# Why one long nail? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095 "2004-05-26T00:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AussieSilverback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@AussieSilverback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AussieSilverback)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/1 "2004-05-26T00:47:12Z")
I have noticed that some men (I think from Middle Eastern cultures) grow one nail, usually on the pinkie, very long. Can anyone enlighten me asto the purpose of this? The only reason that comes to my mind revolves around things nasal. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/2 "2004-05-26T01:37:42Z")
coke spoon? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/3 "2004-05-26T03:36:31Z")
Here is a previous thread: [So what’s up with the long pinkie nails?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=111348&highlight=pink%2A) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/4 "2004-05-26T07:40:04Z")
This questions seems to get asked a lot. I only know it as a cocaine scoop but I’ve never noticed it being popular with Middle Eastern men. Maybe they use it for something else? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/5 "2004-05-26T07:59:07Z")
Re: The Middle Eastern long fingernail…_which_ hand is it on? ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/6 "2004-05-26T08:11:23Z")
It is used as a toothpick. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/7 "2004-05-26T11:28:17Z")
I never heard of this being a “ME culture” thing. ??? Seriously. Ahhhh… This is a painful situation. I am lost for my race and culture. I must be completely “westernized” because all my nails get their clipping all together and more then once a year… Must be once again the devastating influence of my mother’s EU culture. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/8 "2004-05-26T11:41:37Z")
I’ve never known it to be a Middle Eastern thing either. More like a Weirdo Wannabe Different thing. Usually in conjuction with the Coke Spoon thing. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/9 "2004-05-26T12:37:49Z")
Not middle eastern, but this is very common in China. (This was mentioned in the thread linked above.) It’s mostly a wannabe status thing. You show that you’re above manual work by wairing nails that would be impractical in such situations. ---
**Author:** ![Satyricon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Satyricon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satyricon)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/10 "2004-05-26T14:51:46Z")
I always thought one long nail was used as an extra or a substitute for a guitar pick. Now I gotta wonder again, too! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/11 "2004-05-26T15:14:48Z")
Speaking as a WASP male I keep my Pinkie nails long to help me pick up small things (try picking up coins with fat fingers and no nails). Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/12 "2004-05-26T15:19:36Z")
I work with an electrical engineer who has one long fingernail. He uses it as a screwdriver for adjusting small potentiometers. ---
**Author:** ![onion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/46a35a/32.png) [@onion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onion)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/13 "2004-05-26T18:30:06Z")
Years ago, I asked my driver in Indonesia about this. He said that it was to honor his parents. The daily ritual of cleaning and filing it was a way of showing respect. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-one-long-nail/247095/14 "2004-05-26T18:56:34Z")
> [@onion](#): > > Years ago, I asked my driver in Indonesia about this. He said that it was to honor his parents. The daily ritual of cleaning and filing it was a way of showing respect. Takes all kinds, I guess…wait a minute, your _driver_? Maybe he just didn’t want you to know he was shoveling snow! Welcome **onion**. Can I call you oignion