As temperatures drop and extreme cold transforms playgrounds into frosty landscapes, a curious question often comes to mind: can your tongue actually get stuck to a frozen metal pole?
If you grew up watching the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," you probably remember the cringe-worthy scene where young Flick accepts a “triple-dog dare” and ends up with his tongue frozen to a flagpole. But is this just Hollywood exaggeration or could it really happen?
The iconic scene from the film has become synonymous with winter danger. When Flick’s tongue makes contact with the frozen flagpole, viewers everywhere collectively flinch. The scene even required help from the fire department to free him.
Surprisingly, the filmmakers weren’t exaggerating for dramatic effect. This winter hazard is backed by real science and real-world incidents.
Actor Scott Schwartz, who played Flick, revealed in a 2013 interview with As It Happens that he still receives “at least one or two” calls every year about children who have gotten their tongues stuck to metal objects after watching the infamous scene. The movie’s influence has unintentionally sparked both awareness and risky curiosity about this dangerous winter phenomenon.
This isn’t just a cinematic cautionary tale. Historical records document real incidents of children experiencing this painful predicament.
December 19, 1983, Moosomin, Saskatchewan: Several children got their tongues stuck to playground equipment and had to be carefully thawed free. This incident, along with others reported in almanacs, confirms that frozen-tongue incidents are a genuine winter hazard in cold climates like Canada.
These cases typically occur when temperatures drop to or below freezing (32°F or 0°C), making metal surfaces especially dangerous for curious children and even unsuspecting adults.
Understanding why this happens requires a quick lesson in winter physics and human biology.
When your warm, moist tongue touches freezing metal, a dramatic reaction occurs within milliseconds:
Moisture meets metal: Your tongue is naturally coated in saliva, which contains water.
Rapid heat transfer: Metal conducts heat extremely efficiently and pulls warmth away from your tongue.
Instant freezing: The moisture on your tongue freezes almost immediately.
Ice bond formation: This creates a solid ice connection that effectively fuses your tongue to the metal surface.
Metal objects are particularly dangerous in winter because of their high thermal conductivity. Unlike wood or plastic, metal pulls heat away so quickly that freezing happens almost instantly.
If you or someone else experiences this during winter, staying calm and following the right steps is crucial to prevent serious injury.
According to NewYork-Presbyterian1, the most important rule is never pull or tug on the stuck body part. Doing so can tear skin or tissue and cause significant injury.
Medical professionals recommend the following steps:
Apply warm (not hot) water: Gently pour lukewarm water over both the metal surface and the stuck body part to melt the ice bond safely.
Use warm breath: Breathing or blowing warm air on the area can gradually raise the temperature.
Call for help: If these methods don’t work within a reasonable time, call emergency services for professional assistance.
Seek medical attention: After the tongue or body part is freed, consult a doctor if there is any pain, bleeding, or injury.
1. Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff. “Frozen or Stuck Tongue or Other Body Part.” NewYork-Presbyterian Health Library. Last modified October 1, 2025.
