# When a yardstick isn’t a yardstick **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240 "2022-02-10T19:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/21 "2022-02-11T02:56:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > \< pulls off shoe \> [Dance time!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubf-5fOfz8&t=17s) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/22 "2022-02-11T03:05:43Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > \< pulls off shoe \> > > [Dance time!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubf-5fOfz8&t=17s) - [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OTL2n65JAGo/hqdefault.jpg "Neo - Bring it on!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTL2n65JAGo) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/23 "2022-02-11T03:17:47Z")
Nah, I don’t want to see you in a [short skirt](https://img.moviepostershop.com/bring-it-on-movie-poster-2000-1020258046.jpg)! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/24 "2022-02-11T03:58:40Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Nah, I don’t want to see you in a [short skirt](https://img.moviepostershop.com/bring-it-on-movie-poster-2000-1020258046.jpg)! - Who would? Though my right leg would challenge anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/25 "2022-02-11T04:08:27Z")
I have two metric yardsticks, which is to say they are sticks one meter long. One of them is calibrated in both inches and centimeters, the other is only in centimeters. Since I live and measure exclusively in the U.S., I have found no use for the centimeter stick in all the years I’ve had it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/26 "2022-02-11T04:13:19Z")
I dunno. If you ever decide to be a doula as a side hustle, it could come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/27 "2022-02-11T05:36:31Z")
Those are properly known as “meter sticks” because, well, they are a meter long. > **[Meter Stick, Hardwood, Double-Sided Metric](https://www.flinnsci.com/meter-stick-hardwood-double-sided-metric/ap6012/)** > > Double-sided metric only meter sticks are top quality, hardwood meter sticks. Both sides of the stick have centimeter graduations. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/28 "2022-02-11T21:26:04Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Those are properly known as “meter sticks” because, well, they are a meter long. > [Meter Stick, Hardwood, Double-Sided Metric | Flinn Scientific](https://www.flinnsci.com/meter-stick-hardwood-double-sided-metric/ap6012/) Although I don’t have one right now, for years I had a “yard stick” that was English measure on one side and metric (centimetres) on the other, a full metre long. (39 + inches) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/29 "2022-02-11T21:55:57Z")
We had a double yardstick. Was 36 inches on one side, 91 and a bit centimeters on the other. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/30 "2022-02-11T22:02:53Z")
My dad used to work at a yardstick factory, but he got laid off when he couldn’t make them any longer. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/31 "2022-02-11T22:54:43Z")
Some people just can’t go the distance. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/32 "2022-02-11T23:25:05Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > My dad used to work at a yardstick factory, but he got laid off when he couldn’t make them any longer. I hear the candle factory is hiring, though he’d have to work on wickends. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2022, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240/33 "2022-02-12T00:23:45Z")
I have seen “fisherman’s yardsticks” that are shorter than standard, but the scale of inches is shrunk down to let the angler exaggerate the size of his catch in photos. If you go to [urbandictionary.com](http://urbandictionary.com) you can find my entry for _Fisherman’s Dozen._ Unlike the baker’s dozen, it’s smaller than 12. [Urban Dictionary: fisherman's dozen](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fisherman%27s%20dozen) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-yardstick-isn-t-a-yardstick/959240.md?page=1)