Line #30 Main/FisticuffProvokingComment


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6	[[quoteright:342:[[Recap/AsterixAndTheActress https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fisticuff_provoking_comment.png]]]]
7	[[caption-width-right:342:Okay, Asterix. Now you've done it.]]
8
9	->'''Cell:''' Does Gohan know, by the way?\
10	'''Trunks:''' Know what?\
11	'''Cell:''' That you let [his future self] die?\
12	''[[[EmpathicEnvironment waves crash against the island]] as the TraumaButton registers]''\
13	'''Trunks:''' ... I'm going to power up now.\
14	'''Cell:''' ''[winks]'' I'd be disappointed if you didn't!~
15	-->-- ''WebVideo/DragonballZAbridged''
16
17	The Fisticuff-Provoking Comment marks the point in a dispute when verbal violence escalates to [[FightScene physical violence]]. Typically, it occurs during a heated argument when one character goes too far and says [[CloseToHome something so deeply insulting and/or offensive]] that the other character responds [[GoodOldFisticuffs with force.]]
18
19	Similar to RageBreakingPoint except with a Fisticuff-Provoking Comment, the character is already expressing his rage before the punches fly. Also similar to BerserkButton except that trope often involves people making innocent comments that inadvertently trigger someone and the same words, phrases, and subjects always touch off a character. In contrast, a Fisticuff-Provoking Comment depends upon the context and circumstances the offensive statement is made. There may be times when the same offending words and phrases won't elicit any type of violent response from the character. Also, a Fisticuff-Provoking Comment is often something that would reasonably enrage someone thereby making the recipient's physically violent response a foreseeable outcome. It can be the reason a character who [[CantTakeCriticism Can't Take Criticism]] reacts violently and be an example of someone trying to win an argument through [[AppealToForce Appeal to Force]].
20
21	Can overlap with TalkToTheFist but that trope is about interrupting someone else while they're talking, whereas the Fisticuff-Provoking Comment is timing-insensitive.
22
23	Sometimes immediately after the Fisticuff-Provoking Comment and before the violence begins, the character-who-is-about-to-physically-attack-the-other will say something like "Them's fightin' words!", "VerbThis", or some variation on "ShutUpHannibal" Other times, it will be a PreAssKickingOneLiner or PreMortemOneLiner in more extreme cases. A TurnTheOtherFist fake-out can also occur.
24
25	ArgumentOfContradictions, CavemenVersusAstronautsDebate, PassiveAggressiveKombat, VolleyingInsults, IShallTauntYou, TrashTalk, UnsportsmanlikeGloating, YourMom (and ''especially'' IBangedYourMom), and TheReasonYouSuckSpeech can lead up to the Fisticuff-Provoking Comment. A BarBrawl, DinerBrawl, EscalatingBrawl, BigBallOfViolence, CatFight, GloveSlap, ThrowingDownTheGauntlet, DuelToTheDeath, BloodOnTheDebateFloor, and IndignantSlap can result afterward. Someone pulling a WoundedGazelleGambit may purposely say something to trigger violence.
26
27	A frequent occurrence on a TalkShowWithFists.
28
29	Compare PullTheTriggerProvocation, where the insult or action leads to something lethal or at least very, very difficult to take back. Contrast with HitMeDammit if the punchee ''explicitly wants'' to be punched.
30
31	SubTrope of YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry.
32
33	----
34	!!Examples:
35
36	[[foldercontrol]]
37
38	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
39	* ''Anime/DeathNote'': After Light is released from confinement, L becomes depressed that he has to start the Kira investigation at square one. Light takes offense to this, believing that L is merely depressed because Light was considered not Kira, punching him and starting a fight. Happens again when L tells Light flatly that he believes Light could be capable of being Kira.
40	* ''Anime/MegaloBox'': In the first episode, Nanbu attempts to talk [[BloodKnight Junk Dog]] out of a fight with boxing champ Yuri by trying to make him apologize. When he tries to tell Yuri that he's got better things to do than to "fight trash" like Junk Dog, the latter, who at that point is tired of [[ThrowingTheFight fighting in fixed fights]] because Nanbu is telling him to, punches Nanbu out of the ring, apologizes, and challenges Yuri anyway.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Arts]]
44	* [[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caran-d-ache-dreyfus-supper.jpg A notorious drawing]] by Caran d'Ache about the Dreyfus case shows a common meal ending in a mass brawl once someone speaks about the aforementioned case.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Comic Books]]
48	* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': The page image comes from ''Recap/AsterixAndTheActress''; Roman actress Latraviata, while posing as Panacea, causes a heated argument between Asterix and Obelix. When Asterix, in the heat of the moment, pushes Obelix's BerserkButton by [[YouAreFat calling him]] {{fat\|Idiot}}, Obelix punches him. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone He immediately regrets it though]], since, while they had their arguments before, this is the first time ever he punched Asterix.
49	* ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In Season 9's "Guarded" arc, Buffy bickers with Kennedy over her choice to leave Theo behind despite him urging them to do it so they could regroup. Kennedy strikes a hell of a nerve when she [[spoiler:throws Giles' death at the end of Season 8 in Buffy's face]] as an example that Buffy [[TheNeedsOfTheMany gets so caught up in saving the world]] that she forgets about the "little guy" and lets other people die, which earns her a punch in the face.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Fan Works]]
53	* In the ''Literature/HereticalEdge'' fanfic ''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/alma-mater-heretical-edge-fanfic.796086/ Alma Mater]]'', Flick remembers when [[DudeNotFunny she asked a boy to stop making rape jokes]] because her adoptive sister was a ChildByRape, and she hit him when he [[KickTheDog not only refused to stop, he proceeded to joke about that specific rape]].
54	* ''Fanfic/AndrogyninjasADropOfPoison'': During the Konoha Crush attempt, Sasuke ignores direct orders to help with the evacuation efforts in favor of [[GloryHound chasing personal glory]]. When Kakashi calls him out on this, Sasuke angrily demands to know how he's supposed to make chuunin if he [[SkewedPriorities couldn't finish his match]]. Sakura promptly decks him for this.
55	* In the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''[[Fanfic/TheBlackSheepDogSeries Black Mask]]'', Sirius tries to invoke this with his father to get the uptight IceKing to lose control of himself. Sirius manages to get Orion to raise his arm when he mocks him for getting in trouble with his own father, Acturus, although their fight gets interrupted by Walburga before we get to see whether or not Orion would actually strike.
56	* ''Fanfic/GreenTeaRescue'': Miruko deliberately {{Invoke\|dTrope}}s this by insulting Ochako's parents, provoking her to come at Miruko with her full force.
57	* In ''Series/{{Emergency}}'' ''[[http://audreys-efanfic.freeservers.com/lostandfound.html Lost and Found]]'', Roy Desoto is provoked by his current partner's rude remark about Johnny, who suffered through a year and a half as a captive and SexSlave. The captain comes in to find the two locked in a fight. He's not thrilled after he and the rest of the crew drag the two apart, but he's just as mad as Roy is about the comment and warns the guy to knock it off. Fortunately, the guy isn't as bad as he seems and even proves a bit helpful later on.
58	* In ''Fanfic/MemoriesOfTheDanceWeShared'', Max ''nearly'' punches Kimmy after she blames him for [[spoiler:the car accident that injured Roxanne]]. Fortunately, Goofy intervenes in time to prevent it.
59	* ''Fanfic/TheMountainAndTheWolf'': The Wolf cannot go two sentences without insulting someone, whether it be the person he's speaking to, the group they belong to, or Westeros as a whole. While this makes sense when talking to his enemies, he also does it when among allies, who very much want to slap him but restrain themselves with difficulty. Even when he seems genuinely complimentary it comes with a strong dose of YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame.
60	* ''Fanfic/MuseHysteria'': When Penelope attempts to [[NeverMyFault downplay the part she played]] in the Proxy's rise to power, Riku steps in and decks her.
61	* ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic'': "Starfleet Humans" has Lightning Dawn casually insult Principal Celestia, then remark in passing that it's a good thing that her pet horse is dead, provoking her to attack him.
62	* ''Fanfic/{{Syngenesophobia}}'':
63	** Initially, despite being enraged at each other, Lincoln's sisters don't redirect their anger ''completely'' towards him, "merely" yelling and intimidating him. But when Lincoln ''yells back'', calling them out for commandeering and taking over ''his room'' for their "Sister Fight Protocol" without taking him into account, they promptly subject him to a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
64	** During an argument, Ronnie Anne accuses Lynn of physically abusing Lincoln. Lynn snaps and decks her in response, knocking her out with a single punch.
65	* In ''Fanfic/TotalDramaLegacy'', when Morgan says [[{{Joisey}} Violet]]'s skin is "basically orange", Violet is furious that Morgan dared to "disrespect the tan" and tells her she just "earned [herself] a one-way ticket to Beatdown Town".
66	* ''Fanfic/TheWolvesInTheWoodsMiraculousLadybug'': When they encounter the Iberian Heroes for the first time, Chat Noir takes offense at their presence, [[WrongAssumption incorrectly assuming]] that Ladybug ''knew'' about their arrival in Paris. He immediately turns on her, gripping her arm while yelling at her for supposedly keeping him LockedOutOfTheLoop... until Morrighan, disgusted by his behavior, steps in and decks him, starting a fight.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
70	* In ''WesternAnimation/BambiII'', Ronno confronts Bambi during the start of the climax, the latter already at an emotional low due to his father handing him over to a doe. Ronno, who has gotten competitive towards Bambi throughout the film, starts heckling Bambi, though the latter, while clearly ticked, walks away. Then Ronno mocks the fact his father was supposedly ashamed enough of him to give him away. Bambi turns around and angrily bucks Ronno onto the floor. Cue the deer fight.
71	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch2StitchHasAGlitch'': Stitch is forced to [[LetMeAtHim restrain Lilo]] when Mertle gloats that she'll beat her at the hula-dancing contest. But when she says that she'll never be as good as her late mother was, Stitch lets a furious Lilo go and proceeds to photograph the ensuing catfight.
72	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei angrily refuses Tyler's request and is [[LetMeAtHim restrained]] by her friends when he threatens to withhold payment but when he insults Ming and her temple, Mei becomes so angry that she attacks Tyler on the spot.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
76	* ''Film/DeadPoetsSociety'': After the society members find out that [[TheFriendNobodyLikes Cameron]] sold out Mr. Keating over allegedly causing [[spoiler:Neil's suicide]], Charlie punches him as he tries to justify his decision.
77	* ''Film/TheGreyZone'': Hoffman tries to get an expensive watch off a middle-aged Jewish man. The man refuses and struggles, perfectly aware that he's being sent to his death, but what really sets off Hoffman on his NoHoldsBarredBeatdown is when the unnamed man calls him a Nazi. Hoffman is a ''Sonderkommando'' who is [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse forced to work in the crematoria under threat of death]] and knows he is on [[YourDaysAreNumbered borrowed time]] anyway. It's inconceivable for the Nazis to include a Jew into their ranks.
78	* ''Film/HappyGilmore'': After the heckler causes Happy to get distracted and miss his shots, he and Bob Barker drop to the last place in the celebrity-partner golf tournament. As they're trying to finish the game, Bob keeps insulting Happy's abilities as a golfer, which Happy tries to ignore, but when Bob tells Happy that [[BerserkButton he is as bad a golfer as he was a hockey player, Happy punches Bob]], which leads to their epic fist fight that ends with Happy getting his ass kicked by the much older Bob Barker, as well as a fine and suspension from the [=PGA=].
79	* ''Film/JohnWick'': DumbassTeenageSon Iosef gloats about murdering the dog of the man he beat half to death and stole a car from, unaware of just ''who'' he's talking about:
80	-->'''Aurelio:''' [[TheDreaded The]] [[OneManArmy owner]] of that car, did you kill him or what?\
81	'''Iosef:''' No. I sure as hell [[KickTheDog fucked up his dog]] ''[laughs]''\
82	'''Aurelio:''' [[OhCrap You fucked up his dog?]] That's what you did? You fucked up his dog? ''[laughs nervously]'' That's crazy shit, man... ''[he decks Iosef with one furious punch]''
83	* Parodied in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'': Mr. Bignose gets irritated by a rather {{Troll}}y person constantly calling him 'Big Nose' and insinuating jokes about his nose that he threatens to punch him if that teasing guy continues, but he never got around throwing the punch to him, he instead threw his fist to a wife of a more normal man who told him to stop bickering while not saying anything about his nose.
84	* In ''Film/PlanesTrainsAndAutomobiles'', an aggravated Neal (Creator/SteveMartin) learns the hard way that a snide remark can lead to physical pain.
85	-->'''Cab Dispatcher:''' Where are you going?\
86	'''Neal:''' Chicago.\
87	'''Cab Dispatcher:''' Chicago?\
88	'''Neal:''' Yeah, Chicago.\
89	'''Cab Dispatcher:''' You know you're in St. Louis?\
90	'''Neal:''' Yes I do.\
91	'''Cab Dispatcher:''' Why don't you try the airlines? It's faster and you get a free meal.\
92	'''Neal:''' If I wanted a joke, I'd follow you into the john and watch you take a leak. Now are you gonna help me or are you gonna stand there like a slab of meat with mittens?\
93	''[Cab dispatcher punches Neal in the face.]''
94	* The main conflict in the kung fu film, ''Film/ShaolinMartialArts'', is kicked off when a fight breaks out between the Shaolin and Wing Chun sect. What causes the fight in the first place? When a Wing Chun disciple is showing off his skill with a ''guandao'', and a nearby Shaolin trainee comments, "Look at his skills, it sucks..." The Wing Chun disciple retaliates by whacking his weapon into the Shaolin trainee ([[AccidentalMurder unintentionally killing him]]) and all hell breaks loose.
95	* ''Film/{{Star Trek\|2009}}'': Kirk tries to prove that Spock doesn't have his emotions in check, and succeeds when he cracks about his mother, who had just perished in the destruction of Vulcan. Even then, he still probably didn't expect [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown what would happen when he did]].
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Literature]]
99	* Bane provokes one on purpose in ''Literature/TheCarpetPeople'', insulting his captor Gormaleesh and getting the moul to hit him, in order to [[spoiler:distract everybody from the fact that Glurk had escaped captivity]].
100	* ''Literature/GhostGirl2021'': Zee and Nellie get into a verbal spat early on, the latter accusing the former of being a liar. However, when Nellie starts insulting Zee's family, particularly her mother, Zee snaps and pummels her, bloodying her nose.
101	* In ''[[Literature/{{Leviathan}} Goliath]]'', Deryn hits Alek when [[spoiler:he accuses her of not being a real soldier when he finds out that she was actually a girl]]. She dares him to repeat himself, only to hit him every time he does.
102	* ''Literature/OliverTwist'' is generally passive when it comes to enduring verbal abuse until one day Noah Claypole makes the mistake of [[YourMom insulting Oliver's late mother]]. Oliver responds with his fists and knocks Noah down, [[ThinSkinnedBully much to Noah's terror]].
103	* In ''Literature/PetSematary,'' Irwin accuses Louis of neglecting his son Gage, the funeral of whom they're attending. Louis responds by punching him square in the face. This leads to a squabble that results in the poor kid's casket being knocked down. Irwin realizes what an asshole he was being a chapter later.
104	* ''Literature/VanasHeritage'': Halvors and Nerons stand-off ends in a fistfight, when Halvor compares Neron and his gang to a past war criminal.
105	* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' book ''[[Recap/WarriorCatsTheFirstBattle The First Battle]]'', Clear Sky and Falling Feather are arguing at the start of the book. Clear Sky insists that he does what he does for TheNeedsOfTheMany, and after arguing that there's plenty of prey to share, Falling Feather calls him greedy. This makes Clear Sky furious enough to claw her across the muzzle.
106	* ''{{Literature/Wulfrik}}'': Wulfrik is able to insult his enemies even without knowing anything about them thanks to his Gift of Tongues. Notably, he makes cuckold jokes to an Imperial baron without knowing he's a CrazyJealousGuy, taunting him into leaving the safety of his town's walls.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
110	* ''Series/ElCorazonNuncaSeEquivoca'': Temo's implication that Mateo is jealous of him is what causes the latter to push him and start a fight.
111	* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'':
112	** In "[[Recap/FireflyE01Serenity Serenity]]", during a tense confrontation between Simon and [[LaResistance former Browncoat]] Mal, Simon suggests Mal ought to be working for the Alliance, as he "fits the profile". Mal responds predictably, decking Simon and putting him on the floor.
113	--->'''Jayne:''' Saw that comin'.
114	** And in "[[Recap/FireflyE04Shindig Shindig]]", Inara's current client, Atherton Wing, all but refers to her as his property to Mal's face. Again, Mal responds predictably, though this particular instance ends up coming back to bite as on this world, punching someone in a social function is a [[FumblingTheGauntlet formal challenge]], and Mal ends up having to fight a sword duel for Inara's honor.
115	--->'''Mal:''' Turns out this is my kind of party after all.
116	* ''Series/TheGeorgeLopezShow'': In "Why You Crying?", Max mouths off at Benny, who gives him a slap on the face when he tells her to "get her tired ass home".
117	* ''Series/{{Monk}}'' has an episode where Monk must investigate a radio host who is highly suspected to have killed his wife--already a sore spot for Monk, who is still a hundred percent devoted to his own (murdered) wife Trudy. The disc jockey makes several jabs at Monk, while the detective turns the other cheek. However, he takes it too far with callous jokes about the car bombing that killed Trudy, and the usually reserved Monk leaps across the table to deliver a beating.
118	* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':
119	** In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E24ThisSideOfParadise This Side of Paradise]]", Kirk intentionally delivers a series of vicious insults to Spock in order to anger him enough to fight off the influence of pacifying plant spores. Spock manages to hold out until Kirk says he belongs in a freak show with "the dog-faced boy". CurbStompBattle ensues.
120	** Played hilariously in "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E15TheTroubleWithTribbles The Trouble with Tribbles]]", with a Klingon who's trying to provoke ''Enterprise'' crewmembers into fighting him. Chekov, in particular, is on the verge of attacking him every time he insults humans, the Federation, and Captain Kirk, but Scotty keeps holding him back, saying "We're big enough to take a few insults." This prompts the Klingon to change tactics and aim straight for Scotty's BerserkButton by calling the ''Enterprise'' a "sagging old rust bucket" that is designed like "garbage scow". ''This'' gets a reaction.
121	--->'''Scotty:''' ''[{{death glare}}]'' Laddie... don't you think you should... ''rephrase'' that?\
122	'''Klingon:''' ''[[[BriefAccentImitation imitating Scotty's brogue]]]'' Yerr right. I should. ''[normal voice]'' I didn't mean to say that the ''Enterprise'' should be ''hauling'' garbage. I meant to say that it should be hauled away ''as'' garbage! ''[laughs]''\
123	''[Scotty slowly stands up and [[TalkToTheFist punches the Klingon]]; BarBrawl ensues]''
124	* ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019'': When Allison and Viktor argue about Harlan, Allison tells Viktor that they should have left him in the basement (the event that triggered Viktor's apocalypse). Diego yells that it was too far, and it does provoke Viktor into hitting her.
125	* In ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'', during a "Scenes from a Hat" segment, we get this:
126	-->'''Drew:''' Things to say that will always start a fight.\
127	'''Ryan:''' Guys wanna fight?
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
131	* Turns up in the promos for the following WWE episodes:
132	** The promo for the go-home episode of ''Raw'' prior to ''Wrestling/MoneyInTheBank 2011'' had Wrestling/CMPunk comparing Wrestling/JohnCena (a Bostonian and a diehard Red Sox fan) to the [[TheRival New York Yankees]], prompting a punch from the usually calm Big Match John.
133	** For the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackdown Smackdown Live!]]'' episode after ''Wrestling/HellInACell 2018'', a promo had Wrestling/BeckyLynch telling Wrestling/CharlotteFlair "I just want you to call me queen" as Charlotte turns her back. Becky then adds a calm [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch "bitch"]] prompting Charlotte to attack her ex-friend.
134	** In the promo for the June 18, 2018 episode of ''[[Wrestling/WWERaw Monday Night Raw]]'', Wrestling/AlexaBliss made the mistake of calling Creator/RondaRousey an "overhyped rookie". Cue Ronda kicking Alexa's ass, GM Wrestling/KurtAngle's ass, several officer's asses... and getting a suspension for the troubles.
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
138	* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'': Wulfrik the Wanderer is a HeroKiller able to force characters into challenges and bypass bodyguards. He does this by insulting them so badly (in their native language) that they forget all about safety just to close with him and kill him. Such as this tirade given to a dwarf king:
139	-->Face me if you dare, stunted whelp, or do you lack even an elven maid's courage? I thought the Sons of Grungni were great warriors, but perhaps you are no true Dwarf. Indeed, maybe you are instead some breed of bearded Goblin, though in truth I have seen a finer beard on a Troll's back-side.
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Video Games]]
143	* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedValhalla:'' During the Oxenefordshire arc, Eivor has two options in the same conversation to punch Basim and Sigurd. Basim for being condescending, Sigurd for being a total jackass, and insulting Eivor's late father. The fact Sigurd is Eivor's jarl and blood-brother has no impact on the force of the punch Sigurd receives.
144	* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', Sora and the party mistake the Steamboat Willie version of Pete for the bad guy Pete they fight with on occasions. After one too many insults and calling SW Pete a bad guy, he fights the party after being insulted too many times, yelling at them for what did he do to earn their anger and mentions that their comments are fighting words.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
148	* Discussed with Tim in ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}''. In high school, he reportedly punched a guy in the face for asking his sister to prom. Tim doesn't remember this incident.
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Webcomics]]
152	* {{Parodied\|Trope}} by Sydney's ''[[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-295-ovareaction/ ovaries]]'' in Webcomic/GrrlPower.
153	--> '''Bowder''': ''Hey, you! Uppercut, jab, haymaker, piledriver.''
154	--> '''Gaston''': ''Them's fightin words!''
155	* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob:'' After Molly tries and fails to cheer up a despondent Galatea, only for Galatea to resume picking on her mercilessly, [[http://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/239 Galatea finally tells her to stop calling Bob her daddy.]] "He's ''not'' your ''daddy!'' [[ArtificialFamilyMember Neither of us]] ''[[ArtificialFamilyMember has]]'' [[ArtificialFamilyMember a daddy!"]] Molly finally slaps her for this — [[http://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/240 only to then collapse in tears,]] because she's never been angry enough to hit ''anyone'' before.
156	* ''Webcomic/WeakHero'':
157	** When Gray faces off against Jimmy's gang in the underpass, Ben tries to defuse the situation by threatening them enough with his words to get them to back down. However, Jack bites back with a threat to break Ben's arm, which [[TraumaButton triggers]] Alex into pummelling him and sparks a full fight.
158	** Alex is sensitive to people talking shit about Ben, and this was doubly true in middle school. When he overhears a fellow student claim that Ben's strength isn't real and he's just a "bluffing bastard", Alex belts across the school desks to deck him in the face.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Web Original]]
162	* During WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's review of ''Film/BloodRayne'', [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] gets agitated about the many logical inconsistencies contained in the film, prompting [[WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment Spoony]] to remind him once again that [[MST3KMantra it's to be expected because he's dealing with an Uwe Boll movie]]. Spoony's attempt to calm Linkara fails, and he gets punched in the face for his trouble.
163	* A [[Website/NotAlwaysRight Not Always Learning]] [[https://notalwaysright.com/in-a-state-of-fight/106885/ story]] starts with parents being called into the office because a girl gave a boy a black eye. It turns out that the boy had called her mother something ''so'' revolting she was sworn to never repeat the word for the rest of her life, and both the boy's father and the girl's immediately agreed that that was the definition of "them's fighting words" and she'd done nothing wrong.
164	[[/folder]]
165
166	[[folder:Western Animation]]
167	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}'': In the episode "The Electric Princess", Luci and Elfo become roommates, but quickly grow annoyed with one another, leading to several heated arguments. But when Elfo calls Luci little, the demon is done arguing and attacks Elfo.
168	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
169	** In "Play It Again, Brian", Peter and Brian have an argument when the former finds out that the latter tried to have sex with Lois. A BarBrawl ensues when Peter mocks Brian for his inability to hold down a girlfriend and says that his longest-lasting date (Jillian) was "dumber than Lou Ferrigno".
170	** In "Tiegs for Two", Brian goes on a date with Quagmire's old flame Cheryl Tiegs so he dates his ex-girlfriend Jillian to spite him. When both couples go on a double date, Brian and Quagmire get into a verbal sparring match that involves spilling each other's secrets, and Quagmire goes berserk when Brian asks "Does Jillian know you're half-Polish, Mr. Quagglechek?".
171	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': This often happens when WesternAnimation/YosemiteSam confronts WesternAnimation/BugsBunny. However, before Sam can physically attack him, Bugs instead uses Sam's angry state to trick him into, say, [[WesternAnimation/HighDivingHare stepping across a line at the edge of a diving board]].
172	-->'''Yosemite Sam:''' Now, you dog-blasted, ornery, no-account, long-eared varmint!\
173	'''Bugs:''' Hey, just a minute, you! Dem's fightin' woids!\
174	'''Yosemite Sam:''' Yeah, dem's fightin' words!\
175	'''Bugs:''' I dash ya to step across dis line. ''[traces line along edge of diving board]''\
176	'''Yosemite Sam:''' I'm a-stepping. ''[steps over line and off board]''
177	* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': In "[[Recap/RegularShowS03Ep17Eggscellent Eggscellent]]", Mordecai punches Benson in the face for blaming Rigby's egg-induced coma on not doing their job.
178	* Often played for laughs on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
179	** In the "Colonel Homer" episode, there's this exchange:
180	--->'''Redneck 1:''' Let's fight.\
181	'''Redneck 2:''' Them's fightin' words!
182	** Happens twice in the "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E10GrampaVsSexualInadequacy Grampa vs Sexual Inadequacy]]" episode.
183	*** The first time, Homer and Abe are at the mall trying to peddle Abe's homemade aphrodisiac. Homer approaches a man saying, "Hello sir! Yes, you look like a man who needs help satisfying his wife." The would-be customer responds by punching him in the face.
184	*** The second time occurs after Abe's aphrodisiac results in Springfield's adults spending all their time in their bedrooms and abandoning the city to the children. Bart attributes the absence of grown-ups to an invasion plan by "the saucer people" but Milhouse sharply disagrees stating it's the result of "a massive government conspiracy" and accuses Bart of being part of it. Bart reacts by attacking Milhouse and the two briefly scuffle on the floor before Lisa breaks up the fight.
185	** The people of Springfield are prone to getting into mass brawls that usually start with one character becoming so offended by what another character said that he punches him in the face. This, in turn, encourages every single person on the street to start brawling with whichever person is closest to them at the time.
186	[[/folder]]
187
188	[[folder:Real Life]]
189	* In the WildWest there supposedly were four fighting words that you would call someone only if you were prepared to fight for your life: coward, thief, liar, and cheater (especially when playing cards in a saloon).
190	* TruthInTelevision: The phrase, "Them's fightin' words!" comes from "fighting words" which originated as a legal term describing words spoken to deliberately incite a fight. The "fighting words" defense for assault in common is based on the premise that what someone said was so recognizably enraging that the injured party became an AssholeVictim and the person who punched/slapped them was entirely justified in doing so. This law is much more limited in scope today, however. Unless you are dealing with imminent, likely threats of violence you cannot physically retaliate against someone for being rude or mean to you.
191	* Among TheMafiya, calling someone "cock/rooster" ("petukh" in Russian) is the gravest insult because that term denotes the lowest of the Russian criminal prison castes. As a result, the only appropriate response to this insult is to immediately physically assault the one using it, lest you be ''actually'' considered a ''petukh'' for the rest of your life. This holds even [[HonorBeforeReason when you are outmatched and outgunned]].
192	** It is also not a good idea to call someone a "bitch" ("suka" or "ssuchenniy" in Russian) - among Russian mob types, that word is used to refer to former members of the Mafiya who try to reform and aid the law and has much the same connotations as the word "rat" in Western mob circles.
193	** Similarly in the United States prison system, the words "bitch" and "punk" are not only fighting words, but it is practically obligatory to act with violence towards the person accusing them of being either of those two things - much like "''petukh''" above, your reputation and how convicts and other inmates (there is a difference) will see you relies on whether or not you'll stand up for yourself and show that you're capable of sticking up for yourself and refusing to let others walk all over you, or if you'll cower and be branded a "bitch" or a "punk" for the duration of your stay in prison, all but guaranteeing that your stay will be that much less pleasant and that you'll be treated like a second-class inmate by the convicts.
194	* Averted with the legal excuse of provocation, which doesn't allow mere words to be considered.
195	* What provoked Zinedine Zidane's headbutting of Marco Materazzi in the 2006 UsefulNotes/FIFAWorldCup Final that earned Zidane a red card was Materazzi calling Zidane's sister a whore.
196	* The writer Osamu Dazai and Nakahara Chuuya met up in a cafe and exchanged some insults and observations while it stayed mostly calm. Until Chuuya asked Dazai for his favorite flower, at which Dazai answered ([[https://bsd-bibliophile.tumblr.com/post/173257077552/this-clip-from-the-fallen-angel-the-2009-film allegedly]]): 'Peach blossoms.' He chose these small flowers as a jab to the 160cm 'tall' Chuuya, who almost bashed Dazai's face in after that.
197	* Moon landing conspiracy theorist harassed Buzz Aldrin. [[https://youtu.be/7Y-Pc0cz-9o Aldrin responded.]]
198	* [[Music/{{Emmure}} Frankie Palmeri]] perceived Music/{{The Acacia Strain}}'s "Skynet" as a TakeThat aimed at him and Emmure, and despite Vincent Bennett's repeated and adamant insistence that it wasn't and had nothing to do with him or Emmure, he wrote "[=R2DEEPTHROAT=]", which explicitly was aimed at Bennett. This eventually culminated in Palmeri physically attacking Bennett at a tour date in Upstate New York (the most reliable account being that Palmeri confronted Bennett, who laughed and told him to calm down and that he had no issue with him, only for Palmeri to sucker-punch him, Bennett to fend him off while telling him that he wasn't going to fight him, and Palmeri [[LetsGetDangerous putting on a pair of brass knuckles]], which finally [[BullyingADragon got him beaten to a pulp by Bennett]]).
199	* In the early 1980s, Music/{{The Rolling Stones\|Band}} were touring when Music/MickJagger, after a night of partying, stumbled back into his hotel room, then called drummer Charlie Watts' room, asking "Where's my drummer?". [[BewareTheNiceOnes The normally chill Watts, who was sleeping at that time, showered, shaved, and got dressed, then went to Jagger's room, where he swiftly punched him]], saying "Don't ever call me 'your drummer' again! You're my [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] singer!", and went back to bed.
200	* The expression "Speak White", in UsefulNotes/{{Quebec}}, is considered a BerserkButton, as it was used by English-speaking Canadians [[note]]Who descend from British conquerors from [[UsefulNotes/SevenYearsWar 1760]], and historically held most of the wealth and businesses in Quebec despite being the minority[[/note]] to tell French-Canadians to shut up and speak English [[note]]Up until around the 1960s most French-Canadians in Quebec were poor and working class, and few could speak English anyway[[/note]], and the French language is SeriousBusiness in Quebec. If you do say it with the wrong kind of people you are ''very likely'' to get punched, otherwise you'll just look like an arrogant racist [[note]]Languagist?[[/note]] idiot and nobody will want to speak to you.
201	* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldo_(talk_show)#Controversy November 3, 1988]] episode of Geraldo Rivera's talk show that resulted in Rivera suffering a broken nose had an incident where John Metzger (son of White Aryan Resistance founder Tom) was attempting to bait black civil-rights activist Roy Innis (founder of Congress of Racial Equality, or [[FunWithAcronyms CORE]]) into reacting in a hostile manner, succeeding when - after the younger Metzger called Innis an "Uncle Tom" - Innis grabbing Metzger by the neck; resulting in a brawl and ultimately a chair being thrown and making contact with Geraldo's nose.
202	* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Talladega_500 inaugural Talladega 500 race]] was preceded by a ''heated'' debate between UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} president and track owner Bill France and Professional Driver Association representative Bobby Allison. The main point of contention was that the track was not ready for prime time, destroying tires at an alarming rate and resulting in dangerous handling conditions for drivers. When Allison asked France to reconsider or at least postpone the race to either improve the track's quality or wait for better tires to show up, France instead turned to Allison and said "I think you're just afraid to race." This stunned Allison into silence, as he was a seasoned driver and several-time champion besides. But it wasn't Allison who responded to the insult, but the nearby [=LeeRoy=] Yarborough, [[BewareTheQuietOnes generally known as a quiet and unassuming individual]]. Yarborough stepped past Allison and punched France in the face before either man could react, decking the NASCAR president and leaving France on his ass before turning to the gathered drivers and declaring "Boys, pack up your stuff. We're '''leaving.'''" After seeing how France had treated their representative and how even their quietest man was angry at the sheer disrespect, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere almost all of the drivers staged a walkout and boycotted the race]].
203	[[/folder]]

Context Main / FisticuffProvokingComment