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1%%
2%% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.
3%%
4%%
5[[quoteright:330:[[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/james_arms_length.jpg]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:330:[[Music/MCHammer Can't touch this]].]]
7
8->''"When did freakishly long arms become your superpower?"''
9-->-- '''Spectacle''', ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfSuperheroGirl''
10
11Alice (a tall person) is being attacked by Bob (a shorter person) and does one of two things:
12
13# Plonks a hand down on top of Bob's head (or a foot if he's that short) and holds him away from her, safely out of reach of those flying fists.
14# Picks Bob up and holds him at arm's length while he kicks and flails helplessly in midair.
15
16This is more common in comedic situations, or other situations in which a humorous resolution is preferred to a [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown merciless beatdown]].
17
18This works best on characters who are attacking in panic or incoherent fury ({{Tsundere}}s are the most likely candidates), since it holds them safe until they can cool down. It is less effective when Bob has enough presence of mind to realize that he can just hit Alice in the arm. Or duck under her hand. Or take advantage of the fact that [[GroinAttack legs tend to be longer than arms]]...
19
20If you're looking for the webcomic of the same name, [[Webcomic/AtArmsLength click here]].
21
22----
23!!Examples:
24
25[[foldercontrol]]
26
27[[folder:Animation]]
28* In Episode 37 of ''Fruity Robo 2'', [[{{Tsundere}} Peachie]] ends up victim to this (being OneHeadShorter, obviously) by [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Pineapplello]], her BelligerentSexualTension LoveInterest.
29[[/folder]]
30
31[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32* In ''Literature/AriaTheScarletAmmo'' the titular {{Tsundere}} gets subject to this by Kinji (who's OneHeadTaller than her).
33* ''Manga/BoboboboBobobo'': Dengakuman gets treated like this by Don Patch during his very first fight.
34-->'''Dengakuman:''' I'll getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha, I'll getcha, I...
35* In ''Manga/DragonQuestTheAdventureOfDai'', when Pop [[DopeSlap smacks]] Chu for his [[ComicallySmallBribe attempt at getting Pop to separate from Maam for good with 2 gold pieces]], Chu decides to pummel Pop in retaliation. Unfortunately for Chu, he's so short that Pop simply stops him in his track by placing his hand on Chu's forehead.[[note]] At least Pop only stops him -- when Chu decides to confront his tournament opponent with his fists prior to his interaction with Pop, said tournament opponent, who's no shorter than Pop but is much better at melee fighting, knocks Chu out with a punch of his own due to his longer arm reach.[[/note]]
36* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheGreenGiantLegend'': Nobita's attempt to grab the abducted Kibo is stopped by Baruna, a giant eggplant alien who holds Nobita at length with a single hand.
37* Subverted in ''Anime/FatalFury2TheNewBattle''. Krauser lifts Terry Bogard up by the head and Terry's immediate reaction is to try to pry Krauser's hands off (To be fair Krauser also threatened to crush his head) His second attempt is to kick Krauser in the face, which is blocked. Finally, Terry knees Krauser's elbow, finally forcing him to let go.
38* In ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', a group of gangster girls try to attack Uotani (a former gang member herself) to build their reputation. Uotani hardly pays them any attention until the group's leader tries to punch her... at which point Uotani employs this trope. When the attacker is confused, Uotani even lampshades it by pointing out their height difference means that she has longer arms. She then proceeds to lecture the girls on how pointless gang life is, and how they should grow up and actually do something useful with their lives.
39* Slightly twisted in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. When Ling calls Edward a little runt, Edward's attacks are deflected by Ling with little effort. Instead of physically holding him back, Ed's blows are deflected mid-air with Ling's palm reflecting the repeated kicks.
40* This happens to Lupin during his short-lived boxing career in a ''Anime/LupinIIIPartII'' episode.
41* Played straight to type in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', complete with attempted windmill punching, with the only variation being that the character being held at bay is at other times capable of ''stepping'' on the offender.
42* Poor [[ButtMonkey Els Tasmin]] of ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' had this done to her by [[GenderBlenderName Harry]] on Chapter 22, with the taller girl keeping her at bay by putting her hand on her forehead while Els flailed away uselessly, demanding that the younger Harry [[TheyCallMeMisterTibbs address her in a more respectful manner]].
43* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Itachi's "finger-to-forehead" flicks he gave to little Sasuke.
44* ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'':
45** Happens repeatedly to various characters, like Ash (pictured above).
46** For a creature example, Ash's Snivy once held the newly-hatched Scraggy away effortlessly with her Vine Whip.
47** Ash's Charizard does a leg variant to Casey's much smaller and weaker Chikorita.
48** Anthony's Hitmonchan does this to Ash's Pikachu when Ash attempts to capture him before finding out he belonged to Anthony.
49* Happens to Anime/PrettySammy in the fight against "Team Lovely Madams". She can't reach even though she's swinging her magical baton.
50* ''Manga/TomoChanIsAGirl'': Misuzu often does it to Carol when the latter tries go hug her.
51* ''Manga/VampireKnight'': Happens to Yuuki Cross when she tries to hit Zero.
52[[/folder]]
53
54[[folder:Comedy]]
55* In Ricky Gervais stand-up show ''Animals'', he uses this scenario as a metaphor for the Falklands War. As the Argentinian guns had a range of 10 km and the British guns had a range of 17 km, the British ships "parked 11 km off the coast and bombed the crap out of them." Gervais described this tactic as "the military equivalent of holding a midget at arm's length and kicking him in the bollocks."
56[[/folder]]
57
58[[folder:Comic Books]]
59* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': In ''Recap/AsterixAndObelixAllAtSea'', a Roman centurion does this to Obelix. Now, this would usually result in a short trip to the stratosphere, but Obelix has been [[FountainOfYouth de-aged into a kid]] at the time.
60* In the ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} Bi-Annual'', the Merc with a Mouth blocks Dr. Echo, the dolphin leader of ComicBook/{{Brute Force|MarvelComics}}, from striking him by putting a hand on his head -- since his cybernetic arms are jutting from the sides of his armor, they just aren't conceived to reach the front...
61-->'''Dr. Echo:''' Your attention to the etiquette of the rules of boxing leave much to be desired.
62[[/folder]]
63
64[[folder:Fan Works]]
65* The page picture on FanPreferredCouple is a cute fanart example from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''.
66* In a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' [[http://asktheheiress.tumblr.com/post/12058841312/asktheheiress-w-ale-i-try-to-hate-to fan comic,]] Karkat does this to Feferi when she tries to hug him.
67[[/folder]]
68
69[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
70* A Beagle Boy does this to Mickey Mouse in ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers''. The fact that Mickey has a sword to swing around fails to make the slightest difference.
71* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'', Yao, a short guy, is trying to fight, but is held up at arm's length by Chien Po, a tall fat guy... and Chien Po [[WarriorTherapist uses the opportunity to try to teach Yao how to defuse his anger.]]
72* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls1'', during the KeepAway scene, Rainbow Dash keeps Snails at bay with a hand on his face as he's trying to seize the crown. Yes, he has shorter arms than a girl.
73* Uttamatomakkin one-ups this trope in ''WesternAnimation/PocahontasIIJourneyToANewWorld''. He holds two soldiers at arm's length simultaneously, then [[PutTheirHeadsTogether bangs their heads together]].
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
77* Subverted in ''Film/ThreeHundred''. Leonidas tries this when training with his son, who is apparently smart enough to realize that his arms are quite capable of reaching the arm on his head.
78* Happens in ''[[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7136896/ Alad'2]]'' during a boxing match, with Aladin (Kev Adams) holding Shah Zaman (Creator/JamelDebbouze) at bay with a hand on his head -- the latter being not just small, but also one-armed.
79* In ''Film/AllMonstersAttack'', Gabara does this to Minya, then [[ShockAndAwe electrocutes him]].
80* In ''Film/DelusionsOfGrandeur'' (''La Folie des grandeurs'', 1971), Blaze (Creator/YvesMontand) holds the much smaller Don Salluste (Creator/LouisDeFunes) at bay this way while the latter tries to slap him as he's firing his valet.
81* Sarah does this to Hoggle after grabbing his bag of treasures in ''Film/{{Labyrinth}}''.
82* Lone Starr uses this on Dark Helmet in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}''. It's quite effective since Helmet is 5'4".
83* The CynicalMentor does this to the main character at one point using one ''leg'' in ''Superfights''. Illogically, although the challenge is not to ''hit'' the mentor but to ''touch'' him, the main character never thinks to just grab his leg.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Literature]]
87* ''Literature/TheColSecTrilogy'': In ''Exiles of [=ColSec=]'', Cord (who's not stated to be taller than the other character involved but is definitely bulkier and stronger) intervenes in a potential squabble between Jeko and Heleth by doing this to Jeko.
88* [[TheNapoleon A very small character]] dubbed "Super Gnat" is [[BerserkButton notorious for starting fights with colleagues]] in the novel ''Literature/PhulesCompany'', and this is a common way to deal with her until she calms down. (She's actually a martial arts expert, but only fights well when she's calm.)
89* In the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' short story "Winterfair Gifts", [[SuperSoldier Sergeant Taura]] describes how she invokes version two of this trope when on bodyguard detail and simply looming (she's 8') or smiling (her fangs are scary even when she is not ''trying'' to be intimidating) do not make someone back down.
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
93* Appeared in the ''Series/{{Battlebots}}'' reboot when Ghost Raptor fought [[TheDreaded Icewave]] -- the driver of Ghost Raptor jury-rigged a long metal arm called the "de-icer" to his robot that reached over the top of Icewave's deadly spinning blade and caught on its body, holding it off and preventing it from tearing into his machine. Eventually, Icewave overbalanced and suffered DeathByFallingOver.
94* Occurs in one version of the story in ''Series/DiffrentStrokes'''s "[[RashomonStyle Rashomon]]" episode.
95* Subverted in an episode of ''Series/{{Extras}}'' where Andy tries this when Creator/WarwickDavis attacks him and he punches him in the wrist. Andy says it works in cartoons.
96* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': In one Thanksgiving episode Rachel gets into a CatFight with her sister Amy and ends up doing this to her while Amy swats futilely at Rachel.
97* Subverted in the Halloween episode of ''Series/HoneyIShrunkTheKids''. Amy's boyfriend Ray does this on Nick, but Nick punches him in the stomach.
98* Happens hilariously in an episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', where the eponymous character is keeping Taub away from the latter's phone while texting Taub's wife to take her clothes off.
99* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' when Joe tries to [[ItMakesSenseInContext stop a little boy from pulling his pants down]]. It doesn't work.
100* In ''Series/ShakeItUp'', [=CeCe=] does it to [[ChildProdigy Henry]] when she joins his karate class, even taking the time to apologize to Rocky while switching hands to keep holding him back. Made even funnier when she lets go and Henry keeps running until he falls over Flynn.
101* A ''Series/TheKidsInTheHall'' sketch has a lazy thief robbing a lazy man whose idea of self-defense is to hold out his hand so the robber can't reach him. It works as the thief walks right into the hand, twice, and then uses his "street smarts" to simply brush the hand away.
102* ''Series/SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw'': Jen Walters and Bruce Banner get into a fight about his attempt to help her learn how to manage being a Hulk. At one point Bruce does this to Jen, but she turns the tables by grabbing his outstretched arm and using it to judo flip him.
103* In the second season finale of ''Series/WhatWeDoInTheShadows2019'', the Vampire Council levels an accusation against the characters (in the form of a play) about them killing the Baron. They claim that it was actually their familiar Guillermo who killed him. The Council dismisses this by having a child playing Guillermo attempt to attack a vampire, but he is easily held away by the vampire placing his hand on the kid's head.
104* ''Series/WonderWoman1975'': In "The Man Who Made Volcanos", a Russian operative who Wonder Woman is trying to talk to attacks her rather than listening to her. Instead of beating him up, she lifts him into the air and holds him up with her outstretched arms. This finally gets his attention and he starts listening to her.
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder:Manhua]]
108* Subverted in one ''Manhua/OldMasterQ'' comic when the stumpy, FatComicRelief character Big Potato get into a fight against a larger guy. His opponent easily holds him back with single arm before Potato runs off, but just as the opponent prepares to buy a soda for himself he realize Potato has pickpocketed him.
109[[/folder]]
110
111[[folder:Music Videos]]
112* Happens in the MusicVideo for "It's a Hit" by We Are Scientist, which depicts the band as 1920s boxers.
113[[/folder]]
114
115[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
116* Acommon tactic usd to push a giant wrestler — especially if he is a Monster Heel — as unstoppable. The opponent will try to mount offense before the trope kicks in and the opponent gets a butt-kicking.
117* During Wrestling Go!'s ''500 Fights Of Summer'', the evil [[PowerStable Blue Nation]] sent its Floozies to [[WouldntHitAGirl soften up]] SMS but Unsocial Jordan was able to hold off Charli Evans in such a manner. She did have the presence of mind to try and kick his arm but he caught her leg with his other one, rending her even more harmless(for a little while, SMS gradually had to more actively fight The Floozies off).
118* Wrestling/GiantSilva was able to pull off a variation in mixed martial arts bouts, though it did not look the way it is normally shown to be in fiction.
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
122* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': One of the propaganda illustrations in the ''Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer'' shows an imperial guard holding a [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent gretchin]] at bay this way.
123[[/folder]]
124
125[[folder:Theatre]]
126* Jefferson implies this will be the outcome if Adams tries to make him write the Declaration of Independence "by physical force" in ''Theatre/SeventeenSeventySix''.
127* Seen used on Hermia by Lysander in a production of ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream''.
128-->'''Helena:''' And though she be but little, she is fierce.
129[[/folder]]
130
131[[folder:Video Games]]
132* In one possible way for VideoGame/GabrielKnight to die in ''Sins of the Fathers'', Gabe is held at arm's length by a bad guy, swinging ineffectually, before his brutal death.
133* Can be seen in the ''VideoGame/JustDance'' clip for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3blcf82Ck8A&t=2m30s "Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting"]], with the sifu keeping his student at bay.
134* During the Rainbow Rocket arc of ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', [[AntiVillain Guzma]] holds back ''2'' Rainbow Rocket grunts this way, one on each side.
135* Grandpa Stinky does this to Max in ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' "The Penal Zone". See the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BDafZmMC2s video]].
136* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'': Amy is trying to hug Sonic, not attack him. She gets stiff-armed anyway.
137* ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'': Protagonist Lee has a joking argument with his friend Omid that leads to a challenge to a fight. As Omid is much shorter than Lee, Lee says that if he tries anything, he'll just do this.
138[[/folder]]
139
140[[folder:Webcomics]]
141* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-108-the-passion-of-the-pr-lady/ Dabbler keeps Sydney at bay with a hand on her face]] after stealing her glasses and fooling around with them. Besides Sydney being short, Dabbler is advantaged by having four arms.
142* ''Webcomic/TheLawOfPurple'': At one point, Blue does this to Dex in order to keep Dex from attacking Lette. In a variation, Blue opts to plant a foot in Dex's face.
143* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', [[https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3343 Brun apparently gets a bit combative when she drinks]]. GentleGiant Elliott finds this trope a reasonable solution.
144[[/folder]]
145
146[[folder:Web Videos]]
147* Parodied in one ''WebVideo/{{Five Second Film|s}}'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R29LlO1mcfk "Beach Bully"]].
148* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BEZ9cLxKM fan film]] ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies vs. Film/ArmyOfDarkness'' features [[Franchise/EvilDead Ashley J. Williams]] pulling this trick on zombie ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}. It briefly works, since even with the claws Logan's arms seem too short, but then Ash gets a GroinAttack for his troubles.
149* The ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZDwUa335-M Supervillain Speed Dating]]'' web video has a very hilarious example, with [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] holding [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Dark Helmet]] at arm's length.
150-->'''Darth Vader:''' Your helmet is absurdly oversized...
151* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd briefly employs this technique against WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic during the ''WebVideo/TGWTGYearOneBrawl''.
152[[/folder]]
153
154[[folder:Western Animation]]
155* An educational animation series was written by TV Ontario and describes the concept of Electronegativity in one episode. The animation per one atom as a small baby carrying to electrons, and another atom as a larger child that pulls the two electrons from the baby. The scene extends to a third atom personified as larger who then takes the electrons. Upon return to the scene, the second atom is held at arm's length, with the first atom crying as if the electrons will never be rightfully returned.
156* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Toph does this to Sokka. Unusually, Sokka is actually the taller and longer-limbed party, but Toph is keeping him from taking back his club, which she has in her other hand, sticking out in the opposite direction.
157* ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'': In the episode "Chipwrecked" when Cricket sees Chip's bouncer squad dismantle the cafe and threaten his family, he has a BerserkButton and jumps at him to interfere, but one of the bouncers holds him back by an arm and tosses him back to Bill.
158* In the [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Classic Disney Short]] "WesternAnimation/KnightForADay", Cedric uses a makeshift lance made from a sword handle and the arm from his suit of armor to hold back Sir Cumference when he brings out his sword. It's an interesting flip-flop considering Cedric is the small and vulnerable protagonist, pushing back the hulking Sir Cumference.
159* In ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', [=DeeDee=] does this not only with her arm but with her leg, putting her foot on Dexter's forehead. He's just ''that'' short.
160* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', this happens repeatedly to Timmy (usually done by Vicky).
161* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "Ocean's Three and a Half", Carter does this to Bill Gates when he taunts him by saying he doesn't own a Zune and has an iPod "like the rest of the world".
162* In the ''WesternAnimation/HappilyEverAfterFairyTalesForEveryChild'' episode "Robinita Hood" when Robinita meets Little Juanita she picks a fight with her, as she attempts to punch her Little Juanita holds her back with one finger.
163* The ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' episode "Mickey and Minnie's Big Vacation" has [[WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}} the Pink Elephants]] doing this to [[Franchise/WinnieThePooh Winnie the Pooh]] while eating his honey.
164* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'': Version 2 is frequently employed against [[TheScrappy Scrappy Doo]].
165* Done by Sideshow Bob to Lisa on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Nelson also does this to Bart in an early episode.
166* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
167** Frequently done by Mr. Krabs when his microscopic business rival Plankton attempts to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. Instead of holding him at arm's length, however, Krabs simply picks him up and tosses him bodily back to the Chum Bucket -- sometimes by creative means, such as blowing him through a straw.
168** Once done to [=SpongeBob=] trying to get to work, when Mr. Krabs LostHimInACardGame.
169* Aqualad does this to Beast Boy in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''. Eventually, Beast Boy stops flopping around and just swats Aqualad's hand away.
170* ''WesternAnimation/TuffPuppy'' Jack Rabbit does this to Dudley Puppy in "The Wrong Stuff" when he tries to fight him to rescue Kitty Katswell from him.
171* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' gives us the lovers' spat variant. Evangelyne is held at bay [[spoiler:by Sadlygrove as he's reading her diary, which she'd written while thinking he was dead -- and thus is saying way-too-nice things about him to Eva's taste.]]
172[[/folder]]
173
174[[folder:Real Life]]
175* Subverted in real life.
176** Try it; the short kid will attack the arm on their head, they'll kick (which is when you use your leg to keep them at bay and end up hopping around attached to a small bundle of joy), or they fall over when running into the hand. It's effective at least but doesn't happen the way the trope describes.
177** If the short guy knows anything about grappling, the tall guy better prepare for a joint lock. An extended arm is just asking for an armbar or triangle choke.
178* [[ThePeteBest Dave Evans]] once claimed to have done this to [[Music/{{ACDC}} Angus Young]] when dealing with his [[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/original-ac-dc-singer-on-angus-young-he-has-an-explosive-temper/ infamous temper]]. However, not only does the above prove how difficult it is to pull off in real life, Dave Evans has a history of [[UnreliableNarrator changing his tune]] whenever talking about his time with AC/DC.
179* Basically the principle behind a "stiff arm" (or "hand-off," depending on geographic location). In tackle sports like American football or various forms of Rugby, a ball carrier might hold his arm out stiff (thus "stiff arm") in order to use his hand to keep a defender off (thus "hand-off") his legs and prevent him from making a tackle. This works primarily because the ball carrier continues to run away from the tackler, and even if the defender recovers and makes the tackle, the stiff arm invariably gave the runner a moment to get his ass farther down field, potentially into a scoring area.
180* This is part of a famous boxer's moveset, ''Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns'' in particular, though it's a very brief stiff arm in order to set up his FinishingMove; A [[MegatonPunch downwards right straight]]. The way it works is that Hearns jabs at his opponent, then keeps his lead hand on his opponent's face, particularly to block the opponent's vision, and then hitting them with the right.
181[[/folder]]

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