A long standing rule in which any food which is dropped on the floor/ground is still "good" and edible if it was only in contact with the surface for less than 5 seconds. Incorporated mainly by clumsy children but is often used by teenagers and adults as well.
"Dude, this hotdog is awesome....damn, I dropped it on the ground. No big deal, its still good takes a big bite, 5 second rule!! mumbles with mouth full"
by zebo2k July 11, 2004
when it is okay to pick up a pick of food or candy from the floor if it has been on the floor for 5 seconds or less, as if germs and filth cannot adhere to an edible morsel during that time frame
by Winsi July 10, 2004
by Dragoon 1337 April 10, 2005
when you drop something (usually food) you have five seconds to pick it up or you no longer can eat it.
by Maleaya July 10, 2004
The rule that states if any edible object should touch the ground it may still be eaten if picked up within 5 seconds. (No matter how nasty the ground or surface may be.)
Tanisha dropped an M&M on the wet and dirty bathroom floor but ate it anyway claiming it was safe due to the 5 second rule.
by Anthony July 11, 2004
You know when you have some fried chicken on your plate and it's the last piece at the cookout and of COURSE you drop it on the floor. Then what do you do? After all, it's disgusting to eat food that fell on the floor. Well, the 5 SECOND RULE says that after 5 seconds, any food that fell on the floor immediately becomes un-germified. So after 5 seconds, eat whatever you dropped on the floor, cuz the rule is what really matters.
John: "Damn I dropped my slice of pizza on the floor."
Mike: "That's too bad."
John: "Oh well," ::picks slice up and waits five seconds:: "5 second rule!" ::BITE!::
Mike: "That's too bad."
John: "Oh well," ::picks slice up and waits five seconds:: "5 second rule!" ::BITE!::
by M July 10, 2004
the rule regarding the amount of time you have to recover dropped food from the floor and still be able to eat it.
by megan July 10, 2004