic effect):

> **[Great 3 Stooges Running Gag: "Distilled Yesterday"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-F6655SZ8U%2F)**
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> After a Stooge or supporting character drinks some strong liquor......it causes loud ringing and horn noises......and/or him to blow smoke from his mouth.(th...

I expect this is a continuation of a vaudeville or music-hall precedent.

> **[Red Skelton: Classic Guzzler's Gin vaudeville routine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4mgHNX9eUg%2F)**
>
> Television documentation of Red Skelton's most requested and performed vaudeville routine. Sketch originated 1935; filmed 1952.Richard "Red" Skelton 1913-1997.