History Main / TroubleEntendre

'''Lysanderoth:''' Think nothing of it, Archibald. This journey has only [''looks into the camera''] ''just begun.''\\

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* ''Creator/ProZD'': Parodied in the skit [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmQWH7P0gIE "replaying a game and knowing all the plot twists"]] as the player grows increasingly angry on his second playthrough when he notices all the hints one party member gives about [[DevilInPlainSight being evil]] and how he'll kill another character.

Two people [[OvertRendezvous have a conversation in a public area]]. People overhearing the conversation find nothing of interest in it; it seems to just be idle conversation. Even the reader notices nothing unusual about it. For the two talking, however, it has a more sinister meaning. Frequently, one is {{blackmail|IsSuchAnUglyWord}}ing or otherwise threatening the other in a sort of [[SpySpeak "code"]] they both understand. May involve a DeadlyEuphemism.

*

** --->"Some of us are so sharp, we could just ''cut'' ourselves."
** ---> Mr. Croup scratched his head of orange hair, theatrically. "Talking of the marquis, I wonder where he is. He's a bit late, isn't he, Mister Vandemar?"\\

%% Subverted in ''The White Pillars Murder'' by Creator/GKChesterton.

* Lampshaded nearly to the point of subversion in ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'': Placido Russo, the head of a prominent crime family, tells his notoriously AxCrazy nephew Ladd to go "have a word with" some business associates. Ladd insists on making ''absolutely sure'' that his uncle means what he thinks he means, despite Placido's best efforts to keep it implied.

* '''Blackmailer:''' Monsieur is very good.

'''Murderer:''' My good girl, don't be a fool. Nobody thinks you saw or heard anything. You'll be quite all right. I'll look after you. Nobody's accusing you of anything.

-->'''Bond:''' I'd like to interest you in a demolition deal. It requires certain aerial activity to install equipment. ''(SmashCut to three 'Red Cross' helicopters full of Union Corse killers on their way to Piz Gloria)''

-->'''Killifer:''' You're facin' 139 felony counts, Sanchez. Why, that's 936 years! Even one of your famous million dollar bribes can't get you out of this one.\\

* ''Film/LicenceToKill'': Killifer and Sanchez's exchange turns out to be a negotiation on RewatchBonus:

->[carving rice squares] ''"I know Bloo's feelings for me could only ever be a ''fraction'' of what they are for you; some might say you're really ''cutting into'' my time with Bloo, just as I'm ''carving out'' a nice little niche for myself."''

--> '''Placido:''' "Go to the Van Dyke auto plant, Ladd. But just...have a word or two with 'em, okay?"\\
'''Ladd''': "Huh? Y'mean you're gonna let ''me'' handle it?"\\
'''Placido''': "I'm just sayin', go and have a word with 'em."\\
'''Ladd''': "But uncle, to me that means the same thing as, 'Why don't you go there and kill everyone you want to your heart's content,' so are you ''sure'' about that?"\\
'''Placido''': "...I haven't said anything except for you to ''go have a little word with 'em.''.
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': Parodied. When the Ginyu Force decide who's going to fight the heroes, [[BigBad Captain Ginyu]] tells his underlings to treat them with "tender loving care." Cue [[BoisterousBruiser Jeice]] saying, [[DontExplainTheJoke "Yeah, and when he says 'treat them with tender loving care',]] he don't mean [[AffectionateGestureToTheHead patting you on the head]] and givin' you flowers; he means we're gonna kill you!", triggering a scolding from Captain Ginyu.

* In ''Fanfic/ThatEpicPlan'' [[Manga/DeathNote Light and Beyond]] strike up a bargain while pretending to be talking about a game of cards.
* ''Fanfic/FantasyOfUtterRidiculousness'': This is how Yuyuko clues Yukari in on Megas's return to Gensokyo, alluding to Coop's love of wrestling and the confusion surrounding the mech's name by claiming he got past the Barrier thanks to a "shining wizard".

--> The bravest of the dark elf women raised a shaking hand. "Er, w-what did you do to them?"\\

* ''Film/MichaelClayton'' has Creator/TildaSwinton character contract "Professional Cleaners" to [[spoiler:kill Arthur]], and the cleaner's dialogue absolutely swims with this.

* In ''Film/PulpFiction'', Vince tells Jules that Marcellus wants Vince to take care of Mrs. Wallace over the weekend. Jules pauses a moment before making a gun with his fingers and asking, "Take ''care'' of her?"
* ''Film/WrongIsRight''. The US President has been told about a Ghaddafi-like figure who's just acquired a couple of suitcase nukes to destroy New York and Jerusalem, so he uses this to order his assassination. The CIA director pretends not to know what the President is talking about.
-->'''President:''' You get the drift, Jackie?\\
'''CIA Director:''' No sir. All I've heard is "rid me of", "pop him", "burn him" and "score a touchdown". Just as over the years in this office I've heard "terminate with extreme prejudice". I've heard "croak him" and "chill him" and "pop him", "burn him", "fire him"... "''grease'' him".
-->'''President:''' And you still don't understand.
-->'''CIA Director:''' No sir.
-->'''President:''' Well how's this: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis K-I-Double-L]] him, by God.
-->'''CIA Director:''' By God, sir?
-->'''President:''' By executive action.
* ''Film/SchindlersList'': Oskar Schindler is trying to console Itzhak, the brains behind his successful business and also the man who initially protected the Jewish employees from the Nazis, when he learns that Itzhak is going to be sent away to one of the camps. Oskar explains that he has arranged with the SS commandant for "special treatment," and Itzhak explains that he has heard the term "special treatment" many times and he hopes they are not talking about the same thing. Oskar amends it to ''preferential'' treatment.
* Though technically, they're talking about someone else, ''Film/TheBreakUp'' has the lead male and his local bartender engaged in one of these conversations; unfortunately, they have exactly the opposite ideas as to where they want it to lead.

--> '''Lucas''': "When you find the Colonel, infiltrate his team by whatever means available and terminate the Colonel's command."\\
'''Willard''': "Terminate... the Colonel?"\\
'''Civilian''': "Terminate... with extreme prejudice."

-->'''Loveless:''' Mr. West, how kind of you to show up and add ''color'' to this otherwise monochromatic affair.
-->'''West:''' Well, when your oldest enemy comes back from the dead, it makes a man want to ''stand up'' and be counted.
-->'''Loveless:''' I hear you're looking for my old friend General [=McGrath=]. I'm afraid I haven't seen him in a ''coon's'' age.
-->'''West:''' I can understand how it would be hard for a man of your ''stature'' to keep up with even ''half'' his acquaintances.
-->'''Loveless:''' I hope Miss East can keep you from being a ''slave'' to your disappointment.
-->'''West:''' Oh, you know women. One minute they love you, the next, they yank the legs out from under you.
* Combined with BondOneLiner and lampshaded in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace''. M asks Tanner, on the phone with Bond, to inquire about the hit man he'd been investigating as a lead:
-->'''Tanner''': He says Slate was a dead end.\\
'''M''': [[GenreSavvy Dammit, he killed him!]]
* In ''Film/TheGodfather'', after a Corleone soldier who helped set up the assassination attempt on Don Vito was dispatched:
-->'''Clemenza''': "Paulie? Won't see him no more."
* ''Film/LicenceToKill'': Killifer and Sanchez's exchange turns out to be a negotiation on RewatchBonus:
-->'''Killifer:''' You're facin' 139 felony counts, Sanchez. Why, that's 936 years! Even one of your famous million dollar bribes can't get you out of this one.\\
'''Sanchez:''' Two.\\
'''Killifer:''' What?\\
'''Sanchez:''' ''Two'' million. ''(smug smile)''
* In ''Film/Conspiracy2001'', the conference members discuss plans for UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust using terms such as "deportations" and "evacuation", [[TruthInTelevision just as official documents at the time did.]] In short order, some of the participants tire of this double-speak, particularly since they're in private, and the pretense is dropped.
-->'''Lange:''' I am under the impression that I "evacuated" 30,000 Jews already by shooting them. Is this what is meant by "evacuation"?

'''Murderer:''' My good girl, don't be a fool. Nobody thinks you saw or heard anything. You'll be quite all right. I'll look after you. Nobody's accusing you of anything.\\
'''Blackmailer:''' Monsieur is very good.

%% Subverted in ''The White Pillars Murder'' by Creator/GKChesterton.
* ''The Three Coffins'' aka ''The Hollow Man'', a Literature/DrGideonFell novel by Creator/JohnDicksonCarr.

**
---> "Some of us are so sharp, we could just ''cut'' ourselves."
**
---> Mr. Croup scratched his head of orange hair, theatrically. "Talking of the marquis, I wonder where he is. He's a bit late, isn't he, Mister Vandemar?"\\

* The Matt Helm novel ''The Terminators''. Matt's boss asks Matt to take care of an old friend of said boss (who helped our heroes out in a previous novel). Eventually, Matt realizes that the boss really meant a different kind of 'take care of him'.
* Elinor Dashwood and [[ClingyJealousGirl Lucy Steele]] have too many of these for Elinor's comfort in ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility''.
* Fanny Price overhears too many of these for her comfort between [[TheCasanova Henry Crawford]] and her engaged cousin Maria in ''Literature/MansfieldPark''.

* A children's book (one of the ''Literature/HorribleHistories'' spinoff series, ''Dead Famous'') about UsefulNotes/AlCapone notes that you should ''not'' ask him to take care of your cat for the weekend.

* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'': Lord Vetinari is quite good at these. "Don't let me detain you" is used simultaneously as a warning, a dismissal, and a threat.
* In ''Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook'', Peter, having grown jealous of the attention James is giving the young and vulnerable Charlie, tells Nip to "take care of Charlie". Nip promptly attacks Charlie with a knife. When Nip is caught and tries to tell.the other lost boys that Peter put him up to it, Peter claims that he meant for Nip to take over the responsibility of looking after Charlie.

--> You want a killing? You give an order. Straight. Direct. In front of witnesses.

--> '''Tony''': Yeah?
--> '''Paulie''': It's done. And it's the biggest refrigerator you've ever seen.
--> '''Tony''': What else?
--> '''Paulie''': Juan Valdez has been separated from his donkey.
* Parodied on a ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook'' sketch, in which a [[TheDragon Dragon]] expresses irritation with his DiabolicalMastermind boss's habit of doing this, since it leads to unnecessary ambiguity when the henchmen take him too literally. His statement 'let's hope Professor Ritson meets with a little accident' leads the henchmen to wait around to see if he meets with an accident until they realize that it's an accident ''they'' were supposed to make happen.
* ''Series/{{Wiseguy}}''

--->'''Vinnie:''' Aiuppo wants me to follow Cericco.
--->'''Frank:''' He wants you to ''kill'' him.
--->'''Vinnie:''' He didn't say that.
--->'''Frank:''' He doesn't have to.
* In the 1990's Australian LawProcedural series ''Series/{{Janus}}'', barrister Michael Kidd informs his client that the police have intercepted a message he sent asking a fellow criminal to "put the handbrake" on a key witness. Kidd sarcastically points out that a jury will have no trouble working out what ''that'' means.
* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': A boss at a HYDRA-run company asks a new hire, in a somewhat judgmental tone:
-->'''Employer:''' So, what are you just really into this sort of thing, - or what brings you to the company?
-->'''New Hire:''' ''[nervously]'' Uhh...the...incentives program?
-->'''Employer:''' ''[resignedly]'' Yeah...no one's turned that down yet.
** We later find out that the Incentives Program involves [[spoiler: HYDRA holding someone's family member hostage in order to force their cooperation]]
* ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'': When Charlie almost dies, he has a vision of his dead father urging him to take care of his mother. Everyone is confused by this revelation, as Evelyn is a horrid woman who arguably drove Charlie's father to death. Charlie still does his best to help his mother out as much as possible, and she predictably takes advantage, to his dismay. Then, when they're watching a mafia movie together, two mobsters discuss "taking care" of an enemy, and Charlie slowly smiles.
-->'''Charlie:''' ''[to the ceiling]'' Sorry. Misunderstood!\\
'''Evelyn:''' What was that, dear?\\
'''Charlie:''' Nothing. ''[[[VorpalPillow grabs a pillow menacingly]]]'' Nothing at all...
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Warren tries to tell Andrew that the third member of their Nerd Trio has outlived his usefulness by talking about milk that's passed its expiry date. Andrew keeps ComicallyMissingThePoint until Warren spells it out.

-->'''Sue''' ''(Sweetly)'': Sandor, don't let little business worries upset you. You'll get ulcers.\\

-->'''Henchman (on the phone)''': Yes, Mr. Diavolo?
-->'''Diavolo''': Somehow, inexplicably, Yayakov has allowed a double agent to infiltrate the club. He's going to take care of her tonight, and then...you...are going to take care of him. Understood?
-->'''Henchman''': Yes sir.
-->'''Diavolo''': Good. Don't make me take care of you.
* In the Videogame/WorldOfAssassinationTrilogy of the Videogame/{{Hitman}} games (''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', ''VideoGame/Hitman2'' and ''Videogame/Hitman3''), when under disguise 47 is really fond of veiled threats consisting of doublespeak and innuendo that come off as completely mundane towards whomever he's talking to (generally his target).
* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Classy villain that he is, Hazama engages in this from time to time.
-->(Regarding Makoto Nanaya, who has [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow silently wised up]] to his latest scheme) ''You really shouldn't wander around poking that cute little nose of yours where it doesn't belong! I mean, gosh... Surely you know gathering intelligence is the sort of thing you've got to do covertly? I'm just ''worried'' about you. One mistake in this business can ''mean your life'', you know.''
* ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'': Unlike Jacket, who follows his assignments with little to no hesitation, [[spoiler: the Biker's recorded phone-messages become increasingly agitated as he continues to ignore them. The final call that he receives is from a supposed "funeral home" which announces that the Biker's tombstone is engraved and ready to be delivered to his home]].
--> [[spoiler: '''Telephone''': With a little luck, you should be getting it before the weekend!]]

--> '''Vaarsuvius''': Do as you wish, though I find it odd that one who just witnessed the haste with which I will remove that which distracts me from my crucial research would risk becoming just such a distraction one's self.
--> ...
--> '''Vaarsuvius''': Because then I might be forced to remove the distraction.
--> '''Elan''': I don't get it.
--> '''Vaarsuvius''': YOU are the distraction in this case. Remove the distraction, which is you. Remove YOU with haste.
--> '''Elan''': What are you getting at?
--> '''Vaarsuvius''': Oh, forget it. It would take longer to make you understand than it would to research the next spell.
--> '''Elan''': Wait, are you saying that you're going to research the spell "Haste" if I don't distract you anymore?
--> '''Vaarsuvius''': [[DeadpanSnarker Yes, that is it exactly. You have perfectly gleaned my true intentions, well done. Have a cookie]].
* Inverted for comedic value in a series of ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' strips, in which Mr. Middleman hires Riff and Torg to help someone take a dirt nap ([[spoiler: a vampire who needs to regenerate in his native soil]]) or fit someone else for concrete shoes ([[spoiler: the exercise of walking in them should slim her legs]]).

* Creator/{{Fictosophy}}: "Translating Minnesota Nice" is this trope embodied. The sinister aspect is hidden beneath layers of Minnesota accent.

-->'''Donbot''': That scab's gonna have a little on-the-job accident.
-->'''Joey Mousepad''': With all due respect, Donbot, I don't think we should rely on an accident to happen. Let's kill him ourselves.
-->'''Donbot''': [[SurroundedByIdiots Grrrr]].

-->'''Donbot''': I want you to take care of him.
-->'''Clamps''': You mean "take care of him", or, ''"take care of him"''?
-->'''Donbot''': ''(with no change in inflection)'' Take care of him.

--> '''Legs''': "We're Italian. Everything means shooting something."

* Harley Quinn, in ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries The New Batman Adventures]]'' episode "Joker's Millions," invokes this trope before [[TheDogBitesBack exacting revenge]] against ComicBook/TheJoker by beating him with her nightstick.
--> '''Quinn:''' Hiya, Mr. J... [[{{Pun}} Welcome to the club]].

* In ''Film/Conspiracy2001'', the conference members discuss plans for TheHolocaust using terms such as "deportations" and "evacuation", [[TruthInTelevision just as official documents at the time did.]] In short order, some of the participants tire of this double-speak, particularly since they're in private, and the pretense is dropped.

* ''Film/WrongIsRight''. The US President has been told about a Ghaddafi-like figure who's just acquired a couple of suitcase nukes to destroy New York and Jerusalem, so he uses TroubleEntendre to order his assassination. The CIA director pretends not to know what the President is talking about.
-->'''President:''' You get the drift, Jackie?
-->'''CIA Director:''' No sir. All I've heard is "rid me of", "pop him", "burn him" and "score a touchdown". Just as over the years in this office I've heard "terminate with extreme prejudice". I've heard "croak him" and "chill him" and "pop him", "burn him", "fire him"... "''grease'' him".

-->''You console yourself with your [[KnifeNut TEDDY BEAR]].''\\

* ''Series/LawAndOrder:SVU'': In one episode, Benson gets involved with a home invasion, after making a welfare call at the request of her son's baby-sitter. After her team sends a text asking her where she is, she's allowed to send a text out, asking her team to pick up her son from daycare. Only instead of her son's name, she sneaks in the name of a vicious criminal she had a nasty history with (asking them to pick up "William" because he has a playdate with "Lewis"). Her team figures out it's a CovertDistressCode and goes to investigate.

See ShameIfSomethingHappened. Subtrope to DoubleMeaning and PublicSecretMessage. Obviously a [[JustForPun pun]] on "DoubleEntendre." Contrast TalkingThroughTechnique, OminousMundanity, SpySpeak and ImpliedDeathThreat.

See ShameIfSomethingHappened. Subtrope to DoubleMeaning. Obviously a [[JustForPun pun]] on "DoubleEntendre." Contrast TalkingThroughTechnique, OminousMundanity, SpySpeak and ImpliedDeathThreat.

* In the World of Assassination trilogy of the Videogame/{{Hitman}} games (''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', ''VideoGame/Hitman2'' and ''Videogame/Hitman3''), when under disguise 47 is really fond of veiled threats consisting of doublespeak and innuendo that come off as completely mundane towards whomever he's talking to (generally his target).

* In the 1990's Australian LawProcedural series ''Janus'', barrister Michael Kidd informs his client that the police have intercepted a message he sent asking a fellow criminal to "put the handbrake" on a key witness. Kidd sarcastically points out that a jury will have no trouble working out what ''that'' means.

* In ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' and [[VideoGame/Hitman2 its sequel]], when under disguise 47 is really fond of veiled threats that come off as completely mundane towards whomever he's talking to (generally his target).

* ''Film/WrongIsRight''. The US President has been told about a Ghadaffi-like figure who's just acquired a couple of suitcase nukes, so he uses TroubleEntendre to order his assassination. The CIA director pretends not to know what the President is talking about.
->'''President:''' You get the drift, Jackie?
->'''CIA Director:''' No sir. All I've heard is "rid me of", "pop him", "burn him" and "score a touchdown". Just as over the years in this office I've heard "terminate with extreme prejudice". I've heard "croak him" and "chill him" and "pop him", "burn him", "fire him"... "''grease'' him".

* ''Film/WrongIsRight'' (1982). The President orders the CIA director to "take care of" the Ghadaffi-like figure who's just acquired a couple of suitcase nukes. The director pretends not to know what the President is talking about, then reels off a whole bunch of euphemisms ("I've heard 'grease him', 'whack him', 'waste him', 'terminate him'..." etc"). Finally the President spells it out.
--> '''President''': "K.I.L.L him, by God."\\
'''CIA Director''': "By God, sir?"\\
'''President''': "By executive order."

* ''Film/WrongIsRight'' (1982). The President orders the CIA chief to "take care of" the Ghadaffi-like figure who's causing trouble. He pretends not to know what the President is talking about, then reels off a whole bunch of euphemisms ("I've heard 'grease him', 'whack him', 'waste him', 'terminate him'..." etc"). Finally the President spells it out.

'''CIA Chief''': "By God, sir?"\\

* ''Wrong is Right'' (1982). The President orders the CIA chief to "take care of" the Ghadaffi-like figure who's causing trouble. He pretends not to know what the President is talking about, then reels off a whole bunch of euphemisms ("I've heard 'grease him', 'whack him', 'waste him', 'terminate him'..." etc"). Finally the President spells it out.