The tacit requirement in ultra-clean American society that dropped food must not lay upon the ground for longer than five seconds in order to be still edible. Certain requirements about food type (i.e., non-sticky or attracting of dirt particles) generally apply.
by quetzalphoenix July 10, 2004
Get the 5 second rule mug.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 9, 2004
Get the 5 second rule mug.by Dragoon 1337 April 10, 2005
Get the 5 second rule mug.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
Get the 5 second rule mug.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 10, 2004
Get the 5 second rule mug.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
Get the 5 second rule mug.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 9, 2004
Get the 5 second rule mug.