History Main / SlippedTheRopes

* BugsBunny in ''Film/SpaceJam''. When the aliens have him imprisoned, and are "gloating" to the highly amused toons, Bugs is quietly rolling his eyes and slipping out of the somewhat impressive amount of rope he's bound with. And the cuffs for his ears.

* ''{{Supernatural}}''. PlayedForDrama when Dean discovers Sam doesn't have a soul after being rescued from Hell. He beats Sam up and ties him to a chair while he and Cas try and work out what to do. Sam argues that it doesn't make any difference, and Dean can hardly keep him tied to a chair forever. He then stands up having spent the time working on his bonds.

* In the first book of ''WebOriginal/ShadowOfTheTemplar'', GentlemanThief Jeremy is captured and handcuffed by Team Templar. When the team decides that it's safe to release Jeremy from the cuffs, he casually tosses them away before they can even reach for the key.

* In the first book of ''ShadowOfTheTemplar'', GentlemanThief Jeremy is captured and handcuffed by Team Templar. When the team decides that it's safe to release Jeremy from the cuffs, he casually tosses them away before they can even reach for the key.

* Two of the kids from ''ThePacifier'' did this, silently and quite impressively.
* Marv did this in ''SinCity'', combined with BreakingTheBonds.

* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In "Living Conditions" Buffy is starting to go AxCrazy because a demon is taking her soul, so the Scoobies tie her to a chair. At one point Xander and Oz wonder if the ropes are tight enough, and cautiously approach Buffy...who promptly [[PutTheirHeadsTogether bangs their heads together]].

* ''NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' manga.

* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In "Living Conditions" Buffy is starting to go AxCrazy because a demon is taking her soul, so the Scoobies tie her to a chair. At one point Xander and Oz wonder if the ropes are tight enough, and cautiously approach Buffy...who promptly [[PuttingTheirHeadsTogether bangs their heads together]].

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' episode "[[Recap/AgentsOfSHIELDS1E2084 0-8-4]]", [[ActionGirl Melinda May]] does this... [[{{Badass}} by dislocating her wrist first]].

** In the second season, the gAang get caught by the Dai Li when attempting to reach the Earth King. When Long Feng accidentally reveals that the Avatar is among those caught, Sokka points Aang out. Aang, being the CheerfulChild he is, Earthbends his cuffs off, waves to the King, then Bends them back on again. Oddly, this does not clue the Dai Li that they probably need more firepower to keep this particular prisoner in line. It's just a quick gag.
*** Of course, it might have been more than just a quick gag if Long Feng actually won that argument...
** He did that before when charged for murder in a former life. He was in prison, hands and head locked in a pillory, and casually slipped out of it during a chat with other inmates.

* Ganta from ''DeadmanWonderland'' did this, using his own blood.
* In ''LupinIII'', Lupin can only be handcuffed if he lets you handcuff him. At one point, Fujiko uses this trait to convince Zenigata he's possessed - there's blood on the cuffs, which means he had to fight his way out of them... something the ''normal'' Lupin wouldn't have to do.
* ''{{Trigun}}'': Vash the Stampede once slid out of ropes to protect a young woman from bandits. Said bandits caught him before he could get back into them... the second time.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

* Iago had this moment in the third ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' movie. This time, however, it wasn't easy, as he had to wiggle out of his ''very'' tight bonds
* Done hilariously in ''TreasurePlanet'' with Dr. Doppler. Turns out, he has abnormally thin wrists.

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

* ''Western/{{Futurama}}'': When the Space Amazons have Bender, Zap, Fry, and Kif chained up, to explain that Bender lacks certain parts he slips one hand out of the chains to demonstrate and then puts it back in the chain.

* Harry Tasker did this in ''TrueLies''. The cool part is that he had just told his interrogator ''exactly'' how he was going to kill the guy, right before revealing the cuffs were off.

* In the second season of ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the gAang get caught by the Dai Li when attempting to reach the Earth King. When Long Feng accidentally reveals that the Avatar is among those caught, Sokka points Aang out. Aang, being the CheerfulChild he is, Earthbends his cuffs off, waves to the King, then Bends them back on again. Oddly, this does not clue the Dai Li that they probably need more firepower to keep this particular prisoner in line. It's just a quick gag.

* ''{{Futurama}}'' did a similar gag when the Space Amazons have Bender, Zap, Fry, and Kif chained up. To explain that Bender lacks certain parts he slips one hand out of the chains to demonstrate and then puts it back in the chain. Again, it's just a quick gag.
* ''FamilyGuy'' parodies this, the family get tied up by robbers and are trying to work out how to get free, when Chris or Peter stands up as the robbers didn't bother to tie him up.

--->'''Lois''': You realize we've been sitting here for fourteen hours?!
--->'''Chris''': Well, get pissy if you want, Mom. I've enjoyed the time we've had as a family.

* Dark and Riku from {{DNAngel}} have been captured and handcuffed because Dark surrendered the moment they were confronted. Riku is furious and begins yelling at Dark, at which point he reveals he has easily escaped.

* ''{{Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind}}'' manga.

* Iago had this moment in the third ''{{Disney/Aladdin}}'' movie. This time, however, it wasn't easy, as he had to wiggle out of his ''very'' tight bonds

* ''WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Roger Rabbit can slip out of his cuffs at any given moment, but ''only'' when it's funny.

* ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm04ACallToArms Babylon 5: A call To Arms]]'' has Dureena Nafeel show the entire Thieves guild that she already loosened the bonds by simply dropping them, then knocking out the person who was taunting her about being restrained.

[[/folder]]

* ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm04ACallToArms Babylon 5: A call To Arms'' has Dureena Nafeel show the entire Thieves guild that she already loosened the bonds by simply dropping them, then knocking out the person who was taunting her about being restrained.

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]

* At least one magician has had a routine where he's handcuffed by volunteers, supposedly to do an escape, his hands are hidden and he's continually pulling out one hand or the other (sometimes with the cuffs dangling from it) to "assist" the volunteers in setting up the supposed escape or pointing to things they have to do. It gets hysterical when the colunteers don't realize he's doing it.

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

* {{Futurama}} did a similar gag when the Space Amazons have Bender, Zap, Fry, and Kif chained up. To explain that Bender lacks certain parts he slips one hand out of the chains to demonstrate and then puts it back in the chain. Again, it's just a quick gag.
* FamilyGuy parodies this, the family get tied up by robbers and are trying to work out how to get free, when Chris or Peter stands up as the robbers didn't bother to tie him up.