Discreetly Suppress a Sneeze: Effective Techniques & Tips

Sneezing in a public place where you're required to be quiet, such as church or a classroom, can sometimes be embarrassing. This is especially true if you have a pesky cold or other ailment and keep sneezing. You feel a sneeze coming on, but don't want to disrupt the group. There is a method of stopping a sneeze that is effective in most situations, and if it can't prevent a sneeze, it can at least help hide it.

Instructions

• 1

  Hold your forefinger out straight when you feel a sneeze coming on. Keeping the finger rigid, press it hard against the skin in the area directly under your nose.

• 2

  Continue to press the area under your nose until you feel the sneeze pass.

• 3

  Move your hand up to cover your nose if you feel the sneeze starting. In most cases, this trick will prevent the sneeze from starting, but it might not work every time.

• 4

  Pinch your nostrils together as you're covering your nose to stifle the sneeze. At the same time, keep your mouth closed, or the sneeze can come out of your mouth instead of your nose.