Ask McFartnuggets: “Why is Farting Called Passing Gas?”

Never pass gas out
of the shotgun.

Dear McFartnuggets: 

Why is farting called passing gas? It’s not like passing a kidney stone or passing a test. It’s not difficult to fart. It takes minimal effort. It doesn’t hurt. In fact, most of the time “passing gas” is the last way I would try to describe my farts. “Blasting gas” is a little more accurate. When people fart near you it’s a very offensive act. “Passing gas” sounds gentle and passive when the actual act of farting is a biological gas attack on your olfactory system! -- Manfred from Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dear Manfred:

It’s called “passing gas” because the majority of a person’s farting happens in their sleep when they’re passed out. The gas simply passes out of the anus and slides out easily. When was the last time you farted so hard it woke you up? It’s rare because the gas is being passed gently like a carbon monoxide leak. Also, farting is a lot like passing in sports. You’ve heard of the behind the back pass, right? That’s basically just another term for farting. And of course when you’re really gassy you can launch some long bombs like Ben Roethlisberger. You can really “air it out.” Sometimes I get so gassy you may as well call me Drew Brees. Now do you see why it’s called passing gas?

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