History Main / AlternateCatchphraseInflection

** All Daleks say, "Exterminate!" when they want to kill someone (which, considering they're [[AlwaysChaoticEvil evil]] killing machines, is a lot). Usually, it's shouted with pauses between each syllable and a rising inflection ("EX-TER-MIN-''ATE''!") but when a Dalek begins thinking it's Oswin Oswald, it starts out saying, "Eggs" because Clara was making souffles, but then realises it's a Dalek and awkwardly turns it into "Eggs...stir...minate?".

** The episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 Unification]]" has Sarek try to say, "Live long and prosper" while dying. Not only does he forget to say, 'prosper' but he speaks in a weak voice. Most of the time, when Vulcans (his species) say, "Live long and prosper", it's in their usual stoic tone with a short pause after "live long".
** Usually when Picard says, "Engage!", it's in a very definite voice. However, at the end of "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E13AngelOne Angel One]]", he says it hoarsely due to residual effects of the alien virus that had previously infected him, along with Worf, Geordi, Wesley, and several background characters.

* When Wrestling/TheRock normally unleashes his "It doesn't matter" catchphrase, it's usually a hammy, hilarious dismissal to his opponent. However when the Rock used it shilling a potential match vs. Roman Reigns amidst fans booing at the ''Wrestling/WrestleMania XL'' kickoff press conference, he delivers it in a subdued, condescending [[ThenLetMeBeEvil even sinister]] manner indicating that [[VisionaryVillain the match will happen]] [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem whether the WWE Universe likes it or not]].

* When Wrestling/TheRock normally unleashes his "It doesn't matter" catchphrase, it's usually a hammy, hilarious dismissal to his opponent. However when the Rock used it shilling a potential match vs. Roman Reigns amidst fans booing at the ''WrestleMania XL'' kickoff press conference, he delivers it in a subdued, condescending [[ThenLetMeBeEvil even sinister]] manner indicating that [[VisionaryVillain the match will happen]] [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem whether the WWE Universe likes it or not]].

-->-- '''Miles Edgeworth,''' ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll''

* WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants usually says his catch phrase "I'm ready!" in an upbeat, highly enthusiastic tone, but in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'', he says it in a dejected manner after learning that he didn't get the job of manager of the Krusty Krab 2.

* In the kids' book ''Monkey and Me'', [[NoNameGiven the girl]] says, "Monkey, and me, monkey and me," every page in a neutral voice (i.e. no tone indicators). On the last page, she puts an ellipsis between every word, possibly to signify the story ending or because she's thirsty (she mentions having tea).

** Magnitude is practically only known for his catch phrase "Pop Pop!" which is delivered quite cheerfully with a "raise the roof" gesture. In "Introduction to Teaching", a riot breaks out and Magnitude takes part, delivering, "Pop pop!" as a battle cry and throwing his fists in the air.

** Ten regularly says variations of "No, don't do that," in an embarrassed tone, generally when his companions try to say something in a local accent/language. In "Midnight", Ten says the phrase to Donna in an utterly broken tone when she repeats some of his words back to him - he'd just escaped being possessed by an eldritch abomination which had paralysed him and forced him to repeat everything he heard.

* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' acknowledges the character's over-abundance of catch phrases in the Schwarzenegger Games review by rapid-firing a bunch of them with increasing disinterest instead of his usual emphatic tone.

* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'': In Mr Peanutbutter's old show, his catch phrase was a goofy "Doggy doggy what now?!" and even in the current day he likes to repeat that in a tone of comical surprise. But in one episode, during a sad moment leaving him uncertain about his future, he says it in a tone of genuine wistfulness: "Doggy doggy...''what now?''"
* When ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' says, "What's up, Doc?", it's usually done very casually and with a tinge of sarcasm, but there are times when he says it differently. In "Hare Ribbin", he says it in an annoyed tone when the dog sniffs him; and in "Hasty Hare", he says it in a frightened, stammering voice after realizing that Marvin the Martian isn't just a kid dressed for Halloween.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'', [[EvilFormerFriend Catra]] greets [[TheHero Adora]] with "Hey, Adora," in a flirty or mocking tone, usually preceding a brawl. However, after she is [[MindControl chipped]] by [[GalacticConqueror Horde Prime]], she instead says, "Hello, Adora", in a CreepyMonotone, showing that while the original Catra was sympathetic and close to a HeelFaceTurn, she is now completely under Horde Prime's control.

*** In "Heartbreak Hotel," Selma comments that [[TooMuchInformation having her legs waxed hurt so badly she needed an epidural]]. Nelson is too dumbfounded by this to muster his usual conviction:

** Homer typically says "[[CurseCutShort Why, you little—]]" before devolving into {{Angrish}} [[RunningGag while choking Bart in blind rage]]. This hasn't prevented the occasional affectionate use of the line, such as in "Bart the Lover" when it's his reaction to being flattered by Bart, or during an emotional moment between them in "Bartless."

* Tigger normally says goodbye to his friends with "T-T-F-N, Ta-ta for now", but in ''WesternAnimation/TheTiggerMovie'', he says it in a heartbroken tone after being deceived by them.

Many characters have a {{Catchphrase}}, an iconic quote that they say in certain situations (such as when [[CatchphraseInsult insulting someone]], [[SigningOffCatchphrase at the end of the episode]], or when [[InTheNameOfTheMoon defeating someone]] or [[DefeatCatchphrase being defeated]]) or even just all the time (sometimes [[OneWordVocabulary literally all the time]]). Now, sometimes this catchphrase is always said in a particular tone of voice... except when it's not.

* ''WebAnimation/HowItShouldHaveEnded'': Iron Man/Tony Stark has "Tank missile!" catchphrase that he often says with whimsical falsetto whenever using his overpowered tank missile from ''Film/IronMan1''. But after discovering that Bucky was behind his parents' assassination in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', he said it in terse and serious voice, showing how he's fully intended to completely ''destroy'' Bucky.

* In ''{{Series/Bones}}'', Brennan gets a head injury in the series finale that affects her ability to process and recall information. Her “I don’t know what that means” catchphrase is much more uncertain and somewhat frightened than when she usually says it.

* Throughout ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', Tyler is a citizen of the eponymous town who appears whenever a fight is breaking out to enthusiastically yell "Get 'im! Get 'im!". In the season one finale, when [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Gideon]] is revealed as a fraud and an angry, betrayed mob descends upon him? Tyler gives the order to "get im" to in a heartbroken whisper, wiping aside tears.

* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'': While more is added to Domon's [[FinishingMove Shining Finger]] CatchPhrase when it levels up and becomes the Erupting Burning Finger, the lines are also delivered with a lot more anger, reflecting how the first time he uses it he's enraged at seeing the actions of his brother Kyoji.

** In a similar instance, the Volatix Cabal's {{Catchphrase}} is a slight variation on the Dalek chant, to represent how, even in comparison to the Daleks, they're totally insane with utter hate for everything that isn't a Dalek: "EXTERMINHATE!"

--->'''Bart:''' Man, you are ''not'' into that.

--->'''Nelson:''' ''(beat)'' ...Ha-''ha?''

** In "How Munched is That Birdie in the Window?", Bart grows attached to his new pet bird, when he runs into Nelson. He fully expects Nelson to laugh at him; when he does, due to his own personal troubles, it comes off as bored and unenthusiastic.

** In "Bart the Lover," Bart gives Homer a sincere compliment and nets himself the rare affectionate "Why, you little..."

* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' once had an inverted example. Normally, when [[PhraseCatcher Norm]] enters the bar, he gives a cheerful greeting and everybody else cheerfully [[SayMyName calls out, "Norm!"]] In [[Recap/CheersS3E11 one episode,]] he enters the bar looking devastated but still gives his cheerful greeting. Everybody then says, "Norm?" in a concerned tone.

* Normally, at the start of each new episode of ''WebVideo/TheKillCount'', the host James A. Janisse begins with his sign-on catchphrase of "Welcome to ''The Kill Count'', where we tally up the victims in all our favorite horror movies! I'm James A. Janisse, and today we're looking at ''<movie title>'', released in ''<year of release>''." After that, he usually spends a few minutes discussing the film's production history, its legacy in the horror genre, and his personal thoughts on it before he starts the recap and kill count proper. However, when he covered ''Film/IllAlwaysKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer'', his least favorite horror movie of all time, James was visibly and audibly disinterested as he said his catchphrase, and after going through it, all he had to say was "this movie [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] sucks" before he went straight into the recap.