History Main / Literalmetaphor

'''Man:''' No problem. ''(beat)'' Your wife's hot!\\

* ''Discworld/TheTruth'', about the {{Discworld}}'s first newspaper, begins with someone yelling "Stop the presses!"... because the printing press in question has come loose and is careening down the street.
* In ''Discworld/GoingPostal'', Moist's reaction to seeing the once-proud Post Office is "Shit!" Mr Pump reproves him for his language, but he explains it was a statement of fact: the place is filled with pigeon droppings.

* ''{{Scrubs}}'' put an [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean ''interesting'']] spin on this one:

'''Sabine:''' No, I meant a literal sacrifice. I have a desecrated altar waiting for your corpse in the next room. We should get like nine months of evil hapiness by eating your heart. Twelve, if you're a virgin.

[[AC:{{Advertising}}]]

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* From ''BirdsOfPrey'' #93:
--> '''Lady Blackhawk:''' You drive. [[CallingShotGun I call shotgun.]]
--> '''Gypsy:''' But Shiva's already in that seat...
--> '''Lady Blackhawk:''' No. I mean -- I call '''[[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotgun.]]'''
* In ScottPilgrim, Ramona says that Gideon has "a way of getting inside her head." Scott agrees, prompting Ramona to tell him that she means Gideon ''literally'' has a way of getting inside her head.
[[AC:{{Film}}]]

-->I think Alan Swan's beneath us.
-->Of course he's beneath us. He's an actor.
-->No, I mean he's actually below us.

-->'''Paul''': He can't just walk out on us like this!
-->'''John''': Can't he? He's done it, son!

* In ''ChickenRun'', Rocky and Ginger are trying to escape from the chicken-pie-making machine. When they get pushed into one chamber, Rocky exclaims, "Whew! It's like an oven in here ..." A second later, gas flames shoot up on all sides and the door starts to close.

* A nice example in ''Keeping the Faith'', when Bonnie Rose is boasting about daughter Rose's professional achievements to the hot new Rabbi: 'My mum does all my PR,' Rose explains. 'I know what you mean. Mine too,' says the Rabbi. 'No, I mean really. My mum's firm does all my PR.'


[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

-->'''Grahame Coats''': You keep using the phrase 'bite my head off.' Now when you say 'bite my head off,' I take it I can assume that it is actually some kind of metaphorical statement, implying that you'll shout at me, perhaps rather angrily?
-->'''Tiger''': Bite your head off. Then crunch it. Then swallow it.
* ''Discworld/TheTruth'', about the {{Discworld}}'s first newspaper, begins with someone yelling "Stop the presses!"...because the printing press in question has come loose and is careening down the street.
** In ''Discworld/GoingPostal'', Moist's reaction to seeing the once-proud Post Office is "Shit!" Mr Pump reproves him for his language, but he explains it was a statement of fact: the place is filled with pigeon droppings.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

-->'''Sophia:''' Then it happened, what every runner dreads. I hit the wall.
-->'''Dorothy:''' Aww, you ran out of steam.
-->'''Sophia:''' No, I actually hit a wall!

-->'''Joe:''' Who won the arm wrestling match?
-->'''Helen:''' Fay licked me.
-->'''Joe:''' She beat you, huh?
-->'''Helen:''' No, she licked me. She literally ''licked'' my hand. I was so startled, she caught me off-guard, pinned me to the table.

-->'''J.D.:''' We could have sex again.
-->'''Elliot:''' Bite me.
-->'''J.D.:''' Oh, come on, I was kidding! It's a joke!
-->'''Elliot:''' No, I mean it. Like you did last night. [''takes off her shirt and throws it at him''] Come bite me.
** JD's fantasies are often literal representations of metaphors, such as Kelso asking Elliot a difficult question, Elliot struggling to answer it and then (in JD's mind) noticeably straining, before a brick falls to the floor.

* ''PushingDaisies'', "Smell of Success"
-->'''Emerson''': Your book was a bomb. \\
'''Napoleon''': Who are you to criticize my life's work?! \\
'''Emerson''': [deadpan] Your book. Was a bomb. It ''exploded.''
** Also in "Bad Habits":
-->'''Emerson''': That's bat crap. \\
'''Olive''': It's a frickin' convent. Show some respect. \\
'''Emerson''': (pointing at the white-streaked wall of the bell tower) I'm showing you bat crap.
* From ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'':
-->'''Buffy''': [My mom] saw these scores, and her head spun around and exploded.
-->'''Giles''': I've been living on the hellmouth too long... that ''was'' metaphorical, wasn't it?

-->'''Nick''': She got a frog in her throat.
-->'''Kevin''': There is a bug going around.
-->'''Nick''': No, she was swimming in the swamp and got an ''actual'' frog ''in'' her throat. She's at the hospital right now getting a frog-ectomy.

-->'''Dean''': Where'd you serve?
-->'''Guy''': Fallujah -- two tours. Got back a little over a year ago. Takes one to know one. Where'd you serve?
-->'''Dean''': Hell.
-->'''Guy''': No, seriously.
-->'''Dean''': Seriously. Hell.
* ''DoctorWho'': in one of the Sontaran episodes of Nu Who, when describing the ATMOS GPS system while driving:
-->'''Russ''': It drives me round the bend.
* In the new BattlestarGalactica, Baltar asks the "imaginary" [[FanNickname Head]] [[MsFanservice Six]] what she really is. Her response? [[spoiler:An angel of God sent to guide humanity. And it turns out that she was being completely serious]]. [[TheChrisCarterEffect Not that the writers really knew the answer either]].
* In an episode of ''IDreamOfJeannie,'' Major Healey has invited everyone to a party in his completely bare apartment. He tells Major Nelson that new furniture would be installed "in the blink of an eye. Um, where did you say Jeannie was?"
* From the StargateSG1 episode "1969":
--> '''Maj. Thornberg:''' What was the weapon you used?
--> '''Col. O'Neill:''' [innocently] Weapon?
--> '''Maj. Thornberg:''' Our cameras saw some sort of weapon.
--> '''Col. O'Neill:''' Oh. Well, it's hard to say.
--> '''Maj. Thornberg:''' Some sort of state secret?
--> '''Col. O'Neill:''' No, just difficult to pronounce.

[[AC: Music]]
* "At your command, before you here I stand, my heart is in my hand -- yeucch!" from ''[[TomLehrer The Masochism Tango]]''.

[[AC: NewspaperComics]]
* Several of [[CalvinAndHobbes Calvin]]'s {{Imagine Spot}}s involved this. Many other comics have since picked up on this and done it ''ad nauseum''.

[[AC:Other]]
* Guerrilla street artist {{BANKSY}} used the phrase EatTheRich in one of his works [[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3965058479_9ac1fbedf5_z.jpg with a much more literal slant.]]

[[AC: TabletopGames]]

--> ''Humans do not understand the nature of crime on Nigerian campuses. They do not understand why it seems so hard to fight. I did not understand, until I became [[AGodAmI Noble]]; until I could'' see ''it. The gangs are not packs of rogues. They are not criminals. They are a hydra. Cut off one head and two more grow. This is not a metaphor. This is not a verbal device. They are a hydra. I have seen it rage with my own two eyes.''

[[AC: VideoGames]]

* EvilGenius have the brainwasher, whicj sucks the brain out of the person strapped to it, and washes it with a special chemical concoction.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Used in ''StrokerAndHoop'' to turn protecting [[MacGuffin the sword of the fire lotus]] into a ShaggyDogStory , when all it did was [[PowerGlows light up]].
-->'''Villain:''' The ancient scrolls said its power shone like a lantern... We always assumed it was a metaphor.
-->'''Stroker:''' Yeah... I guess it must have seemed a lot cooler before they invented flashlights.
* A ''{{Futurama}}'' example, from when the crew are floating in space collecting [[PlotCoupons Chronotons]]:
-->'''Leela''': All right, cool your jets hotshot.
-->'''Fry''': C'mon Leela, why won't you go out with me? We both know there's something there!
-->'''Leela''': No, I mean ''cool your jets''. You're melting Bender's face.

-->'''Zoidberg:''' Ladies and germs...
-->''(rimshot)''
-->'''Zoidberg:''' What? That wasn't a joke! I was addressing Dr. Paramecium over there!
* In ''TheSimpsons'', when Lisa is talking about guest-star [[TheCritic Jay Sherman]]:
-->'''Lisa''': I like him! He's smart, he's sensitive, he's clearly not obsessed with his physical appearance --
-->'''Homer''': My ears are burning.
-->'''Lisa''': Uh, I wasn't talking about you, Dad.
-->'''Homer''': No, my ears are really burning. I wanted to see inside so I lit a Q-Tip.

-->'''Louie''': Hey, I thought you said Troy [=McClure=] was dead.
-->'''Tony''': No, what I said was: "[[ButYouScrewOneGoat He sleeps with the fishes]]". You see...
-->'''Louie''': [[BrainBleach Uh, Tony, please, no. I just ate a whole plate of dingamagoo...]]
* This one from FamilyGuy:
--->'''Man''': Wow, Lois Griffin. Hey, I love your act! Nice melons.
--->'''Peter''': Hey, listen pal!
--->'''Lois''': Peter, I'm holding melons.
--->''She's holding two watermelons.''
--->'''Peter''': Oh.
--->'''Man''': And her hooters ain't bad either.
--->'''Peter''': Now hang on a second there!
--->'''Lois''': Peter, I'm holding hooters!
--->''She has two owls perched on her arm.''
--->'''Peter''': Oh, sorry.
--->'''Man''': No problem. [beat] Your wife's hot!
--->'''Peter''': All right that's it!
* Variation in {{Gorillaz}}'s ''We Are The Dury'':
-->'''Murdoc:''' It can be very distracting when you've got six or seven decomposing zombies stuck up your chimney flue.
-->'''2D:''' We've got a chimney flue?
-->'''Murdoc:''' I'm speaking metaphorically, D. I'm using the analogy of the chimney flue to describe the, um, passageways of our flowing creativity. The zombies, in this case, are used as a metaphor for blockages to the airways, figuratively speaking.
-->'''2D:''' Really?
-->'''Murdoc:''' No. There really are about six undead carcasses stuck up the studio chimney.
-->'''2D:''' Oh. Well, that'd explain the smell.
* Used a couple of times in the ''PhineasAndFerb'' episode "Comet Kermillian." While at the park, Candace's screams of "I have SquirrelsInMyPants!" are misinterpreted by a couple of performers, who think she's referring to her crazy dance moves. Then the squirrels get out, and one of the guys comments, "We just got served." Later on, when [[ItMakesSenseInContext steaks are falling from the sky]], the same guy catches one and comments, "We keep getting served."

-->'''Rudy:''' I'd try the cockfight.
-->'''Archer:''' A cockfight?
-->'''Charles:''' It's the name of a gay bar.
-->'''Rudy:''' But they do have actual cockfights there.
-->'''Charles:''' Latinos...you take the bad with the good.
-->''(later, in The Cockfight)''
-->'''Archer:''' Let me buy you a drink.
-->'''Ramon:''' Why don't you buy him one? He could use one.
-->''(pan to huge Hispanic guy crying over a dead rooster)''
-->'''Archer:''' Why don't we all have one, and...(notices Ramon is gone)
-->''(still later)''
-->'''Rudy:''' Look at slut just getting home!
-->'''Charles:''' Well, I guess our advice worked.
-->'''Archer:''' No! It didn't! Ramon blew me off.
-->'''Rudy:''' Then where were you all night?
-->'''Archer:''' Way the Christ out in the Everglades, burying some Dominican guy's rooster!
-->'''Charles:''' Fun!
-->''(beat)''
-->'''Archer:''' Wha...
-->'''Charles:''' Oh, you meant literally.
-->'''Archer:''' Yes!

-->'''Mr. Waterman''': Where's my [[TheBeard beard]]?
-->'''Mrs. Waterman''': Right here. ''({{beat}})'' ''(holds up a Santa beard)''
* On ''JusticeLeague'' Unlimited, Braniac 5 and GreenArrow find the [[FiveBadBand Fatal Five]] waiting for them.
-->'''Brainiac 5''': Shoot.
-->'''Green Arrow''': I know. I was hoping they'd be out looking for us.
-->'''Brainiac 5''': No, shoot!

[[AC:WebComics]]
* In an early episode of ''QuestionableContent'', Marten describes his job as being "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=85 the office bitch]]". This is his official job title.
* One patron in ''{{Unshelved}}'' runs into a problem like this when his girlfriend [[http://www.unshelved.com/archive.aspx?strip=20070417 wants to close the book on their relationship]].
* In ''FindersKeepers'', Death sends Cailyn Asher a knife after Card asks for her (Death's) help. When Cailyn, Card, and Lady Scarring examine the knife later, Scarring calls it "the cutting edge." Cailyn of course asks what it is the cutting edge of, only to be told that the knife is '''the''' Cutting Edge, and it ''literally'' [[http://www.finderskeepers.gcgstudios.com/?p=comic&chap=1&cid=22 cuts theory from reality.]]
* [[http://exterminatusnow.comicgenesis.com/d/20080112.html This]] strip from ''ExterminatusNow''.
* ''[[DanAndMabsFurryAdventures DMFA]]'' can be literal at times:
--> '''Dan''' (with ears on fire) [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_332.php Whoah...Hey Lexsi...my ears are burning!]]
--> '''Alexsi''' (Not looking) I'm sure they are Dan..
* In ''EverydayHeroes'', Jane confesses to her neighbor Joan that she used to be a villain. When Joan expresses doubt, Jane assures her it's true; "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt!" And to prove it, she [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=116236 shows Joan the t-shirt]]. (Also a ShoutOut to ''{{Narbonic}}''.)
** Also, it's not polite to say "don't get all bent out of shape" to a man with a [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=175292 spinal injury]].

[[AC:RealLife]]

<<|ComedyTropes|>>

* In an early episode of ''QuestionableContent'', Marten describes his job as being "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=85 the office bitch]]".
** It would seem as if, in order to satisfy this trope, his job would be being a female dog.

* ''[[Discworld/TheTruth]]'', about the {{Discworld}}'s first newspaper, begins with someone yelling "Stop the presses!"...because the printing press in question has come loose and is careening down the street.
** In ''[[Discworld/GoingPostal]]'', Moist's reaction to seeing the once-proud Post Office is "Shit!" Mr Pump reproves him for his language, but he explains it was a statement of fact: the place is filled with pigeon droppings.

* ''[[{{Discworld}} The Truth]]'', about the Disc's first newspaper, begins with someone yelling "Stop the presses!"...because the printing press in question has come loose and is careening down the street.

* In ''Jonas'':

* [[http://iamnotashamed.org/ I am not ashamed]], an [[TheFundamentalist Answers in Genesis]] powered website, encouraged christians around the world to "''stand'' unashamedly and uncompromisingly ''on'' {{the bible}}." (See MixedMetaphor.) In response, [[http://hjhop.blogspot.com/2010/04/uncompromising-unashamed-atheists-can.html a group of internet atheist]] decided to comply with this call a little more literally than the creators of the original campaign had intended.

** JD's fantasies are often literal representations of metaphors, such as Kelso asking Elliot a difficult question, Elliot struggling to answer it and then (in JD's mind) noticably straining, before a brick falls to the floor.

--->'''Man''': No problem. Your wife's hot!

* In ''TheClevelandShow'', [[TransparentCloset Mr. Waterman]] is trying to find the rest of his Santa costume:

* In ''{{Hancock}}'' Some Prisoners hit the main characters BerserkButton and Hancock literally shoves that guy's head up another guy's rear end. in His Defense, He did tell the prisoner he was going to do it...

* In the book ''AnansiBoys'', Tiger is trapped a cave with the thoroughly annoying Grahame Coats. Tiger warns him to not be irritating or he (Tiger) will bite his (Coats's) head off.

* One of the bits of flavor text from ''{{Nobilis}}'':
--> ''Humans do not understand the nature of crime on Nigerian campuses. They do not understand why it seems so hard to fight. I did not understand, until I became [[AGodAmI Noble]]; until I could'' see ''it. The gangs are not packs of rogues. They are not criminals. They are a hydra. Cut off one head and two more grow. This is not a metaphor. This is not a verbal device. They are a hydra. I have seen it rage with my own two eyes.''

* ''{{DMFA}}'' can be a literal at times

* In ''UglyBetty'', Betty once literally judged a book by it's cover.

* A nice example in ''KeepingTheFaith'', when Bonnie Rose is boasting about daughter Rose's professional achievements to the hot new Rabbi: 'My mum does all my PR,' Rose explains. 'I know what you mean. Mine too,' says the Rabbi. 'No, I mean really. My mum's firm does all my PR.'

* A nice example in "KeepingTheFaith", when Bonnie Rose is boasting about her daughter' Rose's professional achievements to the hot new Rabbi: 'My mum does all my PR,' Rose explains. 'I know what you mean. Mine too,' says the Rabbi. 'No, I mean really. My mum's firm does all my PR.'