At this point, I should mention that when I was growing up (1970s and early 80s), it was very common for French adults to take their temperature rectally. This was the method of choice in hospital, and also in our home, for Mother had read some family medical books that said other methods were somewhat unreliable. Thus, whereas in the US a child would ‘graduate” from having his or her temperature taken rectally by a caregiver to oral temperatures, a French child would often, once old enough, be asked to insert the thermometer by himself or herself, under bed linen.
Mom departed. I was then stuck with a difficulty: if my temperature was too low, I would be deemed fit enough for whatever I was trying to avoid. Fortunately, I had had an idea that I thought was very clever. Little did I know that this neat trick I had in mind was cliché, and was even featured in popular fiction! I took the thermometer out of my behind, turned on my bedside lamp and began heating it.