...what you call this thing?
It's one of those party things that is a rolled up tube of paper. When you blow into the plastic thing inserted in one end it makes a squeaky noise and the paper tube unrolls. When you stop blowing it rolls back up again.

This came up in my classroom today (someone in a picture in one of the text books was blowing one.)
I couldn't think of the word and asking around in the staff room revealed that no-one else could think of it either.

Any ideas ?

Vescere bracis meis.

Read all about my travels around the world here.
Read even more of my travel writing and poems on my weblog.

Orientaltrading.com has them listed as "Blow outs" though I don't remember calling them that myself. I think we just called them party favors because, other than the little cone shape birthday hat, that was all we gave out back when I was a kid.

Heck of a good question. I feel like there has to be a name somewhere, that it hidden deep in the back of my mind, and I just can't bring it out.

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This came up in my classroom today (someone in a picture in one of the text books was blowing one.)
I couldn't think of the word and asking around in the staff room revealed that no-one else could think of it either.

Any ideas ?

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Being of a somewhat suspicious nature, I think it's a diversionary tactic perpetrated by a clever student as a red herring to avoid having to exert effort in learning vocabulary that matters.

It's obviously a whatchamacallit.

[This message was edited by jerry thomas on Thu Mar 27th, 2003 at 14:42.]

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Originally posted by shufitz:
Heck of a good question. I feel like there has to be a name somewhere, that it hidden deep in the back of my mind, and I just can't bring it out.

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Everyone I've asked has said

"Yeah, that's called a... a... a... it's on the tip of my tongue... it's er... you know I can't think what it's called right now but I know that I know it."

or something to that effect.

Vescere bracis meis.

Read all about my travels around the world here.
Read even more of my travel writing and poems on my weblog.

If this is what you are talking about, they are called "party blow-outs", at least on several sites I found!

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Originally posted by jerry thomas:
It's obviously a whatchamacallit.

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Well, Jerry, a whatchamacallit is merely a specific for forms of a more general species; there are numerous alternatives.

It might, for example, be a doohickey or a whosemewhatsis. Or many others, which escape me at the moment but will doubtless not escape others.

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"party blow-outs"

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Morgan, I would think that is what Bob is describing. However, I do think there is another name for it, too, but I can't remember it.

We've always called them simply "squeakers". I've no idea what the official name is, though.

I know what they're called. Morgan is only hlf right. When in the hands of childred at, say, a youngster's birthday party, they are called "bow-outs" if you absolutely insist on a specific name other than "party favors."

In the hands of adults, however, they're called "annoying" which is why I never attend a New Year's Eve party without bringing along a good pair of scissors.

Party blow-outs, whistles, and squeaks ...
Whatever language amuseamuse speaks
Must have a word
Beyond any I've heard
What's the word that is used by the Greeks?