# What is this called (horsebite? how does a horse bite an apple? knee squeeze?)? Do many people even know what I'm talking about? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403 "2025-03-10T19:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/1 "2025-03-10T19:59:47Z")
There is a movement when someone grabs your knee (usually an adult–say, grandparent—when you are a kid) on the sides of it and presses into the sides with their thumb and index fingers. This causes a momentary funny feeling jolt, like a tickle or reflex or nerve hit or painful feeling there and usually you don’t want them doing it for long. Much like trying to tickle yourself, though, it seems near impossible to do to onself, though…like, you need someone else to GIVE you one of these. It’s not a romantic or sexual thing, though. I know when people hear “knee squeeze” these days, that comes to mind almost automatically, this is more akin to a GOOSE or a NOOGIE. First question: Do you, the reader of this topic right now, KNOW what I’m talking about? Second, well, I presume you’ve had it done to you or you’ve done it to others before, then? Third, is there an actual name for this? Google didn’t bring much up other than “HORSEBITE” or (and I’m not making this up), quite literally a “how does a horse bite an apple”…but I find that to be… proooooobably not an official name. It even have a name? Feel free to tell me, too, if you have no idea what the hell I’m on about. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/2 "2025-03-10T20:07:57Z")
We call those “dogbites” around my parts, ---
**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:** [March 10, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/3 "2025-03-10T20:28:46Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > around my parts No, no, you’re supposed to do it on the _knee._ ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/4 "2025-03-10T20:30:38Z")
My late father did elbows. I’m not aware of any name for the behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/5 "2025-03-10T21:03:38Z")
We call it “how the cow eats cabbage”! My brothers called it a “noogie” It may have been just their word for it, IDK. “Milking the rat” was squeezing the first joint of the pinky finger. That hurts like heck. Don’t do it to children. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/6 "2025-03-10T21:19:23Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > There is a movement when someone grabs your knee (usually an adult–say, grandparent—when you are a kid) on the sides of it and presses into the sides with their thumb and index fingers. My grandfather used to do this very thing. He always said it was how a horse ate an apple. It hurt, and I didn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/7 "2025-03-10T21:44:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My brothers called it a “noogie” I thought a noogie was rubbing your knuckles across someone’s head. To the OP, we never called it anything… it was something we did to tease. Milking the rat? I’m afraid to Google that. 😮 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/8 "2025-03-10T21:46:37Z")
Wow. I don’t think I’ve thought of these since high school, a very long time ago. I don’t remember there being a name for it. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/9 "2025-03-10T22:03:13Z")
My grandparents (East Tennessee) called it “How a Horse Chews Corn” did it on your forearm, just above the wrist. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/10 "2025-03-10T22:13:52Z")
Never heard of the practice, nor a name for it. From SoCal w parents from Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/11 "2025-03-11T01:08:10Z")
‘Round these parts (Calif.) we call that “assault”. Never heard of this particular brand of physical violence but it sounds horrible. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/12 "2025-03-11T03:50:48Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I thought a noogie was rubbing your knuckles across someone’s head. That’s what this Iowa girl thinks too. Never experienced the pinky, forearm or elbow bite/squeeze. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/13 "2025-03-11T03:52:55Z")
I distinctly remember my brother giving me a noogie on top my shoulder…that hurt! ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/14 "2025-03-11T15:55:35Z")
Never encountered it on a knee. But when I was a schoolkid, there was an annoying bully habit called the ‘Chinese Burn’ where they would grab your wrist with one hand and then grasp a little further up the arm and twist to painfully stretch the skin in between. Nasty behavior. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/15 "2025-03-11T16:45:17Z")
I totally remember this but not a name for it. It’s to get the startle reaction, not a sustained hold-you-down tickle-till-sobbing way and the perpetrator could expect an immediate sharp elbow. Sort of like an ice cube down the neck. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/16 "2025-03-11T17:12:30Z")
It was called an Indian burn when I was a kid, my gen z kids called it a snake bite. None of us ever heard of the op’s prank. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/17 "2025-03-11T17:17:25Z")
Never heard of such a thing. Sounds weird. I do remember “Indian burns,” as we called them, where you twisted the skin of someone’s arm in two difference directions. That was super-painful. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/18 "2025-03-11T17:24:37Z")
[This seems to be a previous topic about this (in GQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pinching-the-thigh-above-the-knee-cap/752339/6)), talking about the exact same thing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/19 "2025-03-11T17:25:20Z")
Never knew there was a name for it. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403/20 "2025-03-11T18:00:21Z")
Over here in my 50s childhood, it was"dead-legging" someone. And occasionally followed by a Chinese burn. Aren’t children delightful? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-called-horsebite-how-does-a-horse-bite-an-apple-knee-squeeze-do-many-people-even-know-what-im-talking-about/1015403.md?page=2)