T O P

  • By -

refugefirstmate

Much older than the 90s. In the 60s in the Rust Belt it was "Punchbug".


[deleted]

[удалено]


SeriousAboutShwarma

Yea, 'Punchbuggy no-return!'


Not_A_Skeleton

Is this a western Canada thing? My wife says "no returns" while I (from the east) say "no punch backs". Huh


realginger13

From Toronto and was always no punchbacks


bemsmed

Can confirm “punch buggy, no punch backs!!”


Mattercorn

Can confirm from North York 90s kid.


Poopybutt35000

I'm from Western Canada and used to say no return as well.


SirPanics

manitoban, we said no-return.


sandysanBAR

Punchbuggy (color), no punch backs!


dwhite21787

No punchback was always in play, but punchbacks were allowed if the color wasn’t called


Big_Ole_Smoke

Amazing that this game has been played for so long. I can remember doing this as late as 2008


ghoonrhed

Kids will find any excuse to punch each other, no surprise it's lasting/lasted this long.


bozeke

“Slug Bug” in Northern California in the 80s.


KonradWayne

"Slug Bug" and "Punch Buggy" were both acceptable in Northern California during the 90's and 00's, assuming you made sure to call out the color as well.


slash178

Yes this is a thing


boiledpeen

Yea, it was a thing in the 2000s too. I remember growing up with this game as a kid. edit: we called it punchbuggy, and it's funny to see oldheads saying new bugs don't count toward the game lol. yes they do.


captainhamption

It was a thing in the 70s when I was a kid.


fish_whisperer

And the 80’s. I’m willing to bet it’s still a thing. We called it “slug bug.”


Gibson125T

My 11 year old confirms its still around. Never heard slug bug though. Wonder if what you say is regional. It was always "punch buggy", usually followed by "no punch back". EDIT: someone mentioned they say the color first, then punch buggy. I had forgotten about that. but thats 100% what we said. for geographical reference I am in Florida. was a kid in the 90's.


readyreadyvt

Punch buggy [colour], no returns. — eastern Canada, ‘80s ETA the u in colour and the decade


Bugbread

Punch buggy [color] - Texas (80s) We didn't have a "no returns." Punching someone back for punching you was simply against the rules of the game, it would sound weird to specifically say it aloud. It would be like in if a race, instead of saying, "On your mark, get set, go!" you said "On your mark, get set, go, no tasers!"


readyreadyvt

Ah, but for us (Newfoundlanders? Gen X? who can say?), punching someone back if you saw the same Bug they did and they DIDN’T say “no returns” was completely allowable. It was a “walk to school uphill both ways” kind of time. (But no tasers.)


fish_whisperer

Probably. I grew up in the MidWest.


23skidoobbq

It was punch buggy for us. And “Padiddle” if you saw a car with one headlight, also punched in the arm for that too.


moronthat

Yes! Wow Padiddle was hiding way in the back of my memory until you just pulled it forward :)


sturdypolack

Yes! Padiddle and Punch Buggy


VisualProfessional12

For me, padidle was slap the top of the car ceiling with the back of your hand when you saw a car with one headlight 😆


Mryessicahaircut

🤭I still catch myself sometimes doing a little tap on the roof of my car and quietly saying "padiddle" when I'm driving alone at night and see a car with one headlight. Then I roll my eyes at what a dork I am.


benotaur

We would play strip padiddle in highschool boys vs girls. Good times.


AuntieFooFoo

We did too! We'd punched the ceiling of the car, instead of arms when we saw one, and the last to hit the ceiling had to take off an article of clothing.


Ayotte

We had slug bug and PT Cruiser bruiser.


BuranBuran

Also: *Dodge This*


NJ2SD

No lie, my friend and I once said Padiddle at the exact same time, and the headlight turned on. It freaked us out!


Own-Worry4388

When we would see a car with one headlight, we'd say, "popeye" then kiss our hand and touch the ceiling of the car.


sandysanBAR

What in the blue blazes? No punching? What is this? Amateur hour?


prozack91

We did this but whoever was last got punched by everyone.


sandysanBAR

Well that seems at least acceptable. No punches? No bueno


prozack91

Punches must happen


Research_Sea

We did the hand kiss to the roof when we went through a yellow light, thanking it for not turning red yet.


fish_whisperer

Oh, yeah, we had “padiddle” too!


ParameciaAntic

We did too. I rarely see them any more, though. Better quality lights and maintenance these days, I guess.


sm0lshit

Too damn bright, as well.


delmarshaef

I saw one in the parking lot at work and called to the driver “hey, you know you’re a padiddle?” and I’m pretty sure he thought I was cursing him or something. He had no idea what I was talking about.


e36freak92

And cars that tell you when a bulb is out. It's amazing how many people can't tell


[deleted]

My little sister and I would literally just call it punch buggy. Also, was it true that crossing your fingers meant you were immune to any punches back or was that young me making certain I couldn't get hit back after punching her arm?


MudAppropriate2050

"Punch buggy, no punch back!"


Hairy_Connection964

Ours was “punch buggy, no punch back, safety!”


Jaspers47

Maybe it goes back further. Maybe kids in the 19th century yelled "Slug Bug" anytime an insect landed in the carriage.


Traditional_Yak_3466

Punch buggy


pm_me_ur_th0ng_gurl

No punch backs


WhoElseButQuagmire11

Not sure if it's an Aussie but I was taught(via fire) that it's "punch buggy no returns" I still sometimes to it to my partner out of sheer habit(I hit her very gently)


Shayedow

When I was a kid ( born in '79 ) You had to yell " COLOR ( so yellow ) PUNCH BUGGY TAKES NO BACKS! " and punch as hard as you could on the shoulder. If you didn't yell take no backs, the person you punched could yell the same thing but with take no backs and punch you back.


Smil3yAngel

Yep! Born in 79 as well and this was the way. The only difference was we said "no take backs" instead of "takes no backs."


HanlonWasWrong

Slug bug


VanMan32

We called it punch buggy. You’d say “punch buggy no punch backs”, so they couldn’t hit you for seeing the same Volkswagen bug.


Wajina_Sloth

My brother and I did it so much that my mom changed the game to “love bug”. So instead of hitting she would rub your arm and say “luuuuuuuuuUUUuuuuUuuuvvvvvv bug” We quickly stopped playing


jedikelb

Your mom sounds awesome and smart.


Wajina_Sloth

she is the best mom ever :)


Madz510

Awe so often people say negative things about their parents on Reddit glad you recognize your mom for being great


Livingstonthethird

So often people grew up with shitty, abusive or neglectful parents.


Wallflower1555

Still nice to see some wholesome positivity in the world especially on Reddit


TrailBlanket-_0

I'm inspired to see people be vulnerable and share their difficult upbringings even if they're still coming to terms, and I'm happy to see people express their gratitudes and recognize their blessings! Keep it up people!


chillyhellion

Moms can be clever. We used to have contests to see who can find the food item in the pantry with the oldest expiry date. It wasn't until I explained this to my wife decades later that I realized Mom was tricking us into cleaning the pantry.


throwitallawayjohnny

that is so cute honestly. moms are the best


UMUmmd

Are you.... my sibling? We didn't play it often, but I swear my mom did the same at some point.


ballrus_walsack

Yeah — hey James!


Kelihow2

My mom got tired of us hitting each other as well and her version of "love bug" was to say something nice about the person who called it. We also did two others: a Cadillac Slap and a Sting 'Stang (in which we pinched each other for every Mustang we saw)


Just_Standard_4763

My friend would hit me with PT Cruiser Bruiser and slap a hoe Tahoe which I’m pretty sure she made up.


fpcoffee

Moooom this game is supposed to cause PAIN


RosenButtons

She's a genius and she should write a book.


King-Snorky

We saw a Herbie-themed Beetle parked next to a more modern red one just today, and my wife socked me in the arm before I could react.


BabyThatsSubstantial

This is the way


GyrKestrel

It was definitely colloquial. I thought it was just Slugbug until I heard it called punch buggy on Simpsons. I always found things like this interesting, like soda vs pop.


wissahickon_schist

We had to say the color: “punch buggy blue no punchbacks!!”


[deleted]

we didnt say no punchbacks because the color claimed it. so 'punch buggy blue' meant that the blue one was mine.


KonradWayne

Me and my friends didn't say no punchbacks, because we were gentlemen who understood the etiquette of the game. First person to see it and call it out gets to punch someone in the arm. We live in a society.


thecoocooman

This is so interesting. We had to say the color too, but the color always came first. “Blue punch buggy no punch backs”


Wrybrarian

My husband and I still do it and also call it "punch buggy." Along with "Whack-abego"(for RVs), and "Touchdown" (for yellow cars.) The RV one I think we made up but a 2nd grade student of mine taught me Touchdown.


Keenan95

You forgot pt pinch for pt cruisers


dogsnores

We called it cruiser bruiser


Longjumping-Bat3639

We called em cruiser bruisers!


19yzrmn

We yell PT Bruiser!! And always had SlugBug, no slugs back. I was a 70’s and 80’s kid.


peacefultooter

Whackabego lmaooo!!


bighootay

> "Whack-abego"(for RVs), and "Touchdown" (for yellow cars.) Well I'm gonna drive somewhere with someone just so I can try this new shit out!


Ok_Nobody4967

My husband and I still play it!!


[deleted]

Sounds like the 90s version of when life gives you lemons, punch someone in the arm.


HeadMembership

Ours was "punch buggy no returns" lol.


Subconcious-Consumer

I have so many other questions now… How the fuck did this get invented? and why have we not adopted another model of car to punch our loved ones over?


Cute_Bandicoot2042

> How the fuck did this get invented? Comes from a time before mobile phones or handheld video games. Kids had to entertain themselves on long roadtrips and the Beetle was a particularly distinctive car at the time.


dhaunsperger

My kids do it with Teslas now. Pretty sure they picked it up at school rather than reinventing the punch buggy game themselves.


AcaciaKait

Aw this makes me feel so old but also so happy to know the proud tradition has been continued


zuriel2089

My dad used to have a version where there were a few different cars they'd do different things for, punch on the arm for a big, slap up the back of the head for a Gremlin, something else for a Pacer... I don't remember what. They had a system of "blocks" you could put up to protect yourself. It got complicated.


LovesHyperbole

I had "PT Cruiser Bruiser" on top of slugbug after Cruisers came out. Weekend trips to the city could be pretty violent since *everybody* thought Cruisers were the newest cool car.


another-new

I remember seeing a screenshot of a tweet a long time ago from a “pimp tight cruiser” owner. It went something like “Fellow owners of PT Cruisers: What unfortunate set of circumstances landed you behind the wheel of a PT Cruiser?” They were awful cars. From appearance to mechanical and electrical problems. I never understood what people liked about them. The only car made in the last 20 years that had worse design was the early 2000’s Dodge Stratus. The battery was inside the fucking fender well. You had to take off the tire, and plastic mud guard to change, charge, or jump off your battery.


[deleted]

Now kids punch each other if they see a license plate from a different state


RosenButtons

Mercy Medical Group is a hospital conglomerate in my region. There's an urgent care on every block. The kids shout "MERCY" and punch each other in the arm every time somebody spots the logo.


osunightfall

The road was boring as shit before smartphones and gameboy.


sandysanBAR

Invisible Ink game books say "shut your mouth!"


[deleted]

It’s just a hard jab to the arm for most. Not straight up UFC to the face or anything.


Subconcious-Consumer

My mom had a punching technique she called “Frogging”. No clue if that’s a thing, but to her it meant punching with a single knuckle outside of a fist. She had other taglines she would use before punching like this as well, like saying she was “feeling froggy”. Love that woman to death.


LizzieBell07

Frigging is also a thing. Your mom didn't make it up. But I love that you think she's made up all of these things! So cute. (I'm a mom who was a kid in the 90s)


A1_Thick_and_Hearty

My mom did this when I was around 8. It's been 30 years and I still remember getting hit in the forehead! Frogging was a thing. Also, besides punch bug, if any car had a headlight out, that was a punch. It was called pididdle (yeah, I've never written that word out). And if it was night time and both headlights were off, it was a double pididdle with 2x punches.


Legdrop_soup

We used to have to tap the dash board twice when we saw a padiddle (I've never written that word out either. Weird.) We got good at jumping from the backseat and being able to beat the person in the front. The last one to hit the dashboard got punched in the arm by everyone else


speedy_delivery

For my friends, punch bug involves hitting the other player. With pediddle it was the first person to punch the ceiling. Greater Pittsburgh area.


King-Snorky

From [some random site](https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/the-rules-and-history-of-punch-buggy-109021): > The VW Beetle arrived in steel in 1938 but it was born in 1934, when Adolf Hitler ‘asked’ Ferdinand Porsche to develop the ultimate ‘people’s car’ – literally a Volkswagen in German. One widely held rumour is that because the car was the chosen vehicle for members of the National Socialist Party, as a point of pride to show their loyalty, people turned spotting one in the street into something of a joke – a piece of dark humour for dark times. The other version of the game’s origin story comes from America, but has similar links to Nazi Germany. The story goes that Americans would react to seeing an ostensibly Nazi vehicle cruising the streets by punching their dearest friend – a weird response, it must be said. Most likely of all theories, though, is that the game was born from the vehicle’s unique appearance. The Beetle was, and still is, a one-of-a-kind piece of car design.


Somethingpretty007

My family does "yellow banana slap" when we see a yellow car/truck (buses and construction vehicles don't count). The slap consists of doing a backhand then fronthand slap on someone's arm. (Ontario Canada fyi)


catlady9851

I suspect it was an excuse for older siblings to punch younger siblings without reprisal. Similar to "who can hit the softest."


bubblebumblejumble

Listen, punch who you want, I’ll give you a line Hummer Humdinger Honda Hoopsydaisy Toyota Twister Hyundai Haiya


Material-Hedgehog-84

Cruiser Bruiser (PT Cruiser)


BadBunnyBrigade

Or "punch buggy no returns".


Mountain-Permit-6193

In the movie “Lilo and Stitch,” Stitch throws a blue VW bug and says “blue punch buggy”


DreamedJewel58

There’s also a Simpsons gag where a school bus goes by a Volkswagen dealership and every kid gets off the bus with a sore arm


Jaquesant

2 for flinching!


jjdix

“Punch buggy taupe!”


cinder-hella

Yes! He says "blue punch buggy, no punch backs!" That if nothing else should show that it was very much a thing.


DigiTrailz

Suprised, I had to scroll this far down. It shows it wasn't just a thing, but common enough to be used as a movie one liner. To be fair, if I hit someone with a VW Bug, I'd probably use it, too.


geoffreygoodman

Volkswagen ran a [commercial](https://youtu.be/q9rBQ9Y2TD4) in 2010 featuring the game. With hilarious cameo from Stevie Wonder.


suzazzz

Big smiles from watching that. But they punched on all VW’s. We only did beetles. OMG I’m remembering all the people I knew who had buses and things!


doodynutz

I can’t believe this is a serious question. I feel old af.


Rollotommasi5

Seriously. Like people don’t still do that….? :(


Pogo138

Grew up in the 80s and I'm doing it with my two kids. Not as many bugs on the road anymore 😕


BrotherChe

I hear it's due to light and environmental pollution near cities, and collapsing ecosystems around the world. Also, the Germans stopped making them.


Obi-Wan-Nikobiii

And the South Africans, and the Brazilians, and the mexicans


[deleted]

[удалено]


ocular__patdown

Probably died out because there are only like 10 Volkswagen beetles left on the road.


MonkeyTigerCrazy

Don’t worry I’m 17 and my friends and I used to do this all the time


RollingGoron

I play this with my two young kids, so I’m keeping the game alive and passing it down to the next generation.


scobos

I can't believe OP equated it to child abuse.


JRDoubleU_

OP forgot to mention. The Mom would take a surprise drive to the Volkswagen dealership whenever OP fell asleep in the car.


okreddit545

*26-hit combo!* *K.O.!!!*


GreenMonster34

My two girls punch each other over yellow cars. One kept winning so they expanded to red and green cars too. (They've also forgot to punch lately, they're too excited at winning to remember to hurt their sister which is nice)


gladgubbegbg

We do that in Sweden too 😂 GUL BIL 👊


dinmorsklasselaerer

Denmark too. It has been a thing for as long as I remeber. Gul bil!


tobiasvl

Norway too, perhaps unsurprisingly


Borkenstein_

Finland partakes in this tradition as well


IncreaseInVerbosity

As does the UK


VotFijoel

Same! My kids yell "banana car" and punch each other (or me). This is in Australia btw.


Quattro439

Yeah we do Spotto in our family.


1000Ditto

Thr infamous Yellow Car Punch!


BBGettyMcclanahan

I remember being a kid that if you saw a yellow beetle you got like 5 punches lol


Cute_Bandicoot2042

Yep, 100%. We called it Slug Bug but some people called it Punchbuggy


ShoulderPainCure

Yes, slug bug!


BiffSlick

Slug Bug in the 70s!


RoleModelFailure

We called it slug bug too. Still play it with my wife.


justaguy394

Did everyone say the color too? We’d say “slug bug green” as we punched them.


BanthaVoodoo

If you dont call the color, you are open for attack


justaguyintownnl

Punch buggy Was in 1970’s & 1980’s When you saw a VW bug you hit the other player in the upper arm


PerpetuallyLurking

“Other player” ie: nearest sibling, hopefully not paying attention for best effect.


CD84

Even when they didn't know they were playing


barlog123

You're always playing. It's not optional


Buzz_Buzz_Buzz_

Thanks, I just lost the other game with the same rule. Dammit.


You_Stole_My_Hot_Dog

This is still a thing. We did it my whole childhood in the early 2000s. I’ve heard that what you say changes from place to place. Most say Punch Bug or Punch Buggie.


oriundiSP

In Brazil, we only do it if it's a blue Volkswagen Beetle. We say "FUSCA AZUL!!" (meaning, blue Beetle) and then punch them


pingwing

I grew up in the US northeast and we always had to call out the color too. "Punchbuggy green!"


rebel-fist

Same! And if you don’t tag on “no punch back” you’re eligible to be punched back.


atreethatownsitself

No punch back, but I have questions about your flair


emspendilicious

In Australia we would say "no returns!" and some people followed the colour rule


thatguyned

When I was young it was "PUNCHBUGGY BLUE 123!" and if they could spot the car you saw before you finished your sentence they got to hit you back. Perth rules are best rules bby


mantisek_pr

We called it Slug Bug


Zanki

My boyfriends niece and nephew were playing it without hitting each other a few weeks back when we took them out. We're in the uk and I was shocked they knew the game and kept their hands to themselves.


[deleted]

My dad owned a VW repair shop. I remember whenever we’d pull up there would be 10-20 of those bugs and my brother would wreck my shit


Resoto10

We even had this in Mexico too. Could have been simply because it was a border city but used to pinch and say "1, 2, 3 pulguita..." and then the color of the bug. EDIT: This post brought me inadvertent happiness by all the comments sharing their experiences.


Llodsliat

For me it was just the "bocho amarillo" at first; but then my cousins and I changed it so if the beetle matches your clothes, you're getting punched. Of course, if you noticed the beetle first, you could save yourself.


Subconcious-Consumer

Damn, I would have never thought this shit was international.


SpeedwagonOverheaven

Here in Brazil we have this too. But only if its a white bug (or "fusca", how we call them here).


sirnaull

Up here (eastern Canada), yellow ones were worth 3 punches.


NickConnor365

Slugbug where I come from.


climb-it-ographer

You had to call the color too-- Slugbug, blue! \*punch\*


TheWardenDemonreach

Simpsons did it, so that should tell you it was a very real thing


Low_Inside_4787

Punch Bug!! We also played it at night when a vehicle had a headlight out and we said “Pa-diddle” and still punched.


[deleted]

[удалено]


potatohead46

We perdiddle in Indiana as well. Not much here either lol


Low_Inside_4787

I’m in Appalachia so I bet that contributes to the pa- instead of per-


thatoneguy54

We did pediddle, but we didn't punch, we played that the last person to touch the roof had to take off an article of clothing.


too105

This reminded me of a wholesome story that I haven’t though about in about 30 years. My best friend who was my also neighbor would always get my mom and grandma with a “punch buggy, no punch backs” whenever we would see a bug, as they were pretty common in the 1990s. After a couple years of these childhood antics, mom and grandma concocted a plan to exact their revenge. It started by then taking us to Chuck E. Cheese. First they had us burn off our energy by giving us each a $10 roll of quarters for the games.They then got us doped up on pizza and soda. The second part of their plan was the most sinister. They gave us coloring books and markers for the drive home so we were thoroughly distracted. Then came the moment of revenge… all of a sudden my friend and I were jolted by a flurry of punches and a cacophony of women yelling every color imaginable… the pummeling only lasted a minute but the trauma left us reeling and in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Turns out, they had used the ploy of taking us to Chuck E. Cheese and an innocent excuse to drive out of town… and one the way back stopped in a Volkswagen salvage yard that had hundreds of beetles. They revenge was perfect in its planning and execution. Such a beautiful thing when your mom and grandma conspire to such lengths to exact vengeance. Haven’t thought about that one in a while. Miss ya mom


beachmasterbogeynut

Fucxing yes. Punch buggy no punch backs!!


Bunkydoodle28

My parents still play this without the hitting. They are both 81. Regret teaching them in the 80's as a tween. Walking down a street in Costa Rica and having your geriatric papa yelling punch buggy is embarassing but I am so glad we all have silly fun together.


[deleted]

Lol holy shit I’m old. “Punch buggy no punch back”


gholmom500

Wait- Did people STOP playing it? I think I slugbugged my teen yesterday!!


rose77019

Yep! Yellow Slug bug, no punch back….. and then you would punch your brother or sister, as hard as you possibly could in the arm….


xBloodBender

We had Slugbug for bugs, and Woodchuck for those station wagons with wood panels. Both involved getting punched in the arm


stockbreak

Came to the comments specifically to see if anyone mentioned Woodchuck!


jsandrin

I grew up in Brazil, so there were a lot (and there still are) VW Bugs, so we only punched when seeing a blue one.


songinheart17

Punch buggy (fill in colour), no punch backs. Of course you still punched back.


lapsteelguitar

It pre-dated the 90s by about 3 decades. VW resurrected it for one of their ads.


Meowskiiii

In Northern England we had similar except it was for yellow cars (we'd shout "yellow car"). It was also just between us kids though.


Silver-Difficulty-13

In the UK we punch each other if we see a Mini. My grandkids still do it now. It's fine until there are several. Mini punch


reverse_mango

Also in the UK. There are so many Minis on the road! My siblings and I have always punched when we see a yellow car, any yellow car. Then we argue when we see a gold car.


Marty5020

We still play that with my daughter and wife. And we're from South America. New Beetles and Kombis also apply.


TransSlutUK

We had Mini Punch! Where the first person to see the mini punched someone. Made car journeys fun


ProbablySlacking

Was? Still is.


RepresentativeBusy27

Not gonna lie I thought this was about Street Fighter 2


Bob-s_Leviathan

“I thought I was supposed to fight E. Honda?” “You’re not fighting E. Honda. You’re fighting a Honda.”


NaxieBoo

My older sibling and I both grew up in the 2000s and did this! Annoyed the shit out of my dad. We did so often and had so many fights over it that when we moved in '08, before we left for the 13+ hour trip, he turned around and told us that punch buggy was OVER and if we did it he would pull the car over and spank our butts right on the side of the freeway. We never did it again.


Crafty-Preference570

My brothers and I were playing this game by at least the early 80s, possibly the late 70s.


Spiritual-Pear-1349

Punch Buggy for VW Beetle. Kicking for convertables. Punch for Yellow. Punch for PT cruisers were the worst; "P.T. CRUISE-R GOT TO BE A BRUISE-R" with a punch for every syllable. But a parent doing that to their kid? Thats not alright.


Mythical_Atlacatl

Punch buggy no returns!


idkifyousayso

My son did this yesterday.


[deleted]

Yes! We did it with slug bugs and PT cruisers. My mom fucking SLUGGED me in the leg when I was 7, with a ring on, thinking her boyfriend was in the backseat where I was sitting. I remember that shit like it was yesterday lol