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1[[quoteright:317:[[Webcomic/RipHaywire https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haywire.png]]]]
2->''"I'm not gonna tell you what they spent on that wedding, but $40,000 is a lot of money."''
3-->-- '''Jack Geller''', ''Series/{{Friends}}'', "The One with the Sonogram at the End"
4%% Quote changed per thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100
5%% Do not change or remove without consulting the thread.
6
7This is when someone — [[VillainBall usually a villain]] — grabs hold of the IdiotBall, and denies information in such a fashion that ''states exactly what is allegedly being denied''. For example, Alice has defeated Bob, TheDragon, whose boss has kidnapped Carol. Alice demands to know where Carol is, but Bob just smirks at her and says, "Ha! I'll never tell you that she's in the warehouse in Somewhere City!"
8
9A sort of AccidentalPublicConfession, with a little SuspiciouslySpecificDenial thrown in for good measure. If the person is doing this ''deliberately'' and therefore is not being stupid at all, it's CouldSayItBut instead of this trope. Or it could be a variation where the villain has a gun in his face and he's a coward and only acts as if this is the case. If the person saying this is not a ''complete'' moron, they may follow it with "DidIJustSayThatOutLoud"
10
11A sufficiently clever villain may give out a ''lie'' in this manner, expecting the heroes to think that they just accidentally told the truth.
12
13The term for this trope in rhetoric is apophasis. Also related to YouJustToldMe. TruthSerums in fiction have been known to cause this. Compare CannotKeepASecret and LooseLips. SubTrope of SayingTooMuch. If the person revealing information this way is doing it deliberately, it's CouldSayItBut. When done by a third party, it's IdioticPartnerConfession.
14
15----
16!!Examples:
17[[foldercontrol]]
18
19[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
20* ''Manga/BunnyDrop'': Rin, the girl in Daikichi's care, abruptly starts dancing and singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
21-->'''Daikichi Kawachi:''' Rin, what are you doing? \
22'''Rin Kaga:''' It's a secret, so I can't tell anyone at home about Parents' Day!
23* The ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'' short which introduces the Time Cloth has the titular robot cat absent-mindedly pulling this off, during the comic's EarlyInstallmentWeirdness period (second volume of the overall series) where Doraemon is nowhere as bright as he is in later chapters.
24--> '''Suneo''': Where are you going with all those junk?\
25'''Doraemon''': You're too crafty, I'm not telling you anything. If I told you we're going to revert the junk to brand new using the Time Cloth, you might try to steal it.\
26[''guess what happens next. Go on, guess.'']
27* In episode 1b of ''Anime/JewelpetSunshine'', Ruby catches Kanon and her friends with a love letter for Mikage and gets this response from Titana when she wonders what's going on. Kanon's friends are not happy with the statement.
28-->'''Titana:''' Even if you torture us, we won't tell you that we're trying to steal that love letter!
29* ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'' manga:
30-->'''Torakichi Arakoma:''' I'm sworn to never reveal that I'm here to defend th' world from impendin' doom!! I may be lost, starvin', without a single zenny t' my name, but wild horses couldn't whip that outta me!!\
31'''Lan and Maylu:''' ''[SweatDrop and FaceFault]''
32* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
33** A heroic accidental example when Vivi says it would be best if the Straw Hat Pirates don't know that the one trying to ruin Alabasta Kingdom is Crocodile.
34** A running gag with Sentomaru, who claims to have the world's tightest mouth, yet will immediately tell anyone whatever they want to know, even if they're not actually addressing him. [[IMeantToDoThat He immediately adds that he's doing it just because he wants to, not because they asked.]]
35** Before him came Fukurou from [[NebulousEvilOrganization CP9]], who spills vital information at the first opportunity for absolutely no reason and does it so much that he was fitted with a zipper over his mouth... which he unzips before spilling vital information.
36* ''Anime/RurouniKenshin'':
37-->'''Shishio's guard:''' Who are you?!\
38'''Misao:''' Makimachi Misao gives her name to no villain!\
39'''Guard:''' ... You just did.\
40'''Misao:''' '''AGH!'''
41* In an episode early in the second season of ''Manga/SgtFrog'', Keroro leaves a robotic copy of himself to head the invasion so he can go to the amusement park and see the Java Risers live show. After discovering the robot, Giroro presses Tamama to tell him where Keroro went. Tamama replies by saying that he'll never tell them that Keroro's at the amusement park. Later in the episode, Tamama finds a candy house and assumes it's a gift from Keroro for keeping his secret. This adds on to an already-established gag of Tamama not being able to keep secrets.
42* Comes up on a few occasions in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', most notably from Team Rocket; for example, "A Shipful of Shivers" sees Team Rocket start protesting that they don't know anything about a stolen trophy that ''certainly'' wouldn't be in the bag they're currently holding just after the heroes find them (although, to be fair, this was only James and Meowth; Jessie immediately noted that the two males were being idiots).
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Asian Animation]]
46* In ''Animation/HappyHeroes and the City of Mystery'' episode 5, Careful S. and Kalo encounter a villain who introduces himself by saying he'll never say he's the Rock Warrior sent by the Dark Lord. Later in the same episode, he tells them that he'll never say where he's running away to... but points out where he'll run off to anyway.
47[[/folder]]
48
49[[folder:Comic Books]]
50* The very first appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk in the comic book ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' is a textbook example of this trope, when the imp declares, "Ha! You thought you could trick me into telling you that the magic word is 'Kltpzyxm'!" (poof). Also played with in the animated series:
51-->'''Mxyzptlk:''' You make me say, spell, or otherwise reveal my name backwards and I'll split until our dimensions come into alignment again in about, oh, three months, give or take.\
52'''Superman:''' I can't even say your name ''forwards''. How am I supposed to say it backwards?\
53'''Mxyzptlk:''' ''No'', dope! You don't have to say it backwards! You've got to get ''me'' to say it!\
54'''Superman:''' Say what?\
55'''Mxyzptlk:''' '''''KLTPZYXM!''''' ''Gosh'', you're thick! Now, for the last time... ''[realizes]'' ahh nuts! ''[disappears]''\
56''[ninety days later]''\
57'''Mxyzptlk:''' ''[reappearing in the bathroom mirror]'' Hi guy! Your three months are up, and ''this'' time, you're not gonna cheat me out of my fun!\
58'''Superman:''' Oh, it's you again, Mr. Kltpzyxm.\
59'''Mxyzptlk:''' ''Not'' "Kltpzyxm"! ''Mxyztplk!'' Now the first thing I'm gonna do... aw, ''nuts!'' (''poof!'')
60::: ...and so on and so on...
61* Done by the title GentlemanThief in Creator/DonRosa's [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Scrooge McDuck-story]] ''ComicBook/TheBlackKnight Glorps Again'', not out of stupidity, but sheer ballsiness. In his civilian persona of [[GentlemanSnarker playboy millionaire]] [[{{Expy}} Arpin Lusene]] he gives the following statement to the press:
62-->'''Lusene:''' Zat would be ze greatest crime in histoire, non? But... Ah 'ave no idea what ze Black Knight plans to do... tomorrow morning at 10AM! Here! Pass zese out!\
63(''passes a written program of the caper's details'')
64* Thompson and Thomson from the ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' series do this a lot. An example from ''[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]'':
65-->'''Thomson''' or '''Thompson:''' No, our lips are sealed. We can't tell you whom we suspect, but it isn't anyone in the house. Mum's the word, you know.\
66'''Thompson''' or '''Thomson:''' Yes, dumb's the word, that's our motto. So we're not allowed to tell you about the gypsies, though we suspected them from the start...
67* In one story of ''ComicBook/MonicasGang'', Smudge (Cascão) had his right arm in a cast and Jimmy Five (Cebolinha) wrote on it that Monica was short, fat and buck-toothed. Upon reading it, she became furious but realized it wasn't Smudge who wrote it. When she asked who was, he told her she'd never make him tell it was Jimmy.
68* In ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}} and the Cauldron'', Asterix decides that to refill the cauldron, he and Obelix will have to rob a Roman-controlled bank. While he goes for supplies, he sends Obelix to scout the bank for the heist. The guard out front instantly catches on to Obelix, and boasts about the bank's security measures--''including at what time the guards change shifts and how to open the vault''--to dissuade him. Obelix returns to Asterix and reports, "I didn't learn anything. He saw through me before I could get any ideas."
69* In the 2015 Free Comic Book Day instalment of ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'', Dr Dinosaur tells Robo that there's a self-destruct control in his briefcase that he absolutely won't tell Robo about. [[spoiler:Subverted. The "self-destruct" is a note reading "IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE U WILL DIE".]]
70* ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}'' #77 (part of the ''ComicBook/OurWorldsAtWar'' crossover) opens with this from the narrator:
71-->"Okay, let's say, just for the sake of argument, that you ''haven't'' already read the first part of this star-spanning saga in the pages of ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'' #36 (still on sale!)...\
72And let's say that you ''don't'' know that the entire Young Justice gang has crash-landed on the volatile and unforgiving surface of Apokolips, home of the dark god Darkseid and about a million other unpleasant people...\
73And let's just assume that you don't know that, following the crash, Superboy and Robin had a fight over priorities and the team split up: Robin's team to stay with the downed ship and effect repairs...\
74... Superboy's team striking out across the harsh terrain in search of the fallen hero Steel, whose seemingly lifeless body was seen being spirited away by the grim herald of death, the Black Racer!\
75Well, if you don't know all that, ''we're'' not gonna tell ya.\
76Man, we'd hate to be you...
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Comic Strips]]
80* ''ComicStrip/BrewsterRockitSpaceGuy'': Brewster Rockit does this once when he decides to narrate his life out loud.
81* Calvin in ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' writes Susie a [[CutAndPasteNote cut-and-paste ransom note]] for her doll, which reads:
82-->''If you want to see your doll again, leave 100 dollars in this envelope by the tree out front. Do not call the police. You cannot trace us. You cannot find us. Sincerely, Calvin.''
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Fan Works]]
86* In ''[[Fanfic/APonyOutOfPlace Flames and Twilight]]'' Flare Blitz accidentally tells the mane six that he has a pet name for Twilight. After much pestering from the other five, he says, "There is no way in the wide, wide world of Equestria that I am telling you that I call her my little Element of Harmony..." (changed to "Sparkle Fairy" in a later revision.) Reactions vary.
87* In ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', Garp does this twice [[spoiler: on the SBS]], first about Luffy's parentage, and then about [[spoiler: Vivi's Sovereign Will.]]
88* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11191235/35/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prince-of-Slytherin Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin]]'':
89-->'''Harry:''' Let's start over. What's your name?\
90'''Dobby:''' Oooooo! Dobby cannot tell the Potter child his name! If it got back to Dobby's masters that Dobby had warned the Potter child of danger, Dobby's head would be mounted on the Wall of Shame!
91* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12348853/4/Have-You-Ever-Seen-The-Rain Have You Ever Seen The Rain?]]'' a married couple tries to rob Florean Fortescue's.
92-->'''Tonks:''' Hey! You two! What's your names?\
93'''Husband:''' Don't answer her Tasha! Damn. I mean, uh, don't answer her, Jo!\
94'''Wife:''' My name's not ''Jo'', you idiot.\
95'''Husband:''' No, it's obviously not, I'm just saying that so they don't think it's Natasha! And now I've gone and blown it again.\
96'''Wife:''' Honestly, Mark, you really are useless sometimes. Oh no.
97* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12213084/11/Blood-Filled-Chalice Blood Filled Chalice]]'' Snape catches Michael under an invisibility cloak.
98-->'''Snape:''' MICHAEL POTTER! You're in big trouble! Who gave you this?\
99'''Michael:''' Fuck you! I'll never tell you! Now give back my Dad's cloak!
100* In ''Fanfic/WithPearlAndRubyGlowing'', [[WesternAnimation/InvaderZim Zim]] had to get dentures due to Red and Purple abusing and neglecting him, and when Dib is about to reveal this to the Palace, he stops him while accidentally revealing it himself.
101-->''"DON'T YOU DARE TELL THEM I HAVE TO WEAR DENTURES!... oops. Well, I do. IF YOU LAUGH YOU WILL FEEL MY WRATH!"''
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Films — Animated]]
105* The breakout hit of ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'', "We Don't Talk About Bruno," consists entirely of people making clear that they don't talk about him, then proceeding to ''sing'' about Bruno.
106* The two-headed biker in ''WesternAnimation/{{The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie}}'' in denying ever having visited the Goofy Goober, moments before getting beaten senseless by every able bodied patron of the bar.
107-->'''Two-Headed Biker:''' It was him! Uh, he did it! I've never even eaten at *singing* GOOFY GOOFY, GOOBER GOOBERS, YEAH!
108[[/folder]]
109
110[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
111* Gretchen [[CouldSayItBut pretends to do this]] throughout ''Film/MeanGirls'' as a way of spreading gossip. ("Maybe she feels weird around me because I'm the only one who knows about her nose job... Oh my god. Pretend you didn't hear that.") Later the tables get turned when [[TheDitz Karen]] does it sincerely in her apology during the trust exercise:
112-->"Gretchen. I'm sorry I laughed at you that time you got diarrhea at Barnes and Noble. And I'm sorry I told everyone about it. And I'm sorry for repeating it now."
113* In ''Film/HorseFeathers'', Wagstaff fails to guess the password to the speakeasy, and Chico tells him, "You can't come in here unless you say '[[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish Swordfish]].' Now I'll give you one more guess." Of course, Wagstaff's next guess is the correct password.
114* In ''Film/LethalWeapon'', Riggs and Murtaugh question a kid who may have seen who planted a bomb to kill their prime suspect. When Murtaugh asks the kid his name, one of his friends shouts, "Don't tell him your name, Alvin!"
115* The main villain of the kung fu film, ''Film/ShadowWhip'', who is responsible for the massacre of the Yun family clan 12 years ago, killing everyone except for the heroine who's still a child back then unintentionally confesses himself, ''in front'' of several dozen clan members and seniors. When the heroine said she saw him murdering her family while hiding under the floorboards as a child, his response?
116--> "Nonsense! You couldn't have recognized me that night, my face was covered behind my veil..." [oops]
117* In ''Film/AgainstAllFlags'', Hawke asks the disguised Princess Patma what her name is. Patma goes blank and then tells him that she cannot remember what name [=MacGregor=] told her to give, but she does remember that she is not supposed to say she is the daughter of the Moghul Emperor. This seems to genuine naiveté (or stupidity) on Patma's case, rather than any desire to expose her true identity.
118* An early scene in ''The Wog Boy'' has Steve trying to help his friend Theo scam a welfare payment. When the supervisor starts to recognise Steve and asks for his name, Theo chimes in, "Don't tell him, Steve!"
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Literature]]
122* ''Literature/HarryPotter'''s Hagrid has a bad habit of this, especially in the [[Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone first book]]. For example, the heroes are looking for info on the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone, and Hagrid tells them that they should give up and the only people who need to worry about the Stone are Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel... when they didn't know about Flamel yet. In the movie, they turn "I shouldn't'a told you that" his catchphrase.
123* In a variant, the Death of ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' once tricked a swan into singing its "swan song", a necessary prerequisite before it could die, using this trope:
124-->'''Swan:''' Thought you'd got me there, didn't you. Thought you'd tricked me, eh? Thought I might unthinkingly give you a couple of bars of the Pedlar's song from ''Lohenshaak'', eh?\
125'''Death:''' [[AC:I don't know that one.]]\
126'''Swan:''' That's the one that goes ''"Schneide meinen eigenen Hals--"''\
127'''Death:''' [[AC:Thank ''you''.]]\
128'''Swan's ghost:''' Bugger!
129* Charles Hamilton, writing under the pseudonym Frank Richards, made his William George (Billy) Bunter character practically live this trope. If questioned about something wrong which he had done, Bunter would almost always reveal his indisputable guilt while trying to deny it.
130* Parodied in ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant'' when the main characters ask their friend Ghastly about a private meeting.
131-->'''Ghastly''': I'm sorry, but I can't be talking about that with you. I can't say, for instance, [lists everything he can't tell them]
132* In the ''[[Literature/TheSagaOfTheVolsungs Fáfnismál]]'', when Sigurth has hit the dragon Fafnir and both know Fafnir will die, the dragon asks Sigurth who he is. Sigurth knows that telling a dying person your name is stupid, since they have a special nasty curse power.
133-->'''Sigurth:''' My name is Badass, I have no mother and no father either.\
134'''Fafnir:''' How were you fathered without a father?\
135'''Sigurth:''' My race, methinks, is unknown to thee, And so am I myself; [[TooDumbToLive Sigurth my name, and Sigmund's son, Who smote thee thus with the sword.]]
136* According to ''Literature/DaveBarrySleptHere'', Deep Throat's identity "remains a closely guarded secret to this very day because it was Pat Nixon in drag."
137[[/folder]]
138
139[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
140* In the functional finale of ''Series/BeetleborgsMetallix'', [[spoiler:the heroes have just managed to swipe the Astral Axe, which controls one of the two HumongousMecha of the season, Boron. The one who snatched it holds the axe high, intending to summon Boron by shouting his name... nothing happens. The villains laugh at him, one of them snorting derisively about how he forgot to say "Arise", after which of course the hero repeats the incantation, giving them the key to defeating the bad guys' plot.]]
141* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Sheldon Cooper is absolutely unable to keep secrets.
142-->'''Penny:''' ''[inside a restaurant]'' Look, why is it so hard for you to keep one little secret?\
143'''Sheldon:''' I'm constitutionally incapable. That's why I was refused clearance for a very prestigious government research fellowship at a secret military super-collider, located beneath a fake agricultural station 12.5 miles south-east of Traverse City, Michigan.\
144'''Penny:''' ''[{{jaw drop}}]''\
145'''Sheldon:''' Which you did not hear about from me.
146* ''Series/{{Blackadder}}''
147** ''Blackadder I'': The queen insists she can keep the secret of Prince Edmund oversleeping and missing the battle altogether:
148--->'''Queen:''' Do I tell people that your brother is afraid of spoons? Or that your father has [[CompensatingForSomething very small private parts]]?
149** ''Blackadder Goes Forth'': Baldrick and George, [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial denying that Captain Blackadder shot the pigeon.]] [[TheNeidermeyer General Melchett's]] [[OhCrap pigeon.]]
150** Inverted during Blackadder's subsequent court martial, when "decisive witness" Baldrick is told to [[LiteralMinded "deny everything."]]
151--->'''George:''' ''[as Blackadder's defence]'' Are you Private Baldrick?\
152'''Baldrick:''' No!\
153'''George:''' Um... But you are Captain Blackadder's batman...\
154'''Baldrick:''' No!\
155'''George:''' Come on, Baldrick, be a bit more helpful -- it's me!\
156'''Baldrick:''' No it isn't!
157** And in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'' Prince Albert does this repeatedly, when not telling Queen Victoria about his surprise presents.
158* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Heroic version. In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E7OnceMoreWithFeeling Once More with Feeling]]", Anya and Xander's song "I'll Never Tell" is one long string of these, and Buffy is later forced to reveal she was in heaven during her temporary death. This is the result of a demon compelling them to sing the truth. %% Buffy: "But why I froze/Not one among them knows/And never can be told"
159* An episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Michael is tracking down a sniper, but his personnel file only has his initials, "T. G.". So they go to his boss trying to hire someone who fits his exact description, in the hopes of determining who the guy is. His boss responds that he knows exactly what they're up to: "Did you think I wouldn't figure out you're looking for Tyler Grey?"
160* In ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'', this is how Quico rats out El Chavo about accidentally throwing a gum in a hat (that belonged to Don Ramón's boss). Unusually for this trope, it's intentional on his part to get El Chavo into trouble:
161-->'''Quico''': Sorry, Don Ramón, but I can't tell you anything. I promised El Chavo that I wouldn't tell anybody that he stuck a gum in a hat.
162* ''Series/DadsArmy'': A captured U-Boat Captain starts taking notes about his supposed mistreatment by the Home Guard, intending that they be "brought to account" when the Germans win the war. When Private Pike starts singing a mocking song about Hitler:
163-->'''Captain''': Your name will also go on ze list! What is it?\
164'''Mainwaring''': Don't tell him, Pike!
165* Employed as a joke in ''Series/DesperateHousewives'':
166-->'''Lynette:''' No, my favorite thing is to think all of the things I want to say to you but don't. Like "Pipe down, you annoying nutjob!" I'd never say that.
167* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
168** The Daleks and Cybermen have a variation in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E13Doomsday "Doomsday"]].
169--->'''Cyberman:''' [[AC:You will modify!]]\
170'''Dalek:''' [[AC:Daleks do not take orders!]]\
171'''Cyberman:''' [[AC:You have identified as Daleks.]]
172** A variation in the second Series 5 DVD [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E5FleshAndStone "Meanwhile in the TARDIS"]] short.
173--->'''Amy:''' This big old machine must have some kind of visual records [of the Doctor's previous companions].\
174'''The Doctor:''' ''[quietly]'' Oh, God. ''[louder]'' I mean, no — and anyway they're voice-locked.\
175'''Amy:''' ''[laughs]'' Oh, voice-locked. So I'd just have to say "Show me all visual records of previous TARDIS inhabitants"?\
176'''The Doctor:''' No, nonono, I mean voice-locked. '''I''' would have to say, "Show me all visual records of previous TARDIS inhabitants."\
177'''Amy:''' Awww. Thank you.\
178'''The Doctor:''' [[RapidFireNo No, no! No! No!]]
179* From ''Series/{{Eureka}}'':
180-->'''Sheriff Carter:''' So... what? You're taking credit, but you had help? I'm guessing from somebody who'd want to hurt the new sheriff?\
181'''Dr. Fielding:''' No! ... Marguerite would never harm anyone!
182* ''Series/FamilyMatters'':
183** The episode "Life of the Party" has this exchange:
184--->'''Laura:''' Waldo, what's with Steve, he's acting weird, even for him!\
185'''Waldo:''' Willie told me not to tell.\
186'''Laura:''' Tell what?\
187'''Waldo:''' That he spiked Urkel's punch.
188** From "Baker's Dozen":
189--->'''Harriet:''' Now I'm not gonna say how you destroyed my kitchen! Or how you all act like children! Or what a dumb idea this was to begin with! I'm not gonna say that!\
190'''Carl:''' I'm not gonna say she started it.\
191'''Rachel:''' And I'm not gonna say I had ''lousy'' help!\
192'''Harriet:''' Good, I'm glad we're in an agreement.\
193''[Carl and Rachel [[BlameGame start arguing]]]''\
194'''Harriet:''' [[BigShutUp SHUT UP!!]]\
195''[Carl and Rachel sticks their tongues at each other]''
196* ''Series/TheFastShow'' featured the character of Janine, a DumbBlonde teenage single mother, who refuses to disclose the identity of her baby's father because "it's not fair to [[TeacherStudentRomance grass on your headmaster]]."
197* From ''Series/{{Glee}}'', when Brittany is asking Will embarrassing questions.
198-->'''Will:''' Brittany, who told you to ask these?!\
199'''Brittany:''' Miss Sylvester says I'm not at liberty to say.
200* The 1950s show ''House Party'' (redone by Creator/BillCosby as ''Kids Say the Darndest Things'') was hosted by Art Linkletter, who'd interview children in hopes they'd say something amusing; one of his favorite tricks was to ask "What did your mother tell you not to say today?"
201* Happens on ''Series/ICarly'' where Sam tells Carly she kissed Freddie, and then says "[[MakesSenseInContext sshhh, don't tell Carly...]]" However, this is because she was on laughing gas at the time and wasn't aware of what she was saying.
202* A particularly clunky example occurs in a second-season episode of ''Series/LieToMe'': a guy suspected of killing a woman named Connie claims to not know her husband, Eric. When asked if he'd ever been to Connie's house, the suspect immediately replies, "No, I've never been to ''Eric's wife's'' house." As an inadvertent slip, it seems oddly deliberate.
203* A ''Series/MadTV1995'' sketch has the following exchange:
204-->"I'm not going to tell you my name. Because when you tell someone your name, you give them power over you. Like if you said, 'Ron,' I'd say 'What?' And no-one's going to have that kind of power over Ron Shaffer!"
205* PlayedForLaughs towards the beginning of ''Series/TheNanny'' episode "Maggie the Model" between Fran Fine and Niles as they discuss supermodel Chloe Simpson, Maxwell Sheffield's old flame.
206-->'''Fran:''' Niles, I'm sensing some hostility here. (''nudges him'') Now, dish!\
207'''Niles:''' Divulge the details of their torrid love affair, which ended with Mr. Sheffield's heart, still beating, being torn from his chest? No, I couldn't!\
208'''Fran:''' Oh yeah, you know, it's best left unsaid. Now, don't tell me more!\
209'''Niles:''' Mmm, not-not if you tortured me would I reveal the way he kept going back to her for more like a moth to a flame. An incredibly stupid moth.
210* In ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'', a MonsterOfTheWeek is asked why he has a giant clock in his chest. His response? "I'll never tell you about the source of all my evil power!" Cue an attack aimed right at the clock while the monster futilely tries to backtrack.
211* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Doctor Bashir's father comes into the public medical facility and proceeds to say to what he thinks is his son, "Don't worry, I'll never tell anyone <detailed explanation of big secret>" Slightly more of an AccidentalPublicConfession, since he thought he was talking to someone who already knew, [[spoiler:unaware that what he thought was the real Julian was actually the holographic model based on him, which was being controlled from the other room by O'Brien and Zimmerman]], but they're still saying in essence I'll Never Say What I'm Saying Right Now, and even if it had been the real Julian, they're saying it in a public place (the Infirmary) without even checking whether anyone else is around, not to mention that someone else could have walked in at any time. It almost begs the question of ''how'' they managed to keep the secret for a quarter of a century given their apparent carelessness in talking about it.
212-->'''Amsha:''' What he's trying to say is, we would never do anything to jeopardize your career.\
213'''Richard:''' And just so there's no misunderstanding, I give you my word that at no time in our interview with Doctor Zimmerman will we ever mention or even hint at the fact that you were genetically enhanced as a child.\
214'''Amsha:''' Jules, you can trust us. Your father and I have kept the secret of your DNA resequencing for almost twenty-five years and we're not going to let it out now.
215* ''Series/TopGear'' parodies this. Very often they'll take their cars (supercars or [[TheAllegedCar otherwise]]) to a manufacturer's "top-secret road-testing facility" while the camera pans over the facility's address. That is, if Jeremy doesn't outright ''say'' the address himself, pausing to let the audience take notes.
216* ''Series/TwoPintsOfLagerAndAPacketOfCrisps'': Louise attempts to avoid giving any indication that [[spoiler:Gaz]] is Corinthian's father. She eventually encounters Gaz and says she's not going to tell him [[spoiler:he himself]] is the father.
217[[/folder]]
218
219[[folder:Radio]]
220* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Stretch Is In Love Again", Judy Brille, the daughter of Clay City High School principal Jason Brille, was assigned by her father to keep [[DumbJock Stretch Snodgrass]] busy on dates long into the evening. As a result, he's so tired he's useless playing football; once he even ran the wrong way. Madison High looks to have an embarassing defeat to its principal rival. And nobody at Madison knows what's going on. Stretch is sworn to secrecy by his double-agent girlfriend. So, Miss Brooks, asked to investigate what's going on by Mr. Conklin, interrogates Stretch.
221-->'''Miss Brooks''': Who is this new girlfriend, Stretch?
222-->'''Stretch''': Oh, no you don't!
223-->'''Miss Brooks''': No I don't what?
224-->'''Stretch''': You don't get Judy's name out of me! ''(audience laughs)'' I promised to keep it a secret.
225-->'''Miss Brooks''': Well, that's your privilege. [[BlatantLies If you don't want me to know Judy's name, I'm not going to know Judy's name. That's all there is to that.]] Judy ''what''?
226-->'''Stretch''': Gosh, I didn't even want that part of her name to get out. It just slipped. Look, Miss Brooks. You wouldn't want me to break a promise, would you?
227-->'''Miss Brooks''': Fervently. Listen, Stretch. Even if you enjoy all this "rumbering", don't your girl's parents object to these late hours every night?
228-->'''Stretch''': Oh, I'm sure they don't.
229-->'''Miss Brooks''': How can you be so sure?
230-->'''Stretch''': Her old man gives me the money to take her out.
231-->'''Miss Brooks''': What!
232-->'''Stretch''': Sure! He's not like our principal. Mr. Brille's a good sport.
233-->'''Miss Brooks''': Stretch, you're telling me you're taking out Judy Brille?
234-->'''Stretch''': How did you know?
235-->'''Miss Brooks''': [[DeadpanSnarker A little birdbrain told me.]]
236* An installment of ''The Secret Adventures of the Tooth Fairy'' (a syndicated five-minute comedy interstitial) had a dentist trying to guess the famous person locked in the broom closet. He by-chance met the famous person, Thomas Edison, and is sworn to keep it a secret. The nurse is doubtfully curious:
237-->'''Nurse Turken:''' Doctor...are you trying to tell me that Thomas Edison is in the broom closet?\
238'''Dentist:''' No, I'm not. I swore to keep it a secret.
239[[/folder]]
240
241[[folder:Theatre]]
242* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'': Amazingly PlayedForDrama at Act V Scene V, where [[MasterOfDelusion Roxane]], after fourteen years, at last realizes that Cyrano was PlayingCyrano (the whole point of the play is that Cyrano is not capable of [[BeYourself admitting his own feelings]]):
243-->'''Cyrano:''' I loved you not.\
244'''Roxane:''' You loved me not?\
245'''Cyrano:''' [[LovesMyAlterEgo 'Twas he!]]\
246'''Roxane:''' You loved me!\
247'''Cyrano:''' No!\
248'''Roxane:''' See! how you falter now!\
249'''Cyrano:''' No, my sweet love, I never loved you!
250* Launce, of ''Theatre/TwoGentlemenOfVerona'', does this in monologue to the ''audience:''
251-->''He lives not now that knows me to be in love; yet I am in love; but a team of horse shall not pluck that from me; nor who 'tis I love; and yet 'tis a woman; but what woman, I will not tell myself; and yet 'tis a milkmaid.''
252* In ''Theatre/AnnieGetYourGun'', Sitting Bull and Charlie walk in on Dolly messing with Annie's gun. When they begin to question her about it, she indignantly replies, "No matter what you do to me, you'll never get me to tell you I was going to fix Annie's rifle so she'd lose the match and go away so I could have Frank all to myself again! My lips are forever sealed!"
253[[/folder]]
254
255[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
256* A variant of this is an obvious and yet surprisingly common for newbie Game Masters. ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' gives this piece of sage advice: "It defeats the purpose (of a search roll) to say 'You don't find the gun under his jacket.'" Granted, most people are smart enough to at least downplay it to "You don't find what he's hiding" or giving other accidental cues that something is there to be found, but still.
257* Related to this, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' game masters are often given advice on how to avert this; be as evasive as possible. "You don't find anything." "So there's no traps, then?" [[ParanoiaFuel "I never said that..."]]
258[[/folder]]
259
260[[folder:Video Games]]
261* ''VideoGame/{{Duolingo}}'': The French course teaches you the phrase "I'm the one who killed him, [[YouJustToldMe but I'll never confess]]!"
262* ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERAttackOfDarkforce'': As part of how competent Sunny Day and Funny Face are. When they're tasked with defending the device that is feeding dark energy to the fleet, which the heroes need to destroy in 5 minutes to prevent a concentrated blast on the Earth, Sunny Day and Funny Face will very helpfully and loudly argue with each other to not let the heroes know that ''this'' is that very device that they need to protect from them.
263* In ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 3'', this is how Birdie reveals Shadoloo's headquarters to Chun Li.
264* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'':
265** Invoked when Harley Quinn says, regarding the Joker's location: "You'll never find him! He's in a [[spoiler:secret lab in the gardens]] and... aw, ''[[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud crap]]''!" Of course, [[CrazyPrepared Bats already knew]], so this just served as another item on the HumiliationConga she was currently going through.
266** In a CallBack, Harley does this once again in the second game by not telling Batman about the Freeze Tech in the boiler room, and ''[[RunningGag again]]'' in the "Harley Quinn's Revenge" DLC by [[spoiler:not telling Robin about the secret room she and many of her mooks are hiding in.]]
267* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' plays with this trope a bit, if this is the right trope; Elena doesn't exactly tell you what she's denying, but she does continue to tell you the enemy's plans verbatim after being told explicitly that she talks too much...for telling you the enemy's plans verbatim.
268* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
269** Happens in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' when Eggman finally has Sonic and Tails where he wants them, and just needs the real Chaos Emerald to complete his scheme. (He had earlier picked up two emerald energy signatures, so he had reason to believe there was a fake emerald.) Sonic sees through it. Tails... not so much.
270--->'''Eggman:''' Did you really think you could trick me with that fake Emerald?\
271'''Tails:''' So... how did you know it wasn't the real one?\
272'''Sonic:''' Tails!\
273'''Eggman:''' Because YouJustToldMe, Fox Boy!
274** Deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] in ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'', where Eggman states, very loudly, "They'll never find me in Gimme Shelter!" However, Eggman was actually trying to ''trick'' Knuckles and Emerl to "follow" him to Gimme Shelter.
275%% ** Also happens in ''VideoGame/SonicRushAdventure''; apparently, Captain Whisker is ''that'' dumb.
276* ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'': Professor Frankley says "I don't think we can trust this [[SealedEvilInACan box]]. We'd better not tell it we're looking for the [[PlotCoupon Crystal Stars]]."
277* In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', Luigi announces that he'll never give his name to scoundrels like Count Bleck. Which he then immediately follows with "Now taste the wrath of Luigi!"
278* In ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'', CuteWitch Kyon does this. A lot. Usually followed by "Oops. Now I have to kill you."
279-->'''[[ThirdPersonPerson Kyon]]:''' Sorry! Kyon's on a secret mission right now. I can't tell you my name.\
280'''[[DeadpanSnarker Aschen]]:''' ... So, Kyon, what were you doing in a place like this?\
281'''Kyon''': Wha--!? D-Did you read my mind!? Are you a psychic robot!?\
282'''Aschen:''' Yes.
283* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
284** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', there are two girls on Windfall Island who embody this trope. They "won't" tell you anything, not even for two Rupees!
285** And in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]'', a Goron tells you that, since you're an outsider, he shouldn't tell you that the Elder's home is right over there, in this spot on your map! (Of course, the home is a big and obvious cave anyway.)
286* ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant''
287** When Yuri and company reach Roger Bacon's house, Lenny appears to tell taunt them by saying Roger's been kidnapped. Yuri tricks Lenny into blabbing by claiming Lenny doesn't know where he's been taken, annoying him to the point where he vehemently tells them Roger's in Florence, Italy just to prove he does know. [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud He then slumps to the ground, mouth agape, and sobs at what an idiot he's been.]]
288** Yuri tries the exact same trick on Veronica later on when trying to figure out where their leader, Nicolai, went. She pretends to fall for it before responding with "That's right. I don't know. What kind of idiot would fall for that stupid trick?!", making Lenny feel like a complete jackass in the process.
289* Commonly done by the villains in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games. One of the most blatant: a [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Team Flare]] grunt worrying that, after you beat him, you might figure out that the password into their secret base is "open sesame"! There was no indication prior to fighting this guy that you even ''did'' need a password at all.
290* During the tutorial in ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'', [[LeeroyJenkins Operative Jenkins]] tells the Longbow agents that have him pinned, "I'm a trained Arachnos soldier, you won't get me to spill the name of <player name> that easy!"
291* In ''VideoGame/Mother3'', Alec confronts Lucas regarding Claus's whereabouts (this is before Lucas becomes a HeroicMime). He says:
292-->'''Alec:''' Don't tell me Claus went after that detestable Drago to try to...\
293'''Lucas:''' Okay. I won't. I also won't tell you he grabed Dad's knife and ran off into the mountains to try and kill the Drago.\
294'''Alec:''' [[LampshadeHanging It's a good thing you raised him to be honest, Flint.]]
295* The punchline when you interrogate (or [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment "interrogate"]]) the quillboar prisoner in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.
296* In ''VideoGame/StarControlII'', this exchange between the PC Captain and the Thraddash:
297-->'''PC Captain:''' Why didn't you fight against the Alliance, and where ARE the Ur-Quan?\
298'''Thraddash:''' Where did they go, you ask? This is a secret, of course! We can't tell you! If we told you that they were fighting a secret war against a mysterious invader you might find some way to use that information against our masters. So forget it! No secrets!
299* When Volgin tortures Snake in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', he insists that Snake is after "the legacy." Snake actually doesn't know what he is talking about, so Volgin brags of what it is and where he's hidden it. Cue TheMole, currently in the room with them, going to steal it for themselves. In fact, ''every single person in that room'' besides Volgin is an agent for one faction or another. [[note]][[DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent Well, at least one]].[[/note]]
300* Nintendo games seem to do this a lot. In The Legendary Starfy, when Snips, Ronk, and Papes break into Pufftop Castle looking to kidnap Bunston, Starly very cleverly tells them, "I'll never tell you that he (Bunston) is safe with my brother in Sogwood Forest!"
301* ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'' has Durk the Deranged, a clever but mentally ill resident of Stormreach. Pretending to know his "secret", he explains that there's no way you could know that the two Kobold chieftain brothers in the slime-infested sewers are having a feud and that therefore it would be the perfect time to take out both sides. And he'll never tell you that either.
302* ''VideoGame/AssaultOnVampireIsland'': The threatening note you find.
303-->''"I know who you are, and I know what you are doing here, but you will NEVER succeed in your quest! Begone! You cannot trace me! You cannot find me! You have no idea who I am! Sincerely, Dracula, Lord of the Undead, Upper Turret of the Creepy Castle."''
304* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheLastSpecter'': [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] by the Chief Engineer:
305-->'''Chief Engineer''': I'm just an old fool, forced against my will into making wild contraptions for a buncha crooks!\
306'''Luke''': Crooks? Contraptions? What sort of... contraptions?\
307'''Chief Engineer:''' Machines that shoot great plumes of smoke into the air, machines that crawl on many legs--\
308'''Chief Engineer:''' Er, I mean... machines that do boring, everyday stuff, like make toast. Y'know, toast machines.\
309'''Chief Engineer:''' I've been sworn to silence. Don't tell a soul about what I said, OK?\
310'''Chief Engineer:''' And don't you say anything about those [[VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc hoodlums causing havoc]] in town with their secret plan.\
311'''Luke:''' Um... What secret plan?\
312'''Chief Engineer:''' The one I didn't tell you about! Don't you see I'm jeopardizing my job not telling you all this?!\
313'''Chief Engineer:''' Here. Solve this puzzle so I know I can trust you. You're not getting anymore out of me until then!\
314'''Chief Engineer''': Under no circumstance can I say that this place is being used to make steam machines, they said.\
315'''Luke:''' You're making steam machines?\
316'''Chief Engineer''': No! Don't you get it?! That's exactly what we're NOT doing here!\
317'''Chief Engineer''': I'm also not allowed to say that we're making other devices too!\
318'''Luke:''' Excuse me, sir. Are you actually trying to tell us all this?\
319'''Chief Engineer''': Of course not! If I did that, I'd be in some real trouble!\
320'''Chief Engineer''': I'll never tell that pushing the red and blue buttons on the pressing machine operates it, either.\
321'''Chief Engineer''': Nor will I ever hint about what lies through that opening on the assembly line!
322* Depending on the player's choices in ''VideoGame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'', Scooter can develop a crush on one of the female characters. "But I ain't sayin' which one. Fiona. Dang!"
323* In ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyoTetris'', Schezo is chasing after Sig for his left hand, which is emitting a strange energy. Amitie holds off Schezo at the request of Sig; once you beat this specific stage, Amitie blurts out "I'll never allow you to know that Sig ran off to the ruins!", and Schezo thanks her before she realizes what she just said.
324-->'''Amitie:''' I'm sorry, Sig...
325[[/folder]]
326
327[[folder:Visual Novels]]
328* Detective Dick Gumshoe from ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' has this as a habit. He usually reveals secret details about a murder investigation to Phoenix, all while thinking he's successfully concealing the info from him. In his first occurence, Gumshoe reveals the name of the prosecution's witness and the fact that she's still in the hotel next to Phoenix's office.
329[[/folder]]
330
331[[folder:Web Animation]]
332* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue: Recreation'' has Sarge pulling several in a row early in the series, when trying to warn Donut, "captured" by Caboose, not to tell him about their new vehicle or hologram chamber. Of course, since this is [[TheDitz Caboose]] we're dealing with, nothing comes of it.
333[[/folder]]
334
335[[folder:Webcomics]]
336* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
337** [[DumbMuscle Thog]] has a slight variation -- he [[EvilGloating gloats]] along with Nale about how the heroes will ''never'' be able to turn a petrified Celia back to normal... so long as they don't have the scroll Nale is carrying.
338** In the {{Prequel}} ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickOnTheOriginOfPCs On the Origin of PCs]]'', Elan has an exceptionally long and detailed instance:
339--->'''Elan:''' Sir, I'm not about to tell an innkeep I just met about the priceless antique shield Sir François carries, or the pouch of rare gems he keeps hidden in his saddlebags, of his purse filled with platinum pieces that he hides in his left boot when he sleeps.\
340''[in the next panel, the innkeeper is seen scribbling down notes]''\
341'''Innkeeper:''' left... boot...\
342'''Elan:''' Platinum has an "i" in it.
343* Yori almost [[http://nn4b.com/comic/62 gets himself killed]] doing this early on in ''Webcomic/NoNeedForBushido''.
344* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'': Jim (as Captain Antilles) does this while talking to Darth Vader.
345-->'''Jim:''' I'll never tell you how we stole the the plans! Or if we did steal them. Which I'm not saying.
346* An odd meta-textual example from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': During the non-canon "Goonmanji 2" arc, Hanma the immortal greets Ashley and Liz by pointing out that you aren't allowed to spoil canon events in a non-canon story, "and therefore no acknowledgement should be made as to whether you've seen me at an anime convention before." Nobody in-story points out her mistake.
347[[/folder]]
348
349[[folder:Web Original]]
350* In ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'', [[spoiler:WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses]][[note]]not to be confused with WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic[[/note]] helps Team B [[spoiler:find the location of Malachite's Hand]] while specifically claiming he was keeping it a secret.
351* The ''Website/SCPFoundation'' entry [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-4357-j SCP-4357-J]] is a demon that keeps mocking the Foundation employees for the insufficient attempts they make at containing it. And, in the process, keeps revealing how to make its containment more effective. In some cases, it improves its own containment itself. Once it is so thoroughly contained that it cannot escape, it is asked why it didn't escape before all the changes to its containment were made. Cue {{Angrish}} as the demon realizes that it has no good answer.
352-->'''SCP-4357-J:''' Shit, man, where's the goddamned summoning circle? Or the protective hexagram? You guys don't know jackshit. Hell, go get me some chalk and I'll show you myself! ''[does so]'' And THAT is how you make a proper summoning circle. All the runes in place, everything nice and neat. NOW, if I step in it like this, it'll be hard for me to get out!\
353''[SCP-4357-J tries to step out of the circle and bumps against an unseen barrier]''\
354'''SCP-4357-J:''' Oh, [[PrecisionFStrike FUCK]] ME!
355[[/folder]]
356
357[[folder:Western Animation]]
358* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
359** From "Simple Simpson":
360--->'''Pieman:''' No trap can hold Homer Simpson! Uh, but I'm not Homer Simpson... I'm the Pieman! Homer Simpson away! I mean, the Pieman.
361** "The President Wore Pearls" ends with this disclaimer: "[[OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope On the advice of our lawyers]], we swear we have never heard of [[Theatre/{{Evita}} a musical]] based on the life of [[UsefulNotes/EvaPeron Eva Perón]]."
362** There's a much more extended example in "Bart The Fink":
363--->'''Cayman Islands Banker:''' Oh, I'm sorry. I can't divulge information about that customer's secret illegal account. (''hangs up the phone'') OhCrap I shouldn't have said he was a customer. Oh, crap. I shouldn't have said it was a secret. [[RuleOfThree Oh, crap]]! I certainly shouldn't have said it was illegal. Ah, it's too hot today.
364** In "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em", peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (Principal Skinner) having an allergy, and Bart asks Groundskeeper Willie who it is.
365--->'''Willie:''' I'll never say his name.
366--->'''Bart:''' "His", eh? So, it's a dude.
367--->'''Willie:''' Who says it's a dude? A principal can be a man ''or'' a woman these days.
368** In "Secrets of a Successful Marriage" Homer tries to keep a story about an "anonymous" couple by calling them "Mr. X" and "Mrs. Y".
369--->'''Homer''': So, Mr. X says "Marge, if this doesn't get your motor running, my name isn't Homer J. Simpson!"
370* In ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'':
371-->'''Zim:''' I'm infecting this city with genetically enhanced vermin, but you'll never know.\
372'''Dib:''' You just told me.\
373'''Zim:''' YOU'RE LYING!!!
374* A CutawayGag from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
375-->'''Lois:''' Peter, it's just a phase! You've gone through a few yourself, you know.\
376'''Brian:''' Yeah, like those two weeks you spent narrating your own life?\
377'''Peter (in flashback):''' I walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. I looked with a grimace at the questionable meal Lois had placed in front of me. Of course I'd never tell her how disgusted I was with her cooking, but somehow I think she knew. ''[Lois glares at him]''
378* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''
379** Done in TheMovie:
380--->'''Dennis:''' Plankton was very specific.\
381'''Spongebob:''' Plankton?\
382'''Dennis:''' For some reason, he wanted me to step on you.\
383'''Patrick:''' Step on us?\
384'''Dennis:''' Yeah, that way you'll never find out he stole the crown!\
385''({{beat}})''\
386'''Dennis:''' Perhaps I've said too much...
387** There also a variation with Mr. Krabs in the episode "Jellyfish Hunter" as [=SpongeBob=] tries to free the jellyfish Krabs tricked him into imprsoning.
388--->'''Mr. Krabs:''' Well, you can't. That door's voice-activated, and it'll only open if I say "Open"! ''(cue him [[OhCrap quickly covering his mouth]])''
389%%* ''ComicBook/LuckyLuke'': In one episode, unsurprisingly by [[TooDumbToLive Averell]].
390* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'': Robotnik captured Tails and used him as a bargaining chip to convince Sonic to deliberately lose a race, which will have every member of a sheep race put into slavery. It works until Sonic demands Grounder (his opponent) to reveal where Tails is. Grounder responds, "You'll never find him under the arena."
391* The classic in this genre: ''WesternAnimation/PrivateSnafu - Spies'', from a series of WWII training films. "Private Snafu has a military secret which he tells us he will never tell." Directed by Creator/ChuckJones, written by Creator/DrSeuss.
392* ''WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird'': Sylvester has immobilized the dogs in a dog pound, and Tweety wants to know how to break the spell. Sylvester's reply: "You expect me to tell you that the only way to wake them up is with a police whistle?" Sylvester then clamps an upside-down glass over Tweety while the bird was in his paw, silencing Tweety's whistle. Unfortunately for Sylvester, Tweety happens to have a straight-pin with him.
393* ''WesternAnimation/TheSylvesterAndTweetyMysteries'': Pepe Le Pew stole all the perfume of Paris and replaced it with his own smell. When caught, he said he'd not reveal it's hidden at the old chocolate factory.
394* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'': In one episode, Penfold is hypnotized into going with Danger Mouse in a roller coaster ride and not telling anyone it was a trap. While in trance, he constantly mentioned in front of Danger Mouse he'd never tell anyone it was a trap. Because of how much the show follows the RuleOfFunny, Danger Mouse didn't suspect a thing until Penfold broke free from the trance and "told" him it was a trap.
395* ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'': In one episode, Goofy tells a group of criminals, "I'll tell you where I live, but I'll never tell you where ''my next door neighbor'' Pete lives".
396* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfHeMan'': During a peace meeting with the Galactic Guardians, Slushead slips the fact that the meeting is just a diversion while Skeletor and Flogg attack Primus.
397* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In "Little Dipper", Soos tells an enraged Gideon "You'll never find Stan, on the second door to the left down the hall... uh, wait, why did I say that?"
398* ''WesternAnimation/CareBears1980s'': In one episode, Treat Heart and a young girl are in No Heart's castle, trying to find a potion that will help them shrink giant vines that have captured their friends, when Beastly appears. They ask him if he knows where it is and Beastly says that he is not going to tell them that it is "next to the dumb-dumb pills."
399* ''WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch'': In "Panda Pandemonium", Mr. Peevly gives Bananas the Gorilla a stalk of bananas for his friendship the the Bunch, assured that he'd never tell the keepers to where the bears escaped.
400-->'''Bananas:''' No sirree, Bob! I'd never tell anyone they escaped to the carnival!
401* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Pretty does this in one episode where she goes on a TV show and says "I'd never say..." followed by one of her friends' secrets each time. [[spoiler: She's actually doing it on purpose, not because she's stupid.]]
402* ''WesternAnimation/GravedaleHigh'': In "Night of the Living Dad", Gill Waterman accidentally lets slip that Marty is a fake dad that Frankentyke made to prevent everyone from finding out that his real dad is the human scientist who created him.
403-->'''Gill''': I'm not telling you about the monster dad Frankentyke made because he was ashamed of his real dad.
404* ''WesternAnimation/JellyJamm'': In "My Little Queen", Bello tries to blame Mina for the Queen becoming a kid again. Mina then posits the possibility it was Bello, leading to Goomo (who saw what had really happened) saying this line:
405-->'''Goomo:''' Leave my BFF alone! Just because he wished the Queen to be little again when he saw a [[WishUponAShootingStar shooting star]], it's not his fault!
406* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekLowerDecksS2E06TheSpyHumongous The Spy Humongous]]", a Pakled comes aboard the ''Cerritos'' requesting asylum, but the crew quickly figures out that he's a spy, simply because he's so terrible at it. They give him the runaround. After returning him to Pakled Planet (that's the actual name of their homeworld), he triumphantly admits to being a spy to Captain Freeman, while stating that he learned a lot (he didn't) while also not revealing Pakled secrets. Thinking quickly, Freeman asks what exactly he didn't reveal, causing him to blurt out the Pakled plan to bomb Earth.
407* ''WesternAnimation/TheWackyAdventuresOfRonaldMcdonald'': In the final video "The Monster O'[=McDonaldland=] Loch", Grimace tells Birdie to not tell anyone about his fear of ducks. After Birdie states that she never told anyone about his fear of ducks, Grimace is relieved, forgetting that the rest of the [=McDonaldland=] gang just heard his admission.
408* ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'': In "[[Recap/WordGirlS1E2YouCantCrushCityHallTwoBrainHighway You Can't Crush City Hall]]", the titular heroine finds out about the secret code to deactivate Chuck's sandwich press, which threatens to destroy city hall, in this manner.
409-->'''[=WordGirl=]:''' There must be some way to stop it!\
410'''Chuck:''' Oh, there is! But I'm not telling ''you'' about the secret code! ''[realizes he's said too much]'' [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud I didn't say secret code out loud, did I...?]]
411* ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBeavers'': Combined with an accidental example of SpitefulSpoiler. After being bopped five times into last week by Norbert, Dagget promises not to do anything to ruin Norbert's movie, such as spoiling him [[ItMakesSenseInContext how the protagonist travels back in time to kill the radioactive squirrel that bit and mutated his son with a radioactive nut]]. Norbert is naturally less than pleased after that, and ends up bopping Dagget into the dawn of time.
412[[/folder]]
413
414[[folder:Other]]
415* A TextbookHumor joke paper on Arxiv (by a reknowned cosmologist), researching the variation of pi over time, concludes with the following crowner: "A number of colleagues were kind enough to comment on the manuscript. For some reason they did not want me to use their names, so I will identify them by their initials:". Followed by their first and middle initials... and unabbreviated last names.
416[[/folder]]

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