"This summer, all bets are off, the heat is on, the fix is in, the dogs are out, the game is up, the chips are down, the stakes are high, the odds are low, the danger is huge, the payoff is slim, friendships will be made, rules will be broken, wrongs will be righted, and no unturned stone will be left... uh..."
— A radio ad, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Stock Phrases are a line of dialogue which get repeated very often in different fictional works, but always carrying the same meaning each and every time they are used. In many cases, they will only be uttered in a specific situation, and often with the same exact words each time. In lampshade-heavy works, may be followed with "I Always Wanted to Say That".
If the phrase is a signature line closely associated with a single character or specific work, it becomes their catchphrase.
Closely related to the Stock Parodies. When you've heard the entire conversation before, it may have degenerated into a Cliché Storm. See also Stock Quotes, which can be attributed to a single source but get quoted over and over in the same way each time.
See also Reviewer Standard Comparisons.
For "stock phrases" whose meaning is exclusive to Troper wiki culture, see the index of Predefined Messages.
As of mid-2011, No New Stock Phrases may be created. If you find yourself coming up with one, go to Other Stock Phrases.
Phrases:
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Categories
- Advertising Stock Phrases: Standard phrases used/originated in advertising.
- I Am An Index: Stock phrases that begin with "I am..."
- Index of Catchphrases: Stock phrases and quotes that a particular fictional character notably uses on a frequent basis.
- Index of Goodbyes: Stock phrases for when you leave someone's presence.
- Insult Tropes: Classic ways of mocking people.
- Last Words: Final statements that people commonly say just before they die.
- One-Liner: Stock quips and remarks.
- Other Stock Phrases: A list of common phrases that don't have their own articles.
- Reviewer Stock Phrases: Common phrases often used by critics when reviewing a work.
- Sounds of Science: Common phrases used by scientists (mad or otherwise).
- Stock American Phrases: Common phrases used in the United States.
- Stock British Phrases: Common phrases used in the United Kingdom.
- Stock Japanese Phrases: Common phrases used in Japan.
- Stock Legal Phrases: A list of common phrases associated with courtroom trials.
- Stock Quotes: Famous statements attributed to various people (sometimes erroneously).
- These Tropes Should Watch Their Language: Stock profanity and swear words.
- This Trope Is X: See the aptly named Stock Phrases folder.
- What Is This Index?: Stock questions.
A
- Abandon Ship
- Against My Religion: A person refuses to do something because they protest that the action goes against their religious beliefs.
- Agree to Disagree
- All According to Plan
- All of Them
- Always with You
- Am I Right?
- An Offer You Can't Refuse
- And I'm the Queen of Sheba: A character remarks about another character's seemingly improbable statement by making a claim about themselves that they themselves know isn't true in the least.
- And Then What?: A character is asked to consider what they'll do once their plan finally succeeds.
- And This Is for...: When inflicting violence on the enemy, the attacker declares that the attacks are given on behalf of people the enemy has directly or indirectly harmed.
- Any Last Words?
- Anything but That!: A character pleads that they'll accept any punishment or torture except for this particular one.
- Are We Getting This?: A nearby news reporter or filming crew tries to videotape an unexpected, extraordinary event.
- Are We There Yet?
- Are You Sure You Can Drive This Thing?
- Are You Sure You Want to Do That?
- Aren't You Forgetting Someone?
- As You Know: A character tells information to another character that the other character should know already for the benefit of the audience.
- Ask a Stupid Question... (get a stupid answer)
- At Least I Admit It: A character calls out another person for doing something bad, but is hardly a good person themselves. When this detail is pointed out, the person gives the excuse that at least they don't deny or lie about their transgressions.
- Atomic F-Bomb: A character screams an obscenity as loud as they can.
- Attack Pattern Alpha
B
- Because I Said So
- Before My Time
- Being Watched
- Best Years of Your Life
- Better than Sex: A character claims to find something so enjoyable that intercourse isn't that thrilling in comparison.
- Big "NEVER!": Defiantly yelling out "Never!" in response to something undesirable.
- Big "NO!": A character screams "No" in response to a misfortune that they really didn't want to happen.
- Big "OMG!": Yelling out "Oh my God!" to express shock and surprise.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Yelling at an annoying person to just "shut up".
- Big, Stupid Doodoo-Head: A character resorts to using childish insults.
- Big "WHAT?!": A character shouts "What?" in response to a revelation taking them by surprise.
- Big "WHY?!": A character screams "Why?" while lamenting a misfortune they've just suffered or a tragedy they've just witnessed.
- Big "YES!": A charater triumphantly hollers "Yes" in response to things going their way.
- Bigger Is Better
- Bigger Than Jesus
- Bill... Bill... Junk... Bill...: A character goes through their mail while listing the stuff they weren't waiting to receive.
- "Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word: Insisting on referring to an immoral action with a term that downplays how wrong it is.
- Blah, Blah, Blah
- Blunt "No"
- Blunt "Yes"
- Bow Chicka Wow Wow
- Brass Balls
- But That I Would Believe
C
- Can't Believe I Said That
- Carry the One
- Check, Please!: Asking for the check to get out after some restaurant shenanigans.
- Chew Bubblegum
- Ching Chong: Racist gibberish used to refer to Chinese people.
- Classified Information
- Closest Thing We Got
- Cluster F-Bomb: Character repeatedly uses swear words in the same sentence.
- Come Alone
- Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
- Come to Gawk
- Come with Me If You Want to Live
- *Crack!* "Oh, My Back!": Complaining about hurting one's back.
- Crazy Enough to Work
- Curves in All the Right Places
D
- Dead Man Walking
- Defensive "What?": A character exclaims "What?" in response to receiving awkward stares after their most recent action or statement.
- Did I Just Say That Out Loud?
- Did the Earth Move for You, Too?
- Did You Actually Believe...?
- Did You Die?: When a character is telling the story of a dangerous experience they went through, another asks if they survived even though it's obvious they did if they're around to tell the tale.
- Did You Get a New Haircut?
- Did You Think I Can't Feel?
- Didn't See That Coming
- Didn't Think This Through: A character learns the hard way that their plan failed to account for something that immediately makes it fall flat (or at least makes the plan a nightmare to carry out).
- Didn't Want an Adventure
- Didn't We Use This Joke Already?
- Dive! Dive! Dive!
- Do I Really Sound Like That?: A person hears a recording of themselves and expresses disbelief at how they apparently sound.
- Do with Him as You Will
- Do You Trust Me?
- Does He Have a Brother?: Asking if a person one is attracted to but can't be with because they're spoken for if the person in question has a relative, implying an interest to at least hook up to the relative of the object of their affection.
- Does That Sound Like Fun to You?
- Does This Make Me Look Fat?
- A Dog Ate My Homework: A child tells their teacher they haven't handed in their homework because the family dog chewed it up.
- Don't Answer That
- Don't Ask: Responding to a question by insisting the inquirer is better off not knowing the answer.
- Don't Be Ridiculous: A character corrects another person making a ludicrous statement, then gives an observation that's just as (or even more) ridiculous.
- Don't Do Anything I Wouldn't Do: You should behave yourself by following someone else's restraints.
- Don't Look At Me
- Don't Look Down
- Don't Make Me Destroy You
- Don't Say Such Stupid Things!
- Don't Sneak Up on Me Like That!
- Don't Touch It, You Idiot!: A character is warned not to touch something dangerous, but touches it anyway.
- Don't Try This at Home: A disclaimer appears in works of fiction featuring imitable behavior to warn audiences that they could get hurt, or even killed, if they try to mimic what the characters are doing.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!
- Drinking the Kool-Aid
E
- The Easy Way or the Hard Way
- Eat My Dust
- Eat the Rich
- Elevator Floor Announcement
- Especially Zoidberg
- Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas
- Expecting Someone Taller: Remarking that a famous person doesn't look like how you pictured them.
- Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
F
- Fell Off the Back of a Truck
- Figure It Out Yourself
- Fine, You Can Just Wait Here Alone
- Finish Him!
- First-Name Ultimatum: Yelling a person's given name to let them know that they are in big trouble.
- Flat "What"
- Follow That Car
- For Science!: Excusing immoral actions on the basis that the actions are necessary for scientific progress.
- For Your Own Good
G
- Gesundheit: A character uses a big word and is mistaken for sneezing.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man
- Get a Room!
- Get It Over With
- Get Out!: Making it clear to someone that you want them to leave this instant.
- Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter
- Give a Man a Fish...
- Give Me a Reason: A character eagerly looks for an excuse to inflict violence upon someone.
- Give Me a Sign
- Give Me a Sword
- Give My Regards in the Next World
- Glad He's On Our Side
- Glad I Thought of It: Taking credit for ideas someone else came up with.
- Go Through Me
- Go to Your Room!
- God Help Us All
- The Golden Rule
- Gone Horribly Wrong
- Gonna Need More X
- Good Is Old-Fashioned
- Good News, Bad News
- Good Night, Sweet Prince
- Goodbye, Cruel World!: A statement likely to be found on a suicide note or to be exclaimed by someone before they take their own life.
- Gravity Is Only a Theory
- Grudging "Thank You"
H
- Happy Birthday to You!
- Has Two Thumbs and...
- Have We Met?
- Have You Come to Gloat?
- Have You Told Anyone Else?
- Haven't You Seen X Before?
- Having a Heart
- He Didn't Make It
- He Had a Name: Calling a person out on dismissing someone they killed as inconsequential by pointing out that their victim had an identity.
- He Went That Way
- Heh Heh, You Said "X": A character laughs at someone else using a word that sounds dirty.
- Help, I'm Stuck!
- Here We Go Again!: Characters point out that they're going through a repetition of the situation they've just gone through.
- He's Got a Weapon!
- Hey, That's My Line!
- Hey, Wait!
- Hi, Mom!
- His Name Is...: A character dies before they can reveal crucial information.
- Hit You So Hard, Your X Will Feel It!
- How Dare You Die on Me!
- How Did That Get in There?
- How Did We Miss This One?
- How Did You Know? I Didn't: After a character manages to solve the problem, they are asked how they knew what to do. The character replies that they didn't know what had to be done and that it's actually a coincidence that their actions solved the problem.
- How Is That Even Possible?: A character witnesses an impossible event and asks how it could possibly happen.
- How Many Fingers?
- How Much Did You Hear?
- How the Mighty Have Fallen
- How Would You Like to Die?
I
- I Always Wanted to Say That
- I Am a Monster
- I Am Big Boned
- I'm Dying, Please Take My MacGuffin: A dying person gives a plot-important object to the heroes before dying.
- I Am Legion
- I Am Not Him
- I Am One of Those, Too
- I Am Spartacus
- I Am the Noun
- I Am What I Am
- I Am X, Son of Y
- I Am Your Opponent
- I Ate WHAT?!: A character is disgusted upon realizing they just ate something really gross.
- I Banged Your Mom
- I Believe That You Believe It
- I Broke a Nail
- I Can Explain
- I Can Live With That: A character responds to being told that the action they're about to take isn't in their best interests by stating that they're prepared to accept the consequences.
- I Can See My House from Here
- I Can See You
- I Can't Believe a Guy Like You Would Notice Me
- I Can't Believe I'm Saying This: A character acknowledges that they're saying something they didn't expect to ever say.
- I Can't Do This by Myself
- I Can't Feel My Legs!
- I Can't Hear You
- I Can't See Myself
- I Can't Sense Their Presence
- I Come in Peace
- I Did What I Had to Do
- I Didn't Mean to Kill Him
- I Didn't Tell You Because You'd Be Unhappy
- I Do Not Drink Wine
- I Don't Like You And You Don't Like Me
- I Don't Pay You to Think: The boss makes it clear that they don't give a fig about what their employees/underlings have to say.
- I Don't Think That's Such a Good Idea
- I Don't Want to Ruin Our Friendship
- I Forgive You
- I Gave My Word
- I Have a Family: A character pleads to be spared because they have a family.
- I Have Just One Thing to Say
- I Have My Ways
- I Have No Idea What I'm Doing
- I Have No Son!: Disavowing one's own child due to not approving of what they did or how they chose to live their life.
- I Have This Friend: A character asks for advice on how to deal with a problem they have, but they claim that it's a non-existent friend who has the problem to avoid embarrassing themselves.
- I Have You Now, My Pretty
- I Have Your Wife: Threatening someone into doing what you want them to by holding a loved one of theirs hostage.
- I Heard That
- I Hit You, You Hit The Ground
- I Just Knew
- I Knew It!: What audiences are likely to say when it turns out that their speculations about the work are completely accurate.
- I Knew There Was Something About You
- I Know Karate
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight
- I Know You're Watching Me
- I Lied: Villain admits to not telling the truth.
- I Like My X Like I Like My Y
- I Like Those Odds
- I Love the Smell of X in the Morning
- I Miss Mom
- I Need a Freaking Drink: A character remarks that they need a drink to make it clear how exasperated or depressed they are about the current situation.
- I Need to Go Iron My Dog: Giving an excuse to leave that sounds improbable and blatantly made up.
- I Read It for the Articles
- I Regret Nothing: Character admits they have no remorse for anything they've done wrong.
- I Remember Because...
- I Remember It Like It Was Yesterday
- I Resemble That Remark!: A character objects to an insult in a way that proves it.
- I Should Have Been Better
- I Should Have Done This Years Ago
- I Surrender, Suckers: A character appears to concede a fight, only to launch an attack the moment their opponent lets their guard down.
- I Take Offense to That Last One: A character hears a bunch of insults directed at them, but only gets upset or the most offended by the last and/or weakest of the insults.
- I Taste Delicious
- I Think You Broke Him
- I Want Grandkids: A parent makes it clear that they want their child to be a parent themselves.
- I Want My Mommy!: A character in trouble pleads for their mother to come and save them, which can be played for comedy or drama.
- I Want Them Alive!
- I Warned You
- I Was Born Ready
- I Was Just Joking: A character makes a facetious statement and is shocked when their claim is taken seriously.
- I Was Just Passing Through
- I Was Never Here
- I Was Told There Would Be Cake
- I Was Young and Needed the Money
- I Will Show You X!
- I Will Tear Your Arms Off
- I Will Wait for You
- I Won't Say I'm Guilty
- I Work Alone: A character refuses to allow partners and prefers to do their job by themselves.
- I'd Tell You, but Then I'd Have to Kill You
- If I Can't Have You…
- If I Do Not Return
- If I Had a Nickel...: A character remarks on what they'd be able to afford if they had enough of a specific unit of currency for every time something happened or every time they heard a specific phrase used.
- If I Want Your Opinion
- If I Wanted X, I Would Y
- If I Wanted You Dead...
- If My Calculations Are Correct
- If We Survive This
- If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!
- If You Thought That Was Bad...
- If You Won't, I Will
- I'll Be Your Best Friend: A character tries to get another to do what they want by promising to be their best friend if they comply.
- I'll Kill You!: Directly threatening to murder someone.
- I'll Take That as a Compliment
- I'll Tell You When I've Had Enough!: A character drinking at a bar gets hostile when the bartender tries to tell them that they need to go easy on the boozing.
- I'm a Doctor, Not a Placeholder
- I'm Cold... So Cold...: When a person is dying, they comment that they feel cold.
- I'm Going to Disney World!
- I'm Going to Hell for This: A character quips that they're likely to go to Hell for something they just did.
- I'm Melting!
- I'm Not a Hero, I'm...
- I'm Not Afraid of You
- I'm Not Doing That Again
- I'm Not Here to Make Friends
- I'm Not Hungry
- I'm Okay!
- I'm Standing Right Here: An objection a character may give when someone is openly insulting them while they're in earshot.
- I'm Your Biggest Fan
- I'm Your Worst Nightmare
- Imagine the Audience Naked
- Incoming!
- In Love with Love
- Is It Something You Eat?
- Is Nothing Sacred?
- Is That a Threat?
- Is That the Best You Can Do?
- Is That What He Told You?
- Is There a Doctor in the House?
- Is This a Joke?
- Is This Thing On?
- Is This Thing Still On?
- It Amused Me
- It Belongs in a Museum
- It Can't Be Helped
- It Doesn't Mean Anything
- It Gets Easier
- It Has Been an Honor
- It Has Only Just Begun
- It Is Not Your Time
- It May Help You on Your Quest
- It Meant Something to Me
- It Never Gets Any Easier
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
- It Was a Gift
- It Was Here, I Swear!
- It Wasn't Easy
- It's a Long Story
- It's All My Fault
- It's Like I Always Say
- It's Not You, It's Me
- It's Personal
- It's Quiet… Too Quiet
- It's the Best Whatever, Ever!
- It's the Only Way
- It's the Only Way to Be Sure
- It's What I Do
- I've Come Too Far
- I've Got an X, and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!
- I've Heard of That — What Is It?: A character mentions something as if they know what it is, then asks what that thing is exactly.
- I've Never Seen Anything Like This Before
J
- J'accuse!
- Joe Sent Me
- Joined Your Party
- Jump, I'll Catch You!
- "Jump Off a Bridge" Rebuttal
- Just a Kid
- Just Between You and Me
- Just Following Orders: The villain's minions try to avoid punishment with the excuse that it was their job to do as they were instructed.
- Just One Man
- Just Smile and Nod
- Just Testing You
- Justice Will Prevail
K
- Kill Him Already!: The hero's allies demand that he kill the bad guy already.
- Klaatu Barada Nikto
L
- Ladies and Germs
- Leave Him to Me!
- Leave Me Alone!
- Leave No Survivors
- Leave No Witnesses
- Let Me Get This Straight...
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: Characters agree to never say a word of this incident ever again.
- Let's Dance
- Let's Get Dangerous!
- Let's Get Out of Here
- Let's Have Another Baby
- Let's Just Be Friends
- Let's Split Up, Gang!
- Lie Back and Think of England
- Life Isn't Fair: When someone complains about their misfortunes, another person (who may in fact be responsible for their suffering) tells them that life isn't (supposed to or said to be) fair and sometimes add that they therefore have no apparent right to complain about their greivences.
- Like a Son to Me
- Like an Old Married Couple
- Little Did I Know: Foreshadowing life-turning events by mentioning the character's initial ignorance of them.
- Little "No"
- Look Behind You: Tricking someone into looking away by claiming that something they'd be interested in seeing is nearby.
- Look Ma, I Am on TV!
- Lost My Appetite
- The Last Thing You Ever See
M
- Make an Example of Them
- Makes Us Even
- Mama Said
- Matter of Life and Death
- May I Borrow a Cup of Sugar?
- "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name: A character claims that a certain quality or attribute is their middle name to emphasize that they are the right person for the job requiring said quality or attribute.
- Miranda Rights "You have the right to remain silent..."
- Misery Builds Character
- Misplaced a Decimal Point
- Move Along, Nothing to See Here
- My Card
- My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad
- My Eyes Are Up Here: A woman calls a person out for staring at her breasts.
- My God, What Have I Done?
- My God, You Are Serious!
- My Grandma Can Do Better Than You
- My Life Flashed Before My Eyes
- My Parents Are Dead
- My Way or the Highway: "You either do as I say, or you're out. No discussions, no excuses."
- The Men First
N
- Name One
- The Natives Are Restless
- Never Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight
- Never Heard That One Before
- Never Tell Me the Odds!
- Never Work with Children or Animals
- New Look, Same Great Taste!
- Nice Kitty...
- No Animals Allowed (often spoken as "No Pets Allowed")
- No Intelligent Life Here
- No Matter How Much I Beg
- No One Could Survive That!: Doubts are cast on a person's survival immediately before it turns out that, yes, the person is still alive.
- "No Peeking!" Request: A character requests another to turn away or not to look while they perform an action.
- No Questions Asked
- No Time to Explain
- No, You: Responding to an insult by parroting the insult at the person who just gave it.
- No, You Go First
- No, You Hang Up First
- NOT!: Exclaiming "NOT" after saying something to make it clear that what you just said wasn't sincere.
- Not a Game
- Not Afraid of You Anymore
- Not Bad
- Not Big Enough for the Two of Us
- Not in Kansas Anymore
- Not in My Backyard!
- Not in My Contract
- Not in the Face!
- Not Like Other Girls
- Not Listening to Me, Are You?
- Not My Driver
- Not Now, Kiddo: Dismissing children when they're trying to inform you of something important.
- Not on the List
- Not Safe for Work: Material on the Internet that could get you fired when viewed at work due to containing risque content.
- Not That Kind of Partner
- Not What I Signed on For
- Not What It Looks Like: A character is caught in a compromising situation and tries to inform observers that what's happening isn't what it looks like.
- Not With the Safety On, You Won't: A gun threat is useless because the safety is on.
- Not Your Daddy's X: A phrase indicating that a reintroduced product from the past is much different from how it was before.
- Not Your Problem
- Nothing Can Save Us Now
- Nothing Can Stop Us Now!
- Nothing Exciting Ever Happens Here
- Nothing Personal
- Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
- Now It's My Turn
- Now What?
- Now You Tell Me
O
- Oh, Crap!: A character is shocked at the realization that they are in big trouble.
- Oh God, with the Verbing!
- Oh, No... Not Again!
- Oh No You Didn't
- Oh, the Humanity!
- Oh, Wait!
- On a Scale from One to Ten
- On Second Thought
- Once Upon a Time: The first four words of many fairy tales.
- One Thing Led to Another
- Open-and-Shut Case: Ironic One-Liner about a case so obviously easy to close.
- Or Are You Just Happy to See Me?: Asking someone if they have an erection while giving a less risque reason they could be having a bulge in their pants.
- Or My Name Isn't...
- ...Or So I Heard
- Ow, My Body Part!
P
- Permission to Speak Freely
- Pick on Someone Your Own Size
- Please, Don't Leave Me
- Please, I Will Do Anything!
- Please Put Some Clothes On: Requesting a naked person to get dressed.
- Please Wake Up: A child attempts to wake a corpse up because they think the dead person is just sleeping.
- The Plot Thickens
- [Popular Saying], But...
- Preemptive Apology
- Preemptive "Shut Up": Telling someone to shut up when they haven't even said anything.
- Prepare to Die
- Present Company Excluded: Apologizing to someone after making a generalizing insult that you didn't intend to offend that person with.
- Promise Me You Won't X
- Put Down Your Gun and Step Away
Q
R
- Rapid-Fire "But!"
- Rapid-Fire "No!"
- Rapid-Fire "Shut Up!"
- Rapid-Fire "Yes!"
- Read the Freaking Manual
- Readings Are Off the Scale
- The Real Heroes: Ordinary servicemen everyday civilians deserve more respect and recognition for their deeds than any superhero.
- Resistance Is Futile
- A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma
- Ridiculous Counter-Request
- Right Behind Me: A character insults someone who turns out to be standing behind them the whole time.
- Right Under Their Noses
- Rule #1
S
- A Storm Is Coming
- Sand In My Eyes
- Saw It in a Movie Once
- Say My Name
- See You in Hell
- Seize Them!
- Send Me Back: Character becomes attached to the place they were sent away to. Upon returning home, they demand to be sent back.
- Shame If Something Happened
- She Is Not My Girlfriend
- She Will Come for Me
- Shoot Everything That Moves
- Sick and Wrong
- Sign of the Apocalypse
- Silence, You Fool!
- Slices, Dices, and Makes Julienne Fries
- Slip into Something More Comfortable
- So Beautiful, It's a Curse
- So Long, Suckers!
- So Proud of You: A character makes it clear that they are proud of how far their loved one or pupil has gone.
- So Was X
- So What Do We Do Now?
- So You Were Saying...?
- Some of My Best Friends Are X: A racist or other bigot tries to defend themselves by claiming to be friends with some of the people they're bigoted against.
- Someone Has to Do It
- Someone's Touching My Butt: A bunch of people are moving in the dark and someone complains that they're being touched in a personal place.
- Something We Forgot
- Sorry, I'm Gay: Turning down the advances of a member of the opposite sex by claiming you're gay.
- Spy Speak
- Standard Police Motto (including "To protect and to serve")
- Stating the Simple Solution
- Stay Frosty
- Still Got It
- Stock Scream: Stock audio of screams that tend to be used in movies and television shows.
- Stop, or I Will Shoot!
- Stop Saying That!
- The Strength of Ten Men
- Stupidest Thing I've Ever Heard
- Such a Phony: One character talks crap about another but pretends to be nice in their presence.
- Sure, Let's Go with That: A character assumes what they think is the reason behind another person's actions and the other person agrees in a way that implies this wasn't the real reason they did it.
T
- Take Care of the Kids
- Take Me Instead
- Take Me to Your Leader
- Take the Wheel
- Take Up My Sword
- Taking You with Me
- Talk to the Hand
- Tastes Like Chicken
- Tell Me About My Father
- That Didn't Happen
- That Liar Lies
- That Man Is Dead
- That Wasn't a Request
- That's an Order!
- That's Gotta Hurt
- That's What I Call "X"!
- That's What I Would Do
- That's What She Said
- The Three Certainties in Life
- The Trope Formerly Known as X
- There Are No Coincidences
- There Are No Rules
- There Are Two Kinds of People in the World
- There Is a God!: A character is happy about something they wanted to happen and sees it as proof that God does exist.
- There Is No Try
- These Hands Have Killed: A character is upset at the realization that they just killed someone.
- They Called Me Mad!
- They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
- They Have the Scent!
- They Knew the Risks
- Thicker Than Water
- Think Nothing of It
- This Ain't Rocket Surgery
- This Cannot Be!: Once defeated, the villain exclaims their disbelief that their downfall has happened.
- This Explains So Much
- This Is a Competition and I'm here to win.
- This Is as Far as I Go
- This Is Gonna Be A Long...: A character states how long a perceived or unpleasant day/week/holiday can go in a situation.
- This Is Gonna Suck: A character resignedly states that what's about to happen to them is going to be very unpleasant.
- This Is No Time for Knitting
- This Is No Time to Panic
- This Is Not a Drill
- This Is Reality: A joke where a fictional character addresses that the real world isn't at all like fiction.
- This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself
- This Is the Final Battle
- This Is the Part Where...
- This Is Unforgivable!: Making it clear to someone that they've crossed the line and that they cannot be forgiven for their misdeed.
- This Is Wrong on So Many Levels!
- This Means War!
- This Song Goes Out to TV Tropes
- Those Were Only Their Scouts
- Three... Two... One...
- Timber!
- Time for Plan B
- Timmy in a Well
- Tired of Running
- To Absent Friends: Proposing a toast to the deceased, usually reserved for heroes.
- To Make a Long Story Short
- Today, X. Tomorrow, the World!
- Together We Are X: Members of an ensemble introduce themselves first individually and then as a team.
- Too Slow
- "Too Young to Die" Lamentation: A character in danger of getting killed laments that they don't want to die yet because of how much they haven't experienced yet.
- Trial Balloon Question
- Trust Me, I'm an X
- Try Not to Die
- Turn Off the Camera
- Turn Your Head and Cough
- Two out of Three Ain't Bad
- Two Words: Added Emphasis: A character emphasizes their point by saying "Two (or any number of) words", followed by the number of words relevant to what the character is trying to say.
- Two Words: I Can't Count: An attempt at Two Words: Added Emphasis is flubbed by the person not getting the number of words right.
U
V
W
- Wait Here
- Walk the Plank
- Walk This Way
- The War Has Just Begun
- Was It All a Lie?: Someone starts to sense that they've been lied to by a loved or otherwise trusted one and begins to wonder if the fabrication means everything about the relationship was insincere.
- Was Just Leaving: An intense or embarrassing situation causes a character to excuse themself or be dismissed by another
- Wasn't That Fun?
- We All Die Someday: Pointing out this notion or statistic, often casually.
- We Are Everywhere
- We Gotta Stop Meeting Like This
- We Have Ways of Making You Talk
- We Meet Again: Two enemies acknowledge that they've crossed paths again.
- We Need to Get Proof
- We Only Have One Chance
- We Wait
- We Will Meet Again: After his plan is thwarted, the villain promises that he will be back someday to have his revenge against the hero.
- Welcome to Hell
- Welcome to My World
- We'll See About That
- Went to the Great X in the Sky: A common euphemism for death is to say that the person went to the great (place appropriate to the deceased's personality, interests or habits) in the sky.
- We've Got Company
- What an Idiot!: What audiences might say about a character doing something profoundly stupid.
- What a Senseless Waste of Human Life
- What Are You in For?: A person in jail is asked by their cellmate what they did that resulted in their incarceration.
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: You want to avoid a Tempting Fate? NEVER ask this question!
- What Did I Do Last Night?: Someone wakes up after a night of heavy drinking or drug use and tries to remember what happened while they were drunk or high.
- What Did You Expect When You Named It ____?
- What Does She See in Him?
- What Does This Button Do?
- What Have I Become?
- What Have You Done for Me Lately?
- What He Said: Saying "What (that person just) said" to make it clear that you are in agreement with them and that you have nothing to say that the other person already said.
- What Is Going On?
- What Is This, X?
- What the Hell Are You?
- What Were You Thinking?
- What Would X Do?
- What Year Is This?
- What's an X Like You Doing in a Y Like This?
- What's He Got That I Ain't Got?!: A character jealous of the attention and praise another person gets asks what their competition has that they are lacking.
- What's In It For Me?
- When I Was Your Age...: An older person rambles on how things were when they were younger.
- When It Rains, It Pours
- When Life Gives You Lemons...
- When You Coming Home, Dad?
- Where da White Women At?
- Where Did We Go Wrong?
- Where Is Your X Now?
- Where Were You Last Night?
- Where's the Fun in That?
- Who Are You?
- Who Dares?
- Who Watches the Watchmen?
- Who Would Be Stupid Enough?
- Who Would Want to Watch Us?: A joke in a television series where the characters laugh at the idea of someone making a show about their exploits.
- Who You Gonna Call?
- Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?
- Why Couldn't You Save Them?
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?
- Why Didn't I Think of That?
- Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: When the villain tries to kill their enemies, they never take the easy way out.
- Why Don't You Marry It?
- Why Isn't It Attacking?
- Why Won't You Die?: A character tries to kill someone, only to exasperatedly demand to know why their would-be victim keeps surviving every attempt at doing them in.
- With Due Respect
- With or Without You
- (You're either) With Us or Against Us
- Word, Schmord!: Expressing dismissal towards something by saying a word and the same word with the beginning consonents replaced with "Schm".
- Worst. Whatever. Ever!
- Worth It: A character has suffered because of their actions, but is content with it because they still got what they wanted anway.
- Would Rather Suffer: A person makes it clear how much they hate something by claiming they'd rather do something very unpleasant.
- Would You Like to Hear How They Died?
- Wrote the Book
X
Y
- Years Too Early
- You and What Army?
- You Answered Your Own Question
- You Are a Credit to Your Race: A bigot compliments a member of the minority they discriminate against in a backhanded way by calling them "one of the good ones".
- You Are Already Dead
- You Are Fat: Bluntly calling someone fat.
- You Are Grounded!
- You Are in Command Now
- You Are Not Alone: Telling a troubled person that they're not the only one facing their kind of problems.
- You Are Not Ready
- You Bastard!: The audience is called out for enjoying the characters' suffering.
- You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: A character realizes they're in big trouble when someone addresses them in a way they aren't normally addressed.
- You Can Keep Her!
- You Can Run, but You Can't Hide
- You Can Say That Again
- You Can See Me?
- You Can Talk?
- You Can't Make an Omelette...
- You Can't Miss It
- You Could Have Used Your Powers for Evil: The villain considers it a waste that the hero used his powers to do good.
- You Could Have Used Your Powers for Good!: The hero laments that the villain could have done good deeds with his powers instead of evil ones.
- You Did Everything You Could
- You Did the Right Thing
- You Didn't Ask: A character is asked why they didn't say anything about the detail the others learned the hard way and the character rationalizes that the others never asked them about it.
- You Didn't See That
- You Do Not Have to Say Anything
- You Do Not Want To Know: Answering a question by insisting that the inquirer is better off not knowing the answer.
- "You!" Exclamation
- You Fool!
- You Got Guts
- You Had Us Worried There
- You Have Failed Me: The villain executes an underling as punishment for screwing up.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!
- You Have No Chance to Survive
- You Have No Idea Who You're Dealing With
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: The villain executes an underling once their services are no longer needed.
- You Have to Believe Me!
- You Just Had to Say It
- You Just Ruined the Shot: The hero thinks someone is in danger and rushes in to help, only to be yelled at by the director for ruining a movie scene being filmed.
- You Killed My Father
- You Know I'm Black, Right?
- You Know What That Means
- You Know What They Say
- You Know What They Say About X...
- You Know What to Do
- You Know What You Did
- You Leave Him Alone!
- You Look Like You've Seen a Ghost
- You Make Me Sick
- You Meddling Kids
- You Monster!: Calling someone a monster to make it clear that you find their actions loathsome and horrid.
- You Need a Breath Mint: Commenting on someone having bad breath.
- You Need to Get Laid: Remarking on someone's obsessive behavior by implying they'd mellow out if they had sex.
- You Never Did That for Me
- You Owe Me
- You Put the "X" in "XY"
- You Rebel Scum!
- You Remind Me of X
- You Said You Couldn't Dance
- You Said You Would Let Them Go: The villain is called out for not keeping their promise of not hurting someone.
- You Should Have Died Instead: A person whose loved one has died wishes that it was a person they despised who died instead.
- "You!" Squared
- (Are) You Talkin' to Me?
- You Talk Too Much!
- You Taught Me That
- You Wanna Get Sued?
- You Watch Too Much X
- You Will Be Spared
- You Will Know What to Do
- You Won't Feel a Thing!
- You Won't Like How I Taste: A character about to be eaten tries to talk the person ready to consume them out of eating them by claiming they taste horrible.
- You Would Do the Same for Me
- You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You
- You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses
- You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry!
- Your Answer to Everything
- Your Favorite
- Your Little Dismissive Diminutive
- Your Mom: Annoying someone by insulting their mother.
- Your Other Left: A person tells someone to move to their left and resorts to instructing "other left" when the other person goes the wrong way.
- You're Cute When You're Angry
- You're Insane!: Calling someone insane to make it clear that you find their actions/intentions to be utterly ridiculous, if not extremely dangerous.
- You're Just Jealous
- You're Not My Father
- You're Not My Type
- You're Nothing Without Your Phlebotinum