History LiteralMetaphor / WesternAnimation

** In "The First No L", when the narrator says that Lois's heart grew three sizes a la [[Literature/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas the Grinch]], it cuts to her in the hospital on a respirator after her heart literally grew that big.

** After repeatedly being called a "[[LargeHam ham]]" throughout the episode, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck literally gets [[BalefulPolymorph transformed into]] a hunk of pork.

** Creator/TomCruise is so upset that the reincarnated L. Ron Hubbard (Stan) doesn't like his acting that he locks himself in Stan's closet, refuses to come out, and denies that he's in the closet at all.

** In ''Sons of Witches'', we learn that all the dads in town like to dress up as witches for Halloween week. When one of the dads falls under a curse and starts kidnapping children, the other witches [[https://youtu.be/SoAwLaHF5gQ urge the town]] not to let it degenerate into a [[WitchHunt "witch pursuit-thing"]].

** In the 1938 short WesternAnimation/PorkyAndDaffy, Daffy is a prize fighter getting chased around the ring by the hulking champion, and his trainer Porky tells him to "Get on your bicycle!" (which is an old-time boxing term for avoiding your opponent as best you can). Daffy proceeds to literally ride around the squared circle on an invisible bicycle.

** Marvin the Martian's "[[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth-shattering kaboom]]" in "WesternAnimation/{{Hare-Way to the Stars}}" was a literal metaphor. Then it became metaphorical again -- the Trope name for the explosion of a whole planet or moon ([[ThatsNoMoon or humongous spacecraft]]), not just the Earth.

--->'''Rocky:''' "...Aw, they're ''adorable!''"

* Used as a RunningGag throughout WesternAnimation/GreenEggsAndHam2019. For example, in the first episode:

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'', Doug is unable to sell any chocolate bars door-to-door because everyone he asks says [[ItTastesLikeFeet they taste like cement]]. When he goes to the candy factory to complain, they discover that a mis-parked cement mixer is pouring its contents into the chocolate mix.

** In "The Fair-Haired Hair", Yosemite Sam builds a cabin over Bugs' burrow, and Bugs vows to take the ensuing property dispute to "the highest court in the country!" Cut to Bugs marching up a steep hillside, to a courthouse sitting 6,723 feet above sea level, and wishing he'd picked a lower court.

-->'''Bugs:''' I'd like to stay for lunch but...(''chuckles'') I'm a little tied up this morning.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' short "Video Revue", the Warner siblings are in a video store, fleeing from a ''T. rex'' that came out of a ''Jurassic Park'' video -- so they decide to drop some "bombs" on it, including ''Film/HeavensGate'', ''Film/{{Ishtar}}'', and ''Film/HowardTheDuck''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'', Claire reads the letter Jim leaves him when he thought we would die from his battle with Draal and thinks that the "monsters" and "world-ending" he mentions was all just elaborate metaphors. He goes along with it not to sound crazy. She eventually realizes that he meant it ''literally''.

(The door opens, revealing rows of people at desks literally counting beans and pushing pencils around.)

* Used as a RunningGag throughout [[WesternAnimation/GreenEggsAndHam2019]]. For example, in the first episode:

* Used as a RunningGag throughout [[WesternAnimation/GreenEggsAndHam]]. For example, in the first episode:

** In "Imitation Krabs" Mr. Krabs warns [=SpongeBob=] to keep a watchful eye on Plankton's tricks.
--->'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Don't worry, Mr. Krabs, as long as these pants are square, and this sponge is Bob... ''[lifts his arms up]'' I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!\\
'''Mr. Krabs:''' Uh, [=SpongeBob=]? ''[camera zooms out to reveal [=SpongeBob=] holding Mr. Krabs above his head]'' Could ya let me down?

* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'': One "Peabody's Improbable History" segment involves Sherman, Peabody, and the historical figure of the day having to literally look for a needle in a haystack (ItMakesSenseInContext). Peabody even {{Lampshade|Hanging}}s it.

** “Raising The Bar” has Kyle lament on how the bar has gotten so low that people find stuff like ''Series/HereComesHoneyBooBoo'' acceptable entertainment. Stan replies that “it’s not like the bar is this actual, physical thing”. Cut to Creator/JamesCameron, who announces that he will find the bar in the Marianas Trench and raise it with his submersible. He does find the bar, and when he raises it, people stop watching Honey Boo Boo.