History Main / YouKnowWhatToDo

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1''
-->'''Woody:''' Sergeant, establish a recon post downstairs. Code Red. You know what to do.

[[folder: Films -- Live Action]]

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* ''Beantown''
-->'''Tony Lupino:''' If you don't hear from me, you know what to do.

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* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''

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* Rico's sargeant in the film version of ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' utters this but the movie makes it pretty clear [[MercyKill what that means]].

* Variations of this were used ''all the time'' on ''Series/TheWestWing''. The implication is that the characters were all so smart and good at their jobs and in tune with each other that they could leave some things unsaid. Unfortunately, the audience sometimes ended up confused.
** Example: Charlie (black) goes out with Zoey (white, and the President's daughter). Bartlett tells him: "You go out with Zoey, you're gonna get your picture taken. And you'll get letters. You know what to do with them?" Charlie just nods. The standard listen-to-your-heart Aesop would be "throw them in the trash", and many viewers might assume that's what is meant. But in the West Wing, of course, the real answer is "Hand them in to the Secret Service for exhaustive forensic analysis!"

* ''VideoGame/ZeroWing''

** In both Paradox and Hotel, [[BirdPeople Mr. Crow]] will hand you a knife in the forest and claim that "You know what to do." (This is only [[MindScrew partially true]] at times).

** In both Paradox and Hotel, [[BirdPeople Mr. Crow]] will hand you a knife in the forest and claim that "You know what to do." This is only [[MindScrew partially true]] at times.

* In ''StarWarsCloneWars'', Obi-Wan addresses an ARC trooper squad ahead of their special mission.

* ''Film/WarAndPeace'' (1956)

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* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', Sarge gives a RousingSpeech in ''Revelation'' (Season 8), ending with…

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory''

[[FridgeLogic If you think about it]], this is really a very odd phrase to use in a regular professional capacity, as that kind of vagary can easily lead to misunderstandings and somewhat belies the usefulness of giving orders in the first place. But it can be {{justified|Trope}} when the order is given over an insecure channel, like a public telephone, to avoid incrimination. Often the "you know what to do" involves [[DeadlyEuphemism killing somebody]]. May be an attempt to maintain PlausibleDeniability. May involve nonverbal communication like handing someone a gun. May be subverted, if the recipient decides to turn the tables and do something unexpected, or just misunderstands and takes the phrase in a different way than intended. Still, despite its particular age, this trope is more often played straight than lampshaded.

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* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Oreg to Ward. Subverted in that he's Ward's slave, not his boss. [[spoiler: Played straight in that it involves killing. Killing Oreg, that is.]]

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* In the intro to ''VideoGame/BrainDead13'', this one is spoken by Dr. Nero Neurosis to Fritz when describing his plan to [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness kill Lance after fixing his computer]].
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''
* During a Salmon Run shift in ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', this is how MysteriousEmployer Mr. Grizz instructs your crew to deal with a Cohock Charge. Considering that he gives you a [[{{BFG}} cannon]] specifically for this event, it's not hard to figure out [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill what he wants you to do]].
* ''VideoGame/ZeroWing''
-->[[TranslationTrainWreck You know what you doing.]]

-> ''"There's a group of [[GiantMook Cohocks]] down by the shoreline. I'll leave a cannon. You know what to do."''

-> ''"There's a group of Cohocks down by the shoreline. I'll leave a cannon. You know what to do."''

-->'''Mom:''' [[HairTriggerTemper GET HIS PIN NUMBER]], [[SurroundedByIdiots YOU IDIOTS!]]

* In the intro to ''VideoGame/BrainDead13'', this one is spoken by Dr. Nero Neurosis to Fritz when describing his plan to [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness kill Lance after fixing his computer]].