Of all the quirky little body tricks people attempt, licking your own elbow has become one of the most legendary. It sounds simple, yet most people fail miserably. That mix of possibility and impossibility is exactly what makes it so entertaining.
How to Attempt It
- Stretch out your arm fully to lengthen your elbow.
- Extend your tongue as far as possible.
- Bend your arm inward and tilt your head down toward your elbow.
- Twist your shoulder slightly forward to shorten the distance.
- Give it your best shot—most people will fall short by a frustrating inch or two.
For the tiny percentage of people who succeed, it usually comes down to unusually short arms, an unusually long tongue, or an exceptional combination of flexibility and determination.
How Much Practice It Will Take
Unlike a card trick or a sleight of hand, this “trick” depends more on anatomy than skill. Practice can help you learn the best angle and shoulder rotation, but if your body proportions make it physically impossible, you’ll never quite get there. Still, even the attempt takes only a few seconds and brings plenty of laughs, which is why it remains a classic dare at parties.
Why It’s Impressive
- The rarity: Almost no one can actually do it, so the few who can immediately stand out.
- The humor: Watching someone try (and fail) is often as funny as watching someone succeed.
- The challenge: It taps into curiosity—something so simple should be easy, but isn’t.
- The surprise factor: People don’t expect anyone to pull it off, so when someone does, it feels almost superhuman.
Variations on the Trick
- Reverse attempt: Try licking the opposite elbow instead of the same-side one. Some find this even harder.
- Double challenge: Attempt to lick both elbows one after the other. Only the most flexible can come close.
- Elbow kiss: If you can’t lick your elbow, try kissing it instead. This is slightly easier but still amusing.
- Tongue + flexibility combos: Some people mix it into a flexibility routine, touching their elbows to other parts of their body while trying the lick.
Conclusion
Licking your elbow is less about perfecting a skill and more about testing the limits of your body and joining in a worldwide inside joke. Whether you succeed or fail, the attempt itself is what gets people laughing and shaking their heads. For the rare few who can actually pull it off, it’s a weird but impressive claim to fame.
