History Main / LikeAWeasel

->'''Hamlet''': [[ThatCloudLooksLike Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?]]
->'''Polonius''': By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.
->'''Hamlet''': Methinks it is [[TropeNamer like a weasel]].
->'''Polonius''': It is backed like a weasel.
->'''Hamlet''': Or like a whale?
->'''Polonius''': Very like a whale.
-->-- ''{{Hamlet}}'', III.ii[[note]]This scene takes place indoors.[[/note]]

Bob decides the way to curry favor with Alice is to agree with her, even when it means getting entangled in absurd contradiction. Sometimes Alice decides to feed Bob rope; sometimes she's just oblivious.

This is common with fictional depictions of royalty - particularly when the character doing the fawning is deviously scheming their way into power. It also shows up a lot when Bob is attracted to Alice.

Sometimes a character like this gets handed down an {{Anvilicious}} BeYourself message. A typical dialog runs like this:

->'''Character A:''' Okay, I don't really like X.\\
'''Character B:''' Why would you say that you like X if you don't?\\
'''Character A:''' ''(abashed)'' I guess I just wanted you to like me.\\
'''Character B:''' You don't have to impress me, I already like you.\\
'''Character A:''' Really?\\
'''Character B:''' Of course! Just BeYourself.

A YesMan is an assistant (in a business or political capacity) whose ''job'' is to be LikeAWeasel. FavouritismFlipFlop is a subtrope where Bob openly says he hates something until Alice says she likes it.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* The wife of Orthopedix in ''Asterix and Caesar's Gift''. (She wants him to be elected new chief of the village, and caters to everyone's whims like a politician would do it.)
--> Orthopedix' wife (to Unhygienix the fishmonger): "Orthopedix says that there should be days when you can eat only fish."
--> Random guy: "I prefer to eat meat."
--> Orthopedix' wife: "Exactly. That's why he thinks that we should also eat meat on fish days and the other way round."

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]

* In the first ''Film/{{Spider-Man}}'' movie, Mary Jane comments on how gross the spiders are. Harry tries to agree with her, saying he hates them. She then says that she loves them, and he immediately agrees.
* In ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', a huge mob has decided that Brian is the Messiah. He tries to convince them otherwise, with less than spectacular results:
-->'''Brian''': Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves! You're all individuals!
-->'''Crowd''': [in unison] Yes! We're all individuals!
-->'''Brian''': You're all different!
-->'''Crowd''': [in unison] Yes, we are all different!
-->'''Crowd Member''': [mumbled] I'm not...
-->'''Second Crowd Member''': Shh!
-->'''Brian''': You've all got to work it out for yourselves!
-->'''Crowd''': [in unison] Yes, we've got to work it out for ourselves!
-->'''Brian''': ''That's'' it!
-->'''Crowd''': [in unison] Tell us more!
* In the EddieMurphy film ''ComingToAmerica'', the Prince seeks a different wife after the one betrothed to him had been trained from birth to agree with everything he says.
* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', Clu's right-hand-man Jarvis cowers before Sam Flynn as he walks into the command center to recover the stolen disc, declaring "Long live the Users!" When Clu arrives a bit later and finds the disc missing, Jarvis starts to say "Death to the Users!" but is [[KilledMidSentence decapitated mid-sentence]].
* The first ''AustinPowers'' movie shows us Austin's unbreakable loyalty to capitalism when he is first thawed.
-->'''Basil Exposition:''' A lot's happened since you were frozen. The ColdWar is over!\\
'''Austin Powers:''' Finally those capitalist pigs will pay for their crimes, eh? Eh comrades? Eh?\\
'''Basil Exposition:''' Austin... we won.\\
([[{{Beat}} Pause]])\\
'''Austin Powers:''' Oh, smashing, groovy, yay capitalism!

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film: Western Animation ]]

* Comes up in ''CloudyWithAChanceOfMeatballs'', when Flint describes the FLDSMDFR to Sam, whom he has a crush on. She starts listing possible foods it could make, ending with:
-->'''Sam''': How about Jell-O?
-->'''Flint''': Do you like Jell-O?
-->'''Sam''': [[PunctuatedForEmphasis I. Love. Jell-O.]]
-->'''Flint''': I love Jell-O, too! And peanut butter, right?
-->'''Sam''': Oh no no, I am severely allergic to peanuts.
-->'''Flint''': Eh, me, too.
** It comes up again much later in the movie: [[spoiler:while in the meateroid, Sam and Flint come across a pit lined with [[SpikesOfDoom shards of peanut brittle]]. Sam comments that "If either one of us touches it, we'll go into anaphylactic shock." ]].
-->'''Flint''': Actually, I'm not entirely allergic to peanuts. I... might have just said that to get you to like me.
-->'''Sam''': So you really thought that having allergies would make you more attractive?

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]

* Petulia from Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Discworld/AHatFullOfSky'' starts out like this. Paraphrased:
-->'''Tiffany''': I live on the Chalk.
-->'''Petulia''': Oh, where they have all those sheep? I don't much like sheep.
-->'''Tiffany''': We're very proud of our sheep.
-->'''Petulia''': Oh, I don't mean I hate them. I expect some sheep are OK. Obviously we've got to have sheep. They're better than goats, anyway... I like sheep. Sheep are nice.
::Tiffany is tempted to say that the sky is green, just to watch her trying to work her way around to agreement.
* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', Sansa spends the latter part of a chapter telling her sister how much she hates riding horses. When her betrothed shows up and says he likes to ride horses, she immediately says she loves to.
* Gaheris, in T.H. White's ''[[Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing The Queen Of Air And Darkness]]'', is described as agreeing with whatever his older brothers Gawaine and Agravaine think. Since they disagree a lot, this is difficult for him.
** ''ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'' follows White's characterisation in [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/0672.htm this]] strip.
* British statesman Lord Chesterfield wrote in ''Literature/LettersToHisSon'' against people who are like this: "On the other hand, the cunning, crafty man thinks to gain all his ends by the '[[GratuitousLatin suaviter in modo]]' only; HE BECOMES ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN; he seems to have no opinion of his own, and servilely adopts the present opinion of the present person; he insinuates himself only into the esteem of fools, but is soon detected, and surely despised by everybody else." (letter 133)
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

* There was an episode of ''{{Blossom}}'' in which Joey's girlfriend idolized him so much that she agreed with everything he said, and had no will of her own other than to please him.
* This was practically Andy Bernard's job during Season 3 of ''TheOffice'' (US).
* Inverted and played straight at once on ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment''. Maeby is trying to go against whatever her mother wants, while George Michael is in love with Maeby and agrees with whatever she says. At first Maeby wants to save the tree that Lindsey is trying to get cut down, but then Lindsey decides to save the tree...
--> '''George Michael''': You know, I can see why your mom likes it. It is a really nice tree...
--> '''Maeby''': We've got to get it torn down.
--> '''George Michael''': ...that must die. Stupid tree.
* ''TheFastShow'' had a recurring sketch about three friends, two of whom disagreed about nearly everything, while the third tried to agree with ''both of them at the same time''. This usually resulted in him agreeing with whoever spoke last, and then contradicting himself after the other friend replied. Eventually they'd get annoyed and start deliberately laying traps for him.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' employed this trope hilariously in episode six. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdNCEL5JKF8 Twentieth-Century Vole.]] It gets [[CrowningMomentOfFunny even funnier]] when the CEO begins playing games with the gathering of yes-men around the table, leading to exchanges like:
-->'''CEO''': Get out!
-->'''Fifth yes-man''': Huh?
-->'''CEO''': If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a yes-man! Get out! ''[Fifth yes-man leaves very quickly, with the CEO yelling after him]'' ''I'll see you never work again!'' [to sixth yes-man] ...What do you think?
-->'''Sixth yes-man''': What? I--
-->'''CEO''': Just because I have an idea doesn't mean it's great. It could be lousy.
-->'''Sixth yes-man''': It could?
-->'''CEO''': Yeah. What d'ya think?
-->'''Sixth yes-man''': It...it's lousy.
-->'''CEO''': There you are, you see, he spoke his mind. He said my idea was lousy. It just so happens my idea isn't lousy so get out you goddamn pinko subversive, get out! ''[sixth yes-man leaves; he turns toward the fourth yes-man]'' You...
-->'''Fourth yes-man''': Well, I...I think it's an excellent idea.
-->'''CEO''': Are you a yes-man?
-->'''Fourth yes-man''': No, no, no, I mean, there may be things against it...
-->'''CEO''': ''ARE YOU BEIN' INDECISIVE?!''
-->'''Fourth yes-man''': Yo! Nes! Perhaps! ''[rushes out]''
* ''FraggleRock'''s Wembley, to the point where he'll do this to multiple characters at the same time, even if his statements contradict things he said moments before.
** It's such a major part of his character that in the Fraggle lexicon, 'wembling' is the term for doing this, which is where he got his name.
* Sir Humphrey in ''YesMinister'' frequently does this as part of his latest attempt to flatter Hacker into doing his bidding:
-->'''Humphrey''': No man in his right mind could possibly contemplate such a proposal.
-->'''Hacker''': I'm contemplating it.
-->'''Humphrey''': Yes of course, Prime Minister, please, don't misunderstand me, it is quite right of course that you should ''contemplate'' all proposals that come from your government, but no sane man would ever ''support'' it.
-->'''Hacker''': I'm supporting it.
-->'''Humphrey''': And quite right, too.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]

* Musical example: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u18bdI6zW4A Brad Paisley's "Me neither"]]. A man approaches a woman in a bar, asks if she believes in love at first sight, then thoroughly agrees when she shoots him down. The theme continues throughout the song - [[CrowningMomentOfFunny words don't do it justice.]]
* On TheDoors' live album, there's an exchange that runs something like this:
-->Jim Morrison: I don't know if any of you people believe in astrology...
-->Idiot: I do!
-->JM: I am of course a Sagittarius, the most philosophical of all the signs...
-->I: I know, so am I!
-->JM: Anyway, I don't believe in it; I think it's a bunch of bullshit, myself.
-->I: Me too!

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]

* Polonius does this all the time in ''{{Hamlet}}'', especially while attempting to humor the prince, who is pretending to be insane, with the following being a standard example. Hamlet shamelessly encourages/[[{{Trolling}} trolls]] him.
-->'''Hamlet''': [[ThatCloudLooksLike Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?]]
-->'''Polonius''': By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.
-->'''Hamlet''': Methinks it is [[TropeNamer like a weasel]].
-->'''Polonius''': It is backed like a weasel.
-->'''Hamlet''': Or like a whale?
-->'''Polonius''': Very like a whale.\\

** Done again later with the minor character Osric.
-->'''Hamlet:''' Put your bonnet to his right use: 'tis for the head.
-->'''Osric:''' I thank your lordship; it is very hot.
-->'''Hamlet:''' No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.
-->'''Osric:''' It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
-->'''Hamlet:''' But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion.
-->'''Osric:''' Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as 'twere--I cannot tell how.

* ''Theatre/TheTamingOfTheShrew'': As part of the "taming", Petruchio forces Kate to be like this with him. This can appear to be dark and disturbing... [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation or hilarious]].
* ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'':
-->'''Mabel''': Young Frederic was to have led you to death and glory.\\
'''Police''' (chanting in monotone): That is not a pleasant way of putting it.\\
'''Mabel''': No matter; he will not so lead you, for he has allied himself once more with his old associates.\\
'''Police''': He has acted shamefully!\\
'''Mabel''': You speak falsely. You know nothing about it. He has acted nobly.\\
'''Police''': He has acted nobly!
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* [[http://lowroad75.comicgenesis.com/d/20080908.html This webcomic strip]].
* ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' describes this as "[[http://xkcd.com/185/ WikiFriends]]".

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* ''DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog''. Billy starts complaining about how boring laundry is; Penny talks about how much she likes it; he claims he was kidding. He proceeds in similar vein during the rest of the conversation, even going to so far as to buy her frozen yogurt but [[ContrivedCoincidence pretend it was an accident]] to avoid revealing that he's been stalking her.
--> '''Billy''': All those months, doing a stunningly boring chore.
--> '''Penny''': I'm a fan of laundry.
--> '''Billy''': [[{{Beat}} ...]] Psych! I love it!
--> '''Penny''': The smell of fabric softener... the feel of warm clothes in your hand...
--> '''Billy''': ''So'' good.
* [[http://www.violentacres.com/archives/84/if-you-dont-have-the-balls-to-be-hated-then-you-dont-deserve-to-be-loved This blog post]] implies that most respondents to blogs are like this.
* ''TheSalvationWar'''s first book, ''Armageddon?'', gives us this bit of dialogue between GeorgeWBush and [[TricoloursWithRustingRockets Vladimir Putin]], after one of the demonic generals surrenders and requests asylum:
-->'''Bush''': ''“Vladimir, this is Dubya. I have urgent news. General Abigor has just surrendered and defected.”''
-->'''Putin''': ''“That filthy Vlasovite bastard.”''
-->'''Bush''': ''“Sorry, Vladimir, you misunderstand, he’s a baldrick, he’s defecting to us.”''
-->''Without missing a beat, Putin carried on, “What I meant to say of course was that he is a heroic champion of freedom and liberty who has overcome his corrupt upbringing so that he can rally to the side of truth honor and justice.”''
-->'''Bush''': ''“That's right Vladimir, he’s a filthy Vlasovite bastard, but he's our filthy Vlasovite bastard.”''

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''FamilyGuy'' has several examples.
** There's this expert parody:
--->'''Yes-Man''': Good morning, Mr. Griffin. Nice day.\\
'''Peter''': Eh, it's a little cloudy.\\
'''Yes-Man''': It's absolutely cloudy, one of the worst days I've seen in years! So, good news about the Yankees.\\
'''Peter''': I hate the Yankees.\\
'''Yes-Man''': Pack of cheaters, that's what they are! I love your tie!\\
'''Peter''': I hate this tie.\\
'''Yes-man''': It's awful, it's gaudy, it's gotta go.\\
'''Peter''': ...I hate myself.\\
'''Yes-Man''': I hate you too, you make me sick, you fat sack of crap!\\
'''Peter''': But I'm the president.\\
'''Yes-Man''': The best there is!\\
'''Peter''': But you just said you hated me.\\
'''Yes-Man''': But... not you the... president, the you who said you hated you, you who love hate Yankees, clouds...*[[LogicBomb The Yes-man explodes]]*
** There's also the episode introducing [[NakedPeopleAreFunny the Campbell family]]; in one scene, Meg and Jeff are together, apparently comparing facts about themselves by blurting them out at the same time. Meg, however, waits a split second and just says the exact same thing Jeff says, to which he responds "that's 19 things we have in common!"
* In ''TheSimpsons'', Milhouse is like this all the time, especially when trying to flirt.
** In episode "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bart's Friend Falls in Love]]"
--->'''Milhouse''': Uh... That's a nice dress.
--->'''Samantha''': My Dad makes me wear it. I hate it.
--->'''Milhouse''': Uh, I hate it, too!
** In another episode, he tells Lisa that going back to school sucks; then Lisa replies that she liked school, only for Milhouse to say that he likes school too.
* Pöysti occasionally inverts this trope in ''{{Pasila}}''; if someone agrees with him, he might state the exact opposite of his previous argument.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Despotic rulers have a long, long history of imprisoning, exiling, torturing, or outright killing people who don't agree with them.
* OlderThanFeudalism: The second emperor of the Qín Dynasty (299-207 BCE) had something of a TreacherousAdvisor, Zhao Gao, who wanted to amass power for himself. So he had a deer brought before the emperor and claimed it a horse. Any courtier who dared tell the truth was soon vacated from his post. From then on ''zhǐ lù wéi mǎ'' ("Pointing at a Deer and Calling it a Horse") became the Chinese equivalent of BlatantLies. (Ancient China, troping for over two thousand years.)
* There is a story about Nasreddin abruptly changing his mind about some vegetables along with the king. When the king called him on that, Nasreddin merely stated "The vegetables are not the ones paying me a salary."

[[/folder]]

----

* Gaheris, in T.H. White's ''[[TheOnceAndFutureKing The Queen Of Air And Darkness]]'', is described as agreeing with whatever his older brothers Gawaine and Agravaine think. Since they disagree a lot, this is difficult for him.

* In the Eddie Murphy film ComingToAmerica, the Prince seeks a different wife after the one betrothed to him had been trained from birth to agree with everything he says.

* Sir Humphrey in YesMinister frequently does this as part of his latest attempt to flatter Hacker into doing his bidding:

* Despotic rulers have a long, long history of imprisoning, exiling, torturing, or outright killing people who don't agree with him.

-->-- ''{{Hamlet}}'', III.ii

* Despotic rulers have a long, long history of imprisoning, exiling, torturing, or outright killing people who don't agree him.

'''Mabel''': Young Frederic was to have led you to death and glory.\\