# Why is sticking your tongue out a bad thing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 5, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788 "2003-01-05T16:56:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![java\_king01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@java\_king01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/java_king01)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/1 "2003-01-05T16:56:02Z")

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I can’t imagine why one or your normal body parts would also show some nonverbal message… does anybody know?

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/2 "2003-01-05T19:28:11Z")

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Just a WAG here: displaying the tongue is seen as the equivalent of a phallic symbol, as in a like gesture to the raised middle finger, or as a sexual display. Different cultures in the world, of course, follow different rule.

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**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/3 "2003-01-05T19:47:10Z")

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Well, I think body parts can send a message.

Visualise: You’ve just said something, person turns away from you and starts to leave, but puts one hand on hip and switches butt.

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**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/4 "2003-01-05T21:01:16Z")

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Because if you’re going to stick it out and **not** use it then you are a dishonorable cur.  
Of course I base this on samurai tradition that one only draws their sword if they are going to draw blood.  
S’only fair.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/5 "2003-01-05T21:10:44Z")

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It makes more sense if you consider that this gesture probably predates most oral hygiene.

“Hey, look at my fuzz-covered, malodorous protuberance!”

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-sticking-your-tongue-out-a-bad-thing/146788/6 "2003-01-05T21:18:21Z")

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I’ve read by Desmond Morris, I believe, that its instinctive with babies; when they don’t like the taste of something, they stick their tongue out as if to get rid of the offending flavor.  
So it means, yuk! this is lousy!