Social Question

silverfly's avatar

Why do people look up when they struggle to eat food?

Asked by silverfly (4068points) April 24th, 2010

We’ve all done it, I’m sure. You can’t quite fit the whole bite in your mouth or it’s too tough to bite in half, so you have half a piece of food hanging out while you cover your mouth and look up. Why?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

19 Answers

rangerr's avatar

Nobody else can see you if you look up.
Duh.

Bluefreedom's avatar

They might be asking God or some other supreme being for assistance. For those that believe in that sort of thing, of course.

Captain_Fantasy's avatar

Take smaller bites.

Silence04's avatar

I typically look down over my plate.

susanc's avatar

If you look up, the people who are idly watching you make a fool of yourself look up too, in case a large bird is about to drop a huge rock on top of them. Meanwhile you can grapple the tough bite out of sight.

DrasticDreamer's avatar

Yep, @rangerr pretty much covered it. ;)

It’s to avoid someone’s gaze so you don’t feel as embarrassed.

silverfly's avatar

@DrasticDreamer Should you be embarrassed? I guess it would be pretty funny to have food falling out of your mouth and looking someone straight in the eye. But I think it it’s better than feeling embarrassed. We call gotsta eat!

ZEPHYRA's avatar

Begging for mercy?!?!?!!

DominicX's avatar

I really have never noticed this ever in my life. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it. :)

gemiwing's avatar

I do it to lengthen out the space in my mouth/throat. Plus, if some escapes, it can be easily recaptured.

DrasticDreamer's avatar

@silverfly No, people shouldn’t feel embarrassed, but it just happens sometimes! :)

Trillian's avatar

@gemiwing Escapes? Recaptured? Hehehehe. That’s why there are clamps in those holes in the table!

Cruiser's avatar

I think it is a natural reaction of the body attempting to open the gullet to allow the large food portion to pass to where it is supposed to go. My dog always would do this when he snuck off with a chunk of something someone dropped!!

slick44's avatar

@DominicX… lol Im with you on this one. im getting a visual. lol

filmfann's avatar

raising the chin opens the throat a bit.

hannahsugs's avatar

Probably for the same reason that people open their mouths while applying eye makeup.

shpadoinkle_sue's avatar

I notice I look up when I put mascara on, not the same of course.

silverfly's avatar

@hannahsugs haha!! Good observation.

johlucmoha's avatar

They could be enjoying the food or just simply thinking.

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