Nose goes

Nose goes or the nose game is a popular selection method most commonly used when deciding which of several persons is assigned an unwanted task. Also uncommonly referred to the rule book of nose goes. The rule book contains four key principles: 1. Who ever puts their hand on their nose first loses. 2. It can only be called once per task. 3. It is only to be called while with a group of friends (4 or more) or in a public place (i.e. a park). This method is commonly used to select who is "it" in tag or the seeker in hide-and-seek, and to decide who must perform details in the U.S. Military.

One member of a group notices that something (usually a small or simple errand or task) needs to be done. They mention it and then call the name of the game, placing their index finger on the tip of their nose. As the other members of the group acknowledge the task, they also place their index fingers on the tips of their noses. The last person to do this is the person who has to perform the task. Toes may count if one's hands are unavailable at time of "nose goes." In many versions of the game, the starting player must shout "No nose goes" "Nose goes!" or simply "nose game!" to begin the game, however, in other versions no announcement is necessary, and simply the last person to notice the game has to perform the task.

Nose goes is silently initiated by an individual of an unwanted task or bill. Last person to realize nose goes has begun and places their finger on their nose is stuck with the task or bill.

Another nose game arose in 2006, though only vaguely related to the original. In this version, each player must hold his or her thumb to his or her nose. The last player to remove their thumb is declared the winner. Thumbs may be exchanged during play as long as at least one thumb remains on each player's nose.

In some American versions of the nose game, there is an additional feature to promote fair competition. The initiator of the nose game must loudly and clearly count from 1 to 3. This allows the other participants to prepare themselves for the game. If a participant makes a significant movement of his hand towards his nose before the counting is complete, he is disqualified and forfeits the game.

A slightly different version of this game is frequented in the Netherlands, mostly in student circles. The basics are the same, except instead of touching your nose, you have to make a 'roof' (Dutch; 'dakje') above your head by placing the tips of your fingers together and making an upside-down V ('/\'). The game is mostly started out by one person that acknowledges something needs to be done, and shouts out 'without X' ('zonder X') where X stands for the thing that needs to be done. This way the person making the roof claims to go without doing X, and so the last person to make the roof is the one that has to perform the task.

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