History Main / ThrowThePin

[[RealityIsUnrealistic Believe it or not]], throwing the grenade pin rather than the grenade itself is TruthInTelevision, but it mostly happens among fresh recruits during training who are not yet used to the stress of combat. Also, while this is [[DontTryThisAtHome certainly dangerous]], it's not quite as lethally dangerous as one might assume. Contrary to how grenades are depicted in media, it's not the pin that primes the grenade when removed, but rather it's the lever that holds down a striker that activates the fuse, with the pin simply holding down the lever. As such, as long as the soldier is still holding down the lever as they remove the pin, the grenade will not be primed, and holding down the lever is the first thing recruits are taught when handling grenades.

[[RealityIsUnrealistic Believe it or not]], throwing the grenade pin rather than the grenade itself is TruthInTelevision, but it mostly happens among fresh recruits during training who are not yet used to the stress of combat. Also, while this is [[DontTryThisAtHome certainly dangerous]], it's not quite as lethally dangerous as one might assume. Contrary to how grenades are depicted in media, it's not the pin that primes the grenade when removed, but rather it's the lever, with the pin simply holding down the lever. As such, as long as the soldier is still holding down the lever as they remove the pin, the grenade will not be primed, and holding down the lever is the first thing recruits are taught when handling grenades.

[[RealityIsUnrealistic Believe it or not]], throwing the grenade pin rather than the grenade itself is TruthInTelevision, but it mostly happens among fresh recruits during training who are not yet used to the stress of combat. Also, while this is [[DontTryThisAtHome certainly dangerous]], it's not quite as dangerous as assumed. It's not the pin that primes the grenade when removed, but rather it's the lever, with the pin simply holding down the lever. As such, as long as the soldier is still holding down the lever as they remove the pin, the grenade will not be primed, and holding down the lever is the first thing recruits are taught when handling grenades.

* Some poor recruits and trainees end up doing this under stress. Thankfully, most instructors and drill sergeants are ready to save the unfortunate newbie before any accidents happen. Unfortunately for the recruits, this involves a Sergeant composed of well over 230 pounds of muscle (Grenade Range Sergeants are selected, it seems, from a pool of strongmen) slapping the grenade out of the private's hand (if it's not on the ground yet), picking the private up by the scruff of the neck and his/her belt, and body-slamming the poor sap into the ground on the opposite side of the concrete bunker that protects recruits from short throws. Not pleasant.

* Has happened on a few occasions, but the thrower is safe as long as they have not released the lever that prevents the grenade from charging. If it has been released, then it will not be a good day for the thrower.

* Some poor recruits and trainees end up doing this under stress. Thankfully, most instructors and drill sergeants are ready to save the unfortunate newbie before any accidents happen. Unfortunately for the recruits, this involves a Sergeant composed of well over 230 pounds of muscle (Grenade Range Sergeants are selected, it seems, from a pool of bodybuilders) slapping the grenade out of the private's hand (if it's not on the ground yet), picking the private up by the scruff of the neck and his/her belt, and body-slamming the poor sap into the ground on the opposite side of the concrete bunker that protects recruits from short throws. Not pleasant.

* Seen from the outside in ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken''; two [=GIs=] sitting in a foxhole with a bunker in the background. One is hit on the helmet with a pin, looks at it quizzically, as someone in the bunker is audibly heard shouting shouts "Oh, you [[KilledMidSentence IDIO-]]" just before the bunker explodes.

* Seen from the outside in ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken''; two [=GIs=] sitting in a foxhole with a bunker in the background. One is hit on the helmet with a pin, looks at it quizzically, someone in the bunker shouts "Oh, you idiot!", then the bunker explodes.

* ''VideoGame/{{Worms}} 2'' demonstrates this trope quite clearly.

%%Weblinks are not examples * ''VideoGame/{{Worms}} 2'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66mpQxs9FwE demonstrates]] this trope quite clearly.

This one often comes about due to a misinterpretation of the instruction "[[AmbiguousSyntax pull the pin and throw it]]." Can be considered a form of ExplosiveStupidity, though examples need not involve the grenade detonating (especially in works that know the pin is a safety and the plunger lights the fuse). Likely to result in BoomInTheHand. Related to HoistByHisOwnPetard. See also PineappleSurprise. One should be careful not to combine this with PinPullingTeeth, otherwise they may end up with an AshFace at best or YourHeadSplode at worse.

This one often comes about due to a misinterpretation of the instruction "[[AmbiguousSyntax pull the pin and throw it]]." Can be considered a form of ExplosiveStupidity, though examples need not involve the grenade detonating (especially in works that know the pin is a safety and the plunger lights the fuse). Likely to result in BoomInTheHand. Related to HoistByHisOwnPetard. See also PineappleSurprise.

->''"'Old on to tha pin, throw the udder part!"''

->''" 'Old on to tha pin, throw the udder part!"''

%%Weblinks are not examples * ''VideoGame/{{Worms}} 2'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LQVhbE_ok demonstrates]] this trope quite clearly.

* UpToEleven in ''ComicBook/AlanFord'' with one-shot villain Laszlo: in a last attempt to kill the hated nemesis Number One and his agents, he decides to use a grenade... but he [[EpicFail accidentally holds the grenade in his mouth, removes and toss the pin]] and swallows the grenade [[TooDumbToLive with predictable results.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/18076678 Image source]]]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Worms}} 2'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LQVhbE_ok demonstrates]] this trope quite clearly.

This one often comes about due to a misinterpretation of the instruction "[[AmbiguousSyntax pull the pin]] [[ExactWords and throw it]]." Can be considered a form of ExplosiveStupidity, though examples need not involve the grenade detonating (especially in works that know the pin is a safety and the plunger lights the fuse). Likely to result in BoomInTheHand. Related to HoistByHisOwnPetard. See also PineappleSurprise.

* Has happened, according to an entry in the ''Website/DarwinAwards''.