I'll make one up for you:

Go back to the Dark Ages, when vampires were widely feared. Now grab a stick, even better a wooden cross but a stick will do as a stake if you need one, and poke it at the vampire. (I learned it as "shake a stick at," but it's the same thing, I think). You're really in trouble if there are too many of them - more than you can shake a stick at. (Not "that," I note.)

Good imagination? Anywhere near reality or did I just create another urban legend?