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* ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'': In ''Literature/WelcomeToCampNightmare'', Billy begins to suspect that something is wrong with the camp. He arms himself with a baseball bat and taps it in his hand.
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* ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'': ''Series/Goosebumps1995'': In ''Literature/WelcomeToCampNightmare'', "[[Recap/Goosebumps1995S1E5E6WelcomeToCampNightmare Welcome to Camp Nightmare]]", Billy begins to suspect that something is wrong with the camp. He arms himself with a baseball bat and taps it in his hand.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', one of the "Sonic Says" segments against graffiti had Sonic challenge Tails to paint on a canvas instead of a building and while he was, he tapped his foot impatiently and cried out "I'm waiting!"
to:
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', one of the "Sonic Says" segments against graffiti had Sonic challenge Tails to paint on a canvas instead of a building and while he was, he tapped his foot impatiently and cried out "I'm waiting!"
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* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', one of the "Sonic Says" segments against graffiti had Sonic challenge Tails to paint on a canvas instead of a building and while he was, he tapped his foot impatiently and cried out "I'm waiting!"
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* In the 8-bit game ''Heavy on the Magick'', the werewolf taps its foot impatiently before attacking.
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** In "Lost Our Lisa", Lisa tries to take a bus to the Springsonian Museum, but when she tries to talk with the bus driver, Larry, he silently taps the sign overhead which reads "Do Not Talk To Driver". When she sees that she's lost, she tries to ask him for help, only for him to say "Don't make me tap the sign". [[MemeticMutation The scene is often edited to instead say whatever point the poster wants to make online]].
to:
** In "Lost Our Lisa", Lisa tries to take a bus to the Springsonian Museum, but when she tries to talk with the bus driver, Larry, [[CantYouReadTheSign he silently taps the sign overhead which reads "Do Not Talk To Driver".Driver"]]. When she sees that she's lost, she tries to ask him for help, only for him to say "Don't make me tap the sign". [[MemeticMutation The scene is often edited to instead say whatever point the poster wants to make online]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'': At the end of "[[Recap/EdEddNEddyS2E9InLikeEd In Like Ed]]", after the Eds destroy Jimmy's house with a baking powder vapor barrier that Double D hadn't tested yet, the kids emerge from the powder ready to beat the Eds, and Kevin is seen angrily tapping a stick into his hand as he approaches the Eds.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' episode, "The Revenge of the Chicken from Outer Space", Courage goes to go get Eustace out of bed to help him save Muriel from the alien chicken seeking revenge; after he just ignores Courage and goes back to sleep, Courage wearing a blank expression taps Muriel's slipper in his hand which is followed by some comical off-screen whacking sounds which results in Eustace chasing Courage to the desired destination.
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!!Examples:
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** In "Lost Our Lisa", Lisa tries to take a bus to the Springsonian Museum, but when she tries to talk with the bus driver, Larry, he silently taps the sign overhead which reads "Do Not Talk To Driver". When she sees that she's lost, she tries to ask him for help, only for him to say "Don't make me tap the sign". [[MemeticMutation The scene is often edited to instead say whatever point the poster wants to make online]].
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** In the third segment of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E6TreehouseOfHorrorV Treehouse of Horror V]]", Bart got detention and saw Principal Skinner sternly tapping a ruler against his hand in outside a crowded detention room.
to:
** In the third segment of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E6TreehouseOfHorrorV Treehouse of Horror V]]", V]]" segment "Nightmare Cafeteria", Bart got detention and saw Principal Skinner sternly tapping a ruler against his hand in outside a crowded detention room.
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There are a lot of ways to get someone to listen to you or get your point across. You can yell, scream, cry, threaten or even get physical with them. However, did you ever want to give them the illusion of a situation that could escalate? Try tapping an item in your hand, with a rolled-up newspaper, a rolling pin or a belt being popular items.
to:
There are a lot of ways to get someone to listen to you or get your point across. You can yell, scream, cry, threaten threaten, or even get physical with them. However, did you ever want to give them the illusion of a situation that could escalate? Try tapping an item in your hand, with a rolled-up newspaper, a rolling pin pin, or a belt being popular items.
Changed line(s) 7 (click to see context) from:
This trope can be seen as a LighterAndSofter type of PercussiveTherapy and might precede any kind of CorporalPunishment (such as [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff getting spanked]]), whether or not [[AbuseDiscretionShot this is shown onscreen]]. See also AgitatedItemStomping, AGlassInTheHand, DoorSlamOfRage, PunchAWall, FryingPanOfDoom, RollingPinOfDoom, DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff and ShootTheTelevision for more aggressive forms of "item tapping".
to:
This trope can be seen as a LighterAndSofter type of PercussiveTherapy and might precede any kind of CorporalPunishment (such as [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff getting spanked]]), whether or not [[AbuseDiscretionShot this is shown onscreen]]. See also AgitatedItemStomping, AGlassInTheHand, DoorSlamOfRage, PunchAWall, FryingPanOfDoom, RollingPinOfDoom, DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff, and ShootTheTelevision for more aggressive forms of "item tapping".
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWrongTrousers'': Gromit taps a rolling pin against his palm while facing Feathers the penguin, until Feathers pulls a gun on him.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWrongTrousers'': Gromit taps a rolling pin against his palm while facing Feathers the penguin, penguin until Feathers pulls a gun on him.
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* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stick in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
to:
* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stick yardstick in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
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** She does it again in "Mama Takes Three" to prevent Vinton from saying anything negative about his childhood to a case worker at an adoption agency when he and Naomi are trying to qualify for a child, only this time she uses a rolled-up magazine.
to:
** She does it again in "Mama Takes Three" to prevent Vinton from saying anything negative about his childhood to a case worker caseworker at an adoption agency when he and Naomi are trying to qualify for a child, only this time she uses a rolled-up magazine.
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* This is weaponized in ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In [[Recap/MotherlandFortSalemS3E8PetrasFavoritePen "Petra's Favorite Pen]]" Col. Jarrett mocks Gen. Petra Bellweather for being powerless to do much about her soldiers being sent to their deaths, since she is oath-bound to protect the U.S. She starts tapping her pen in apparent frustration, while musing [[ExactWords that her oath is to protect the U.S. "from all enemies, foreign and domestic]]". As his actions qualify him as the latter, [[LoopholeAbuse her oath mandates she take action]]. She syncs his heartbeat to the rhythm of her pen tapping, and taps faster and faster, accelerating his heart rate until he drops dead, presumably from a heart attack.
to:
* This is weaponized in ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In [[Recap/MotherlandFortSalemS3E8PetrasFavoritePen "Petra's Favorite Pen]]" Col. Jarrett mocks Gen. Petra Bellweather for being powerless to do much about her soldiers being sent to their deaths, since she is oath-bound to protect the U.S. She starts tapping her pen in apparent frustration, frustration while musing [[ExactWords that her oath is to protect the U.S. "from all enemies, foreign and domestic]]". As his actions qualify him as the latter, [[LoopholeAbuse her oath mandates she take action]]. She syncs his heartbeat to the rhythm of her pen tapping, and taps faster and faster, accelerating his heart rate until he drops dead, presumably from a heart attack.
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* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'': Sonic taps his foot on the ground as a IdleAnimation, showing him getting impatient for the player to input a command.
to:
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'': Sonic taps his foot on the ground as a an IdleAnimation, showing him getting impatient for the player to input a command.
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** In "Stimpy's Cartoon Show", after Stimpy has placed several cartoons on a storyboard, director Ren comes in while tapping a belt in his hand, criticizes the images and rips most of them off of the wall, leaving the former in tears.
to:
** In "Stimpy's Cartoon Show", after Stimpy has placed several cartoons on a storyboard, director Ren comes in while tapping a belt in his hand, criticizes the images images, and rips most of them off of the wall, leaving the former in tears.
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[[/folder]]
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----
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[[folder: Fan Works]]
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[[folder: Films: Animated]]
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[[folder: Films: Live-Action]]
* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stuck in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stuck in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
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* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard
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[[folder: Literature]]
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[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
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[[folder: Video Games]]
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[[folder: Visual Novels]]
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** [[spoiler: Queen Ga'ran as a prosecutor]] does this with a book.
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to [[spoiler: Mael Stronghart, who instead uses a seemingly metal cane that makes an impressive clang.]]
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to [[spoiler: Mael Stronghart, who instead uses a seemingly metal cane that makes an impressive clang.]]
to:
** [[spoiler: Queen [[spoiler:Queen Ga'ran as a prosecutor]] does this with a book.
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to[[spoiler: Mael [[spoiler:Mael Stronghart, who instead uses a seemingly metal cane that makes an impressive clang.]]
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to
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[[folder: Western Animation]]
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* ''Literature/PrincessesOfThePizzaParlor'': ''Cookies and Campers'': The impatient manager of time makes a beat on a schedule:
--> The teen tapped the schedule on her clipboard impatiently.
--> The teen tapped the schedule on her clipboard impatiently.
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[[folder: Visual Novels]]
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': Every lawyer does desk slams, and several of the types are this trope.
** Franziska von Karma whips the desk.
** Godot slams his coffee mug onto the desk.
** Simon Blackquill makes a point out of doing this with his handcuffed wrists, breaking the handcuffs.
** Nahyuta Sahdmadhi hits the desk with prayer beads.
** [[spoiler: Queen Ga'ran as a prosecutor]] does this with a book.
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to [[spoiler: Mael Stronghart, who instead uses a seemingly metal cane that makes an impressive clang.]]
[[/folder]]
* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': Every lawyer does desk slams, and several of the types are this trope.
** Franziska von Karma whips the desk.
** Godot slams his coffee mug onto the desk.
** Simon Blackquill makes a point out of doing this with his handcuffed wrists, breaking the handcuffs.
** Nahyuta Sahdmadhi hits the desk with prayer beads.
** [[spoiler: Queen Ga'ran as a prosecutor]] does this with a book.
** This trope applies to all judges with their gavels, special mention going to [[spoiler: Mael Stronghart, who instead uses a seemingly metal cane that makes an impressive clang.]]
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Created from YKTTW
Added DiffLines:
There are a lot of ways to get someone to listen to you or get your point across. You can yell, scream, cry, threaten or even get physical with them. However, did you ever want to give them the illusion of a situation that could escalate? Try tapping an item in your hand, with a rolled-up newspaper, a rolling pin or a belt being popular items.
Granted, the scenario doesn't have to go any further (but ''they'' don't know that), but tapping the item can make someone pay attention and think about what they'll say or do next. This might be done by AbusiveParents, a [[BadBoss bad]] or otherwise MeanBoss, someone who WouldHitAGirl and/or WouldHurtAChild [[HateSink if they're meant to be in the wrong for it.]]
Remember that this trope [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible can be flexible;]] whereas item-tapping is pretty common, it can also include someone tapping their foot or their fingers in annoyance or disgust.
This trope can be seen as a LighterAndSofter type of PercussiveTherapy and might precede any kind of CorporalPunishment (such as [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff getting spanked]]), whether or not [[AbuseDiscretionShot this is shown onscreen]]. See also AgitatedItemStomping, AGlassInTheHand, DoorSlamOfRage, PunchAWall, FryingPanOfDoom, RollingPinOfDoom, DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff and ShootTheTelevision for more aggressive forms of "item tapping".
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': From "Underground Chaos", tapping is done because of impatience:
--> "Where the hell are those imp morons?" Lorn, the largest of the trolls, asked while tapping the tip of his club against the ground impatiently.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12946773/1/Lincoln-is-Dumb?__cf_chl_rt_tk=PVYwMowyx2h.NI_gNi3xRAcsiDxXhUxvAZx4mkadLHY-1686567230-0-gaNycGzNC6U Lincoln is Dumb]]'' (which is a TrollFic of a ''Fanfic/LincolnIsDone'', a ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' fic), Luna slaps a tire iron in her hand when she explains to Lori that she's [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique painfully interrogating Lynn]].
* ''Fanfic/TheSeasonsMyReason'': In "Lala-Love", [[Toys/{{Lalaloopsy}} Cure Gemstone]] taps her wand in her hand while anticipating [[Anime/DeliciousPartyPrettyCure Cure Precious]] delivering the final blow on Chef Forgifta.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films: Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWrongTrousers'': Gromit taps a rolling pin against his palm while facing Feathers the penguin, until Feathers pulls a gun on him.
* ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'': Mrs. Tweedy is tapping a pencil on her clipboard as she notices that Edwina hasn't laid any eggs all week.
* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'': At the end, North asks Jack if he officially wants to become one of the Guardians now. An elf impatiently taps a trumpet in his hand, clearly wanting Jack to just say yes already.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax2012'': When the forest critters turn against the Once-ler for being reckless with some of his more dangerous belongings, a Swomee Swan thumps a stick against its wing.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films: Live-Action]]
* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stuck in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace'' when the COVNET lab rats put off their own escape and return to help Rizzo save Gonzo from being experimented on, lead rat Bubba gives the musophobic MadScientist a PreAsskickingOneLiner while tapping his palm with a cotton swab.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'': Commander Root habitually taps on his triple-barreled blaster when he wants to make a point.
* ''Literature/{{Matilda}}'': When the Trunchbull confronts Bruce Bogtrotter about the cake he stole and ate, she is constantly smacking a riding crop against her own thigh, before announcing what his punishment is. Bruce finds some comfort in that the law forbids her to hit him with it, but not much because the Trunchbull is totally unpredictable.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/FawltyTowers'': In "Waldorf Salad", Basil sees smoke pouring in from the kitchen, and punches his palm meaningfully before he heads into the kitchen to confront the chef (whom Basil is pretending is there).
* ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'': In ''Literature/WelcomeToCampNightmare'', Billy begins to suspect that something is wrong with the camp. He arms himself with a baseball bat and taps it in his hand.
* ''Series/MamasFamily'':
** In "Sins of the Mother", after Bubba is grounded by Thelma for coming home drunk, Vinton tries to allay his concern about her folding and giving in to allow him to participate in a swim meet. She of course overhears this and starts tapping a rolled-up newspaper in her hand to shut him up.
** She does it again in "Mama Takes Three" to prevent Vinton from saying anything negative about his childhood to a case worker at an adoption agency when he and Naomi are trying to qualify for a child, only this time she uses a rolled-up magazine.
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': In "The Things I Do For Love", Peg, who's been trying to seduce Al all episode, is at one point dressed in a leather jacket and miniskirt combo and taps both the kitchen table and the couch with a riding crop [[NeverMyFault (and then complains about how someone needs to dust the house after a lot of it comes out from the latter).]]
* This is weaponized in ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In [[Recap/MotherlandFortSalemS3E8PetrasFavoritePen "Petra's Favorite Pen]]" Col. Jarrett mocks Gen. Petra Bellweather for being powerless to do much about her soldiers being sent to their deaths, since she is oath-bound to protect the U.S. She starts tapping her pen in apparent frustration, while musing [[ExactWords that her oath is to protect the U.S. "from all enemies, foreign and domestic]]". As his actions qualify him as the latter, [[LoopholeAbuse her oath mandates she take action]]. She syncs his heartbeat to the rhythm of her pen tapping, and taps faster and faster, accelerating his heart rate until he drops dead, presumably from a heart attack.
* ''Series/SavedByTheBell'': In "Screech's Spaghetti Sauce", in a commercial for the eponymous sauce, Zack (playing Jessie's husband) begins to insult her bad spaghetti sauce to her brother Screech and starts to refer to him as "your sister", until she starts to tap a rolling pin in her hand in anger and he then calls her "my beautiful wife" as a save.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/BaldisBasicsInEducationAndLearning'': When you [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption inevitably get a math problem wrong]], Baldi gives you a DeathGlare and he begins to slap his ruler against his hand as he chases you throughout the game.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'': Sonic taps his foot on the ground as a IdleAnimation, showing him getting impatient for the player to input a command.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': In "[[Recap/ArthurS1E6LockedInTheLibraryArthurAccused Locked in the Library]]", after Arthur receives a threatening note from Francine for calling her a marshmallow, he and Buster see the girls with angry looks on their faces. Muffy can be seen tapping a ruler on her desk.
* ''WesternAnimation/GrizzlyTalesForGruesomeKids'': In "The Barber of Civil", Peregrine and Tanya are sent to the headmaster's office. The headmaster starts intimating the kids by tapping a cane in his hand. This scene is reused in the later episodes "Fat Boy with a Trumpet" and "It's Only a Game, Sport".
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': At the end of "Bought and Scold", Princess manages to get her father's stolen items back from the Powerpuff Girls. She is relieved and starts to think she's all clear, but then [[RightBehindMe she turns around and finds her very displeased father tapping a newspaper against the palm of his hand.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'':
** In "Stimpy's Cartoon Show", after Stimpy has placed several cartoons on a storyboard, director Ren comes in while tapping a belt in his hand, criticizes the images and rips most of them off of the wall, leaving the former in tears.
** In "Stimpy's Invention", Ren approaches Stimpy while tapping a rolled-up newspaper and asking him what's behind his back. According to WordOfGod, the Nickelodeon censors wanted this part cut out of fear that it would upset viewers whose parents potentially ''did'' beat them with the morning paper.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "The Fat and the Furriest", Homer has a NightmareSequence where he is surrounded by various pop culture bears, including an ''Intensive'' Care Bear who taps a tire iron (that Homer incorrectly identifies as a crowbar) in his hand right before the attack.
** Chief Wiggum can be angrily tapping a choke hold whenever there's a crime.
** In the third segment of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E6TreehouseOfHorrorV Treehouse of Horror V]]", Bart got detention and saw Principal Skinner sternly tapping a ruler against his hand in outside a crowded detention room.
[[/folder]]
Granted, the scenario doesn't have to go any further (but ''they'' don't know that), but tapping the item can make someone pay attention and think about what they'll say or do next. This might be done by AbusiveParents, a [[BadBoss bad]] or otherwise MeanBoss, someone who WouldHitAGirl and/or WouldHurtAChild [[HateSink if they're meant to be in the wrong for it.]]
Remember that this trope [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible can be flexible;]] whereas item-tapping is pretty common, it can also include someone tapping their foot or their fingers in annoyance or disgust.
This trope can be seen as a LighterAndSofter type of PercussiveTherapy and might precede any kind of CorporalPunishment (such as [[DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff getting spanked]]), whether or not [[AbuseDiscretionShot this is shown onscreen]]. See also AgitatedItemStomping, AGlassInTheHand, DoorSlamOfRage, PunchAWall, FryingPanOfDoom, RollingPinOfDoom, DontMakeMeTakeMyBeltOff and ShootTheTelevision for more aggressive forms of "item tapping".
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder: Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': From "Underground Chaos", tapping is done because of impatience:
--> "Where the hell are those imp morons?" Lorn, the largest of the trolls, asked while tapping the tip of his club against the ground impatiently.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12946773/1/Lincoln-is-Dumb?__cf_chl_rt_tk=PVYwMowyx2h.NI_gNi3xRAcsiDxXhUxvAZx4mkadLHY-1686567230-0-gaNycGzNC6U Lincoln is Dumb]]'' (which is a TrollFic of a ''Fanfic/LincolnIsDone'', a ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' fic), Luna slaps a tire iron in her hand when she explains to Lori that she's [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique painfully interrogating Lynn]].
* ''Fanfic/TheSeasonsMyReason'': In "Lala-Love", [[Toys/{{Lalaloopsy}} Cure Gemstone]] taps her wand in her hand while anticipating [[Anime/DeliciousPartyPrettyCure Cure Precious]] delivering the final blow on Chef Forgifta.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films: Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWrongTrousers'': Gromit taps a rolling pin against his palm while facing Feathers the penguin, until Feathers pulls a gun on him.
* ''WesternAnimation/ChickenRun'': Mrs. Tweedy is tapping a pencil on her clipboard as she notices that Edwina hasn't laid any eggs all week.
* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'': At the end, North asks Jack if he officially wants to become one of the Guardians now. An elf impatiently taps a trumpet in his hand, clearly wanting Jack to just say yes already.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax2012'': When the forest critters turn against the Once-ler for being reckless with some of his more dangerous belongings, a Swomee Swan thumps a stick against its wing.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Films: Live-Action]]
* ''Film/ChildsPlay2'': Chucky taps a yard stuck in his hand before beating a teacher to death with it for locking him in a closet.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace'' when the COVNET lab rats put off their own escape and return to help Rizzo save Gonzo from being experimented on, lead rat Bubba gives the musophobic MadScientist a PreAsskickingOneLiner while tapping his palm with a cotton swab.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'': Commander Root habitually taps on his triple-barreled blaster when he wants to make a point.
* ''Literature/{{Matilda}}'': When the Trunchbull confronts Bruce Bogtrotter about the cake he stole and ate, she is constantly smacking a riding crop against her own thigh, before announcing what his punishment is. Bruce finds some comfort in that the law forbids her to hit him with it, but not much because the Trunchbull is totally unpredictable.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/FawltyTowers'': In "Waldorf Salad", Basil sees smoke pouring in from the kitchen, and punches his palm meaningfully before he heads into the kitchen to confront the chef (whom Basil is pretending is there).
* ''Series/{{Goosebumps}}'': In ''Literature/WelcomeToCampNightmare'', Billy begins to suspect that something is wrong with the camp. He arms himself with a baseball bat and taps it in his hand.
* ''Series/MamasFamily'':
** In "Sins of the Mother", after Bubba is grounded by Thelma for coming home drunk, Vinton tries to allay his concern about her folding and giving in to allow him to participate in a swim meet. She of course overhears this and starts tapping a rolled-up newspaper in her hand to shut him up.
** She does it again in "Mama Takes Three" to prevent Vinton from saying anything negative about his childhood to a case worker at an adoption agency when he and Naomi are trying to qualify for a child, only this time she uses a rolled-up magazine.
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': In "The Things I Do For Love", Peg, who's been trying to seduce Al all episode, is at one point dressed in a leather jacket and miniskirt combo and taps both the kitchen table and the couch with a riding crop [[NeverMyFault (and then complains about how someone needs to dust the house after a lot of it comes out from the latter).]]
* This is weaponized in ''Series/MotherlandFortSalem'': In [[Recap/MotherlandFortSalemS3E8PetrasFavoritePen "Petra's Favorite Pen]]" Col. Jarrett mocks Gen. Petra Bellweather for being powerless to do much about her soldiers being sent to their deaths, since she is oath-bound to protect the U.S. She starts tapping her pen in apparent frustration, while musing [[ExactWords that her oath is to protect the U.S. "from all enemies, foreign and domestic]]". As his actions qualify him as the latter, [[LoopholeAbuse her oath mandates she take action]]. She syncs his heartbeat to the rhythm of her pen tapping, and taps faster and faster, accelerating his heart rate until he drops dead, presumably from a heart attack.
* ''Series/SavedByTheBell'': In "Screech's Spaghetti Sauce", in a commercial for the eponymous sauce, Zack (playing Jessie's husband) begins to insult her bad spaghetti sauce to her brother Screech and starts to refer to him as "your sister", until she starts to tap a rolling pin in her hand in anger and he then calls her "my beautiful wife" as a save.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/BaldisBasicsInEducationAndLearning'': When you [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption inevitably get a math problem wrong]], Baldi gives you a DeathGlare and he begins to slap his ruler against his hand as he chases you throughout the game.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1'': Sonic taps his foot on the ground as a IdleAnimation, showing him getting impatient for the player to input a command.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': In "[[Recap/ArthurS1E6LockedInTheLibraryArthurAccused Locked in the Library]]", after Arthur receives a threatening note from Francine for calling her a marshmallow, he and Buster see the girls with angry looks on their faces. Muffy can be seen tapping a ruler on her desk.
* ''WesternAnimation/GrizzlyTalesForGruesomeKids'': In "The Barber of Civil", Peregrine and Tanya are sent to the headmaster's office. The headmaster starts intimating the kids by tapping a cane in his hand. This scene is reused in the later episodes "Fat Boy with a Trumpet" and "It's Only a Game, Sport".
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': At the end of "Bought and Scold", Princess manages to get her father's stolen items back from the Powerpuff Girls. She is relieved and starts to think she's all clear, but then [[RightBehindMe she turns around and finds her very displeased father tapping a newspaper against the palm of his hand.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'':
** In "Stimpy's Cartoon Show", after Stimpy has placed several cartoons on a storyboard, director Ren comes in while tapping a belt in his hand, criticizes the images and rips most of them off of the wall, leaving the former in tears.
** In "Stimpy's Invention", Ren approaches Stimpy while tapping a rolled-up newspaper and asking him what's behind his back. According to WordOfGod, the Nickelodeon censors wanted this part cut out of fear that it would upset viewers whose parents potentially ''did'' beat them with the morning paper.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In "The Fat and the Furriest", Homer has a NightmareSequence where he is surrounded by various pop culture bears, including an ''Intensive'' Care Bear who taps a tire iron (that Homer incorrectly identifies as a crowbar) in his hand right before the attack.
** Chief Wiggum can be angrily tapping a choke hold whenever there's a crime.
** In the third segment of "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E6TreehouseOfHorrorV Treehouse of Horror V]]", Bart got detention and saw Principal Skinner sternly tapping a ruler against his hand in outside a crowded detention room.
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