History Main / ThrowingTheDistraction

Easy: you pick up a rock and toss it past him. When it lands, the noise will catch his attention, and he'll go to investigate, giving you ample time to slip past. This trick is what we call Throwing The Distraction. Alternatively if you're making an action movie, you can pass on the low budget rock and use a [[StuffBlowingUp grandiose explosion]] instead. It's less likely to be dismissed and looks cooler.

* ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation'': Amanda has a few options for doing this, including lighting up a flare and tossing it, or MacGyvering up a noise-maker. These work on various armed humans and Working Joes, but they also work on getting the xenomorph's attention away from her. However, in its case [[ArtificialBrilliance it will not fall for the same trick twice in a row]], requiring her to mix it up with different methods of drawing it off.

** In keeping with its theme, ''VideoGame/FarCry3BloodDragon'' replaces the stones with throwable ''dice''.

* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'': When Sullivan's reckless attempt to retrieve flag in library attracts [[ScaryLibrarian the Librarian's]] [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever attention]], Mike and the Oozma Kappa create a series of noisy activities in various parts of the library to distract her from Sullivan and the flag.

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptureTheFlag'': Amy distracts the night guard at the retirement home with a rock so she and Mike can get inside and meet Mike's grandfather. The guard ignores the first rock, but investiages the second one (which hits a lamp post), and when doing so disocvers 3 residents secretly working on their own model rocket.

* ''Film/AceVentura'': Toyed with -- Ace Ventura tries this by throwing a rock to distract the Burly Guard. The Guard looks over at the sound, ''turns to where the rock came from'' and shouts "I know you're over there and I'm coming to get you!" OhCrap!

* Todd Helton, hilariously enough, faked out Matt Carpenter in this manner to tag the guy out. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5wGxsxjmy0 See for yourself.]]

** In TheMovie of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Harry tosses a broken stone to distract a blinded basilisk.

* A variation occurs in ''Disney/{{Tarzan}}'' where Tarzan has Terk and Tantor to dress as Jane and Archimedes Q. Porter respectively, just to have Kerchak to chase after them while Tarzan leads the real Jane Porter and her father, as well as Clayton to the gorillas' nesting grounds. This distraction later backfires when Terk and Tantor accidentally lead Kerchak right back to the nesting grounds.

* In ''Disney/{{Tarzan}}'', Tarzan has Terk and Tantor to dress as Jane and Archimedes Q. Porter respectively, just to have Kerchak to chase after them while Tarzan leads the real Jane Porter and her father, as well as Clayton to the gorillas' nesting grounds. This distraction later backfires when Terk and Tantor accidentally lead Kerchak back to the nesting grounds.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', "Imitation Krabs": to get Mr. Krabs out of the way, Plankton throws a penny, and the greedy Krabs follows it as it rolls out the front door. The penny eventually rolls back, leading Krabs to Plankton and his robotic Krabs imposter.

* In TheMovie of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Harry tosses a broken stone to distract a blinded basilisk.

* In ''Literature/RoseMadder'' Rosie distracts Erinyes the blind bull from killing her by throwing a blood-soaked rock and running in the opposite direction.[[/folder]]

* In TheMovie of ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Harry does this to distract a blinded basilisk.

* [[DoubleSubversion Triply subverted]] humorously in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}:'' the GAP [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11262006/ try to distract the Brassmoon City gate guards]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11272006/ by throwing a rock]], but instead of going to investigate the noise, one of them shouts "Someone's throwing rocks at us from the woods!" However, the guards still go to investigate the place whence the rock was thrown, and [[IdiotBall start arguing]] there. Being distracted, they let a couple goblins enter the city (a double subversion). But then, the distraction doesn't last long enough, and the last two members for the GAP are spotted while trying to get in (a triple subversion!).

** Both ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry]]'' and ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRogue'' provide the player character with firecrackers, which can be used to distract guards or, in the latter case, draw enemy assassins out of hiding.

* A common urban legend for soldiers using the M1 Garand (the standard US service rifle in WW2 and the Korean War) was to keep one of the empty en bloc clips on them at all times. The Garand's self-loading mechanism would fire out the clip when the last round was used, which would make a very distinctive metallic "ping" noise. Supposedly, soldiers would throw empty clips to trick the enemy into thinking that their gun had run empty and encourage them to pop up out of cover. In reality, there's [[SubvertedTrope no evidence that this took place]] and it's unlikely that the ping could have been heard over the gunfire anyway (to say nothing of the risk of popping up because you heard one rifle go empty and facing an entire squad).

* A common ploy for soldiers using the M1 Garand was to keep one of the empty en bloc clips on them at all times. The Garand's self-loading mechanism would fire out the clip when the last round was used, which would make a very distinctive metallic "ping" noise if it struck a hard surface. The trick was to fire off a round and throw the clip away so it makes a nice rattle. The enemy then sticks his head out from behind cover cause he assumes you're out. Dead wrong.

* Todd Helton, hilariously enough, faked out Matt Carpener in this manner to tag the guy out. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5wGxsxjmy0 See for yourself.]]

* Something similar happens in the comedy ''Film/{{Water 1985}}''. MichaelCaine's character sees a mercenary attaching limpet mines to the oil well, so he throws a bolt, then sneaks up behind the mercenary while he's pointing a gun in that direction and hooks a crane hook into his belt, lifting him into the air.

* This is an option in the Tenchu games. Throwing bombs, or shuriken, or rice balls can distract guards letting you sneak past them, or [[StealthKill kill them]].

* ''Film/DungeonsAndDragons'' has the heroes distract a patrolling Beholder -- a creature covered in eyes -- with a thrown rock. Note, this might actually be plausable since the majority of beholders are insane.

!!Examples

[[folder: FanWorks]]
* Naruto arranges a very elaborate one in FanFic/AGrowingAffection, tying his jacket to a kunai and throwing it through tall grass, so the person in question will not only hear the sound, but will see a flash of orange, too.
* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'': Diamond Tiara attempts to throw a rock to distract guards, but Discord warns her they will head to the opposite direction of the sound and find her. Instead, she drops the rock where she is standing. The guards assume the rock was thrown from somewhere else and walk away, allowing her to sneak in.

[[folder: Film -- Animated]]
* In ''Disney/{{Bolt}}'', Penny (the character on [[ShowWithinAShow the show]]) likes to roll an actual penny into the field of vision of whomever she's trying to sidestep. Eventually, Bolt (in reality) would try the same trick - yes, it really does work.

--> '''Baljeet''': What was that small noise?
--> '''Phineas''': [[LampshadeHanging Let's all go walk over to it!]]

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

[[folder: Interactive Fiction ]]
* In ''VideoGame/SpiderAndWeb'', the protagonist throws a lockpick into a dead end to distract some guards. [[spoiler:Except that actually, it didn't happen quite like that.]]
[[/folder]]

* In the book and film of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', Harry distracts some Ministry workers with a rambunctious Weasley toy in order to sneak into Umbridge's office.
** Justified, both because that's what the toy was built for and because, apparently, the Ministry sees that sort of thing fairly often.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'': The "Distract" skill Rogues have. It doesn't cause a monster or guard to walk toward the noise, but it ''does'' turn them around, leaving you free to [[{{Backstab}} stab them in the back]].

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' - One of Hawke's options during the stealth section of the ''Mark of the Assassin'' DLC.
--> '''Tallis:''' We'll have to try our best to stay out of sight - or we could try to create distractions. Provided you're good at throwing stones.
--> '''Guard:''' What was that scrabbling noise?

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* [[DoubleSubversion Triply subverted]] humorously in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}:'' the GAP [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11262006/ try to distract the Brassmoon City gate guards]] [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11272006/ by throwing a rock]], but instead of going to investigate the noise, one of them shouts "Someone's throwing rocks at us from the woods!" However, the guards still go to investigate the place whence the rock was thrown, and [[IdiotBall start arguing]] there. Being distracted, they let a couple goblins enter the city (a double subversion). But then, the distraction doesn't last long enough, and the last two members for the GAP are spotted while trying to get in (a triple subversion !).
* A recurring gag in ''DragonTails:'' involves Lemuel throwing rocks in the bushes to distract enemies. The targets found the sound to be distracting but never investigated the noise beyond standing and thinking about how annoying it is, opening a window of opportunity for the other dragons.
* ''{{WebComic/Stardroids}}'': Roll does this. What makes it unique, however, is that she does it in plain sight of the foes. Oh, and did we mention -- she's using a pair of her own panties. Slingshot-style.

* Done in ''{{Girly}}'' to [[http://girlyyy.com/go/440 sneak into a women's dorm]], with some heavy [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]]:
-->'''Lisa:''' I dunno, Beth. The last eight times that happened, it resulted in men sneaking...
-->'''Beth:''' Lisa, that was a ''rock''! A ''rock'', for God's sake! Are you suggesting we let it ''be''!?

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In one episode of ''SWATKats'', "The Giant Bacteria," villain Morbulus does a variant of this trope wherein he is dropped in the water and [[GivingThemTheStrip takes off his clothes]], then reassembles them to make it look like he's still in them. While the Enforcers are fishing what they think is his body out of the water, he is able to slip away in his underwear unnoticed.
* Parodied in PhineasAndFerb, when Perry throws a small rock to distract the brothers and their friends:
-->'''Baljeet:''' Hey, what was that small noise?
-->'''Phineas:''' I don't know, let's all go over there and check it out.

[[folder: Real Life ]]
* A common ploy for soldiers using the M1 Garand was to keep one of the empty en bloc clips on them at all times. The Garand's self loading mechanism would fire out the clip when the last round was used, which would make a very distinctive metallic "ping" noise if it struck a hard surface. The trick was to fire off a round and throw the clip away so it makes a nice rattle. The enemy then sticks his head out from behind cover cause he assumes you're out. Dead wrong.
* This is [[GoFetch a good way to distract non-trained dogs]] if they aren't fully on attack mode. A solid object like a small stone will distract them for at least two seconds. Or [[DeliciousDistraction dog biscuits or meat]].
** Can be taken to almost parodying lengths with some dogs, with whom you don't even have to actually ''throw'' the object, or even have any object in your hand at all, and they'll still run off in the direction they thought they saw you throw it.