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1[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pumpkin_with_a_gun.jpg]]]]
2 [[caption-width-right:350:In this case, he's a ''literal'' nightmare.]]
3
4->'''Guard:''' Who are you?\
5'''Lucy:''' I'm your worst nightmare!\
6'''Guard:''' ''[confused]'' You're ''me'', when I'm late to school and forgot my homework and my pants are made of pudding?\
7'''Lucy:''' No, I don't—''[punches the guard]''
8-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie2TheSecondPart''
9
10A common way for a character to announce him/herself in an intimidating manner. It doesn't matter whether he's a good guy or a bad guy, as long as the character is badass enough to live up to this claim. That is, unless people are spoofing this line (often by the second character describing his [[RealDreamsAreWeirder actual worst nightmare]]).
11
12It can also be used as a {{Characterization Trope|s}}. In that the person using this stockphrase is a {{Geek}} of sorts, based on the fact that he uses {{Cliche}}s to present himself.
13
14Compare PrepareToDie.
15
16Here is a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cxn2rC0x-k compilation]] with a lot of examples of this quote. On its way to becoming a DiscreditedTrope because how often it is used to point that many people don't find it terrifying anymore.
17----
18!!Examples:
19
20[[foldercontrol]]
21
22[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
23* The ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' dub seemed to enjoy characters using this trope. And having its "victims" [[LampshadeHanging point out]] how unintimidating they sounded.
24** ''Anime/TheTreeOfMight'' [[Creator/TheOceanGroup Ocean Group TV Edit Dub]]
25--->'''Piccolo:''' I think you'd better let the boy go.\
26'''Turles:''' Oh? Is that right? And just who are you?\
27'''Piccolo:''' I'm your worst nightmare.\
28'''Turles:''' [[SarcasmMode I'm trembling in my boots.]]
29** Goku vs Burter and Jeice
30--->'''Burter:''' Hi! I'm your worst nightmare! Burter!\
31'''Goku:''' [[BadassBoast I'm not afraid of dreams]].
32** The final sentence of Goku's I AM speech after he became a Super Sayian to Frieza in the Funimation Dub has this gem.
33--->'''Goku: Ally to good, nightmare to you!'''
34* ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'':
35-->'''[[PraetorianGuard Undermine]]:''' Identify yourselves!\
36'''[[BigBad Megatron]]:''' I am Megatron.\
37'''[[TheStarscream Star]][[TropeNamer scream]]:''' And I'm your worst nightmare!
38* In episode 14a of ''Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}'', as he is about to deal with a gang of thieves, Mametchinosuke the samurai introduces himself with "I'm your worst nightmare - Mametchinosuke, the master swordsman of Gotchi Castle".
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Audio Plays]]
42* ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'': The Seventh Doctor refers to himself as such in the story, "Afterlife", along with an assortment of [[IAmTheNoun other things]]. Hearing him top it all off with this trope really helps to show why this Doctor is truly [[BewareTheSillyOnes someone to be feared]].
43-->'''The Doctor:''' I am a ''complex space-time event.'' I am Lord President of Gallifrey, the Traveler from Beyond Time. I am the ''Sandman'', [[Characters/DoctorWhoTenthDoctor The Oncoming Storm]]. I am the Ka Faraq Gatri; [[PlanetDestroyer Destroyer of Worlds]]! And sometimes... ''only'' sometimes... ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I am. Your. Worst. Nightmare!]]''
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Comic Books]]
47* ComicBook/{{Batman}} often uses this phrase when a criminal asks what he is.
48* ComicBook/{{Superman}} in ''ComicBook/ActionComicsNew52'': "Rats. Rats with money. And rats with guns. I'm your worst nightmare."
49* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'''s Merv Pumpkinhead: "Lady, I'm your worst nightmare. A pumpkin with a gun." Justified, as Merv is a literal nightmare. Which is based on the infamous subplot from Steve Gerber's run on ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'': "I'm your worst nightmare. An elf with a gun!"
50* Used as a joke in a ''ComicStrip/FrankAndErnest'' strip where Ernest is being chased by a giant sausage that says: "I'm your WURST nightmare!"
51* ComicBook/GreenLantern (Kyle Rayner) to a group of alien invaders in ''ComicBook/JLA1997'': "I'm your worst nightmare. A [[AscendedFanboy Manga nut]] with a [[ImaginationBasedSuperpower power ring]]!"
52* Grushko from ''ComicBook/GlobalFrequency'' introduces himself:
53-->'''Grushko:''' Did you ever have a nightmare about a large man who killed your parents, and your siblings, and then your lover, and then everyone you know? [[CrossesTheLineTwice And then burned down your house and destroyed everything precious you've ever conceived of?]] That was me.
54* Mysterio uses this during a robbery in the 2019 ''Symbiote ComicBook/SpiderMan'' series.
55-->'''Woman:''' You're me taking a test I didn't study for. And I'm naked?\
56''[BeatPanel]''\
57'''Mysterio:''' Just open the damned vault.
58[[/folder]]
59
60[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
61* Examples from ''Fanfic/TheCalvinverse'':
62** From ''Fanfic/ThePezDispenserAndTheReignOfTerror'':
63---> '''Giant robot:''' What in God's name are you? And your friends? \
64'''Andy:''' You and your "creator's" worst nightmare.
65** Lampshaded and discussed in ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'': Socrates says that the line is not even ''remotely'' threatening [[DeadHorseTrope since it's been so overused]], resulting in the page quote.
66* ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': After [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Shendu]] is freed from his imprisonment as per the first season's plot and he [[VillainousCrush kidnaps Valerie Payne]], he introduces himself to her this way.
67-->'''Shendu''': There are more things in this world then you can ever imagine. Monsters lurking in the dark, shadows waiting to be unleashed; [[AllMythsAreTrue all the fairy tales you humans now tell yourselves to be myth, were once]] ''[[AllMythsAreTrue very]]'' [[AllMythsAreTrue real]]. They wait, lurking in the unseen corners, waiting until you turn your back and then — ''[smashes a stone next to Valerie]'' — They'll strike. But of all the dangers, I am the most powerful, none dare resist the will of the great and powerful Shendu!
68* Parodied in ''[[Fanfic/TantabusMarkII How the Tantabus Parses Sleep]]'' when DreamWeaver Moondog jokingly introduces itself to Stygian with this phrase, only to give a LongList of times when this isn't the case, which quickly amounts to it never being his worst nightmare.
69-->"I'm your worst nightmare. Except during the day, when you're not asleep. And when Mom's looking over my shoulder. And when being your worst nightmare would be a jerk move. And when I don't feel like it to begin with, which is most of the time. And... Hmm. I guess I'm never your worst nightmare." (''{{beat}}'') "Rar."
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
73* This is said in the finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'' by Mushu to the fireworks operators so he can use fireworks to beat Shan Yu. Depending on who you ask, this is either a ''Batman'' reference, a ''Rambo III'' reference, or it refers to ''48 Hours'', where Eddie Murphy actually says the quote, making it a self-reference.
74* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax2012'', O'Hare warns Ted that if the boy doesn't stop trying to find out about trees, he'll become his worst nightmare. Which, in his view, is Frankenstein's head on a spider's body.
75[[/folder]]
76
77[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
78* Played straight in ''Film/RamboIII''.
79* ''Film/{{UHF}}'' spoofs the ''Rambo'' films, including this line.
80* Parodied in ''Film/LoadedWeapon1'':
81-->'''Mr. Jigsaw''': I'm your worst nightmare.\
82'''Jack Colt''': No, [[RealDreamsAreWeirder waking up without my penis is my worst nightmare.]]\
83'''Mr. Jigsaw''': Okay, alright, so I'm not actually your worst nightmare. But I am right up there.
84* ''Film/CopAndAHalf'': "I'm your worst nightmare. An eight year old with a badge."
85* ''Film/FortyEightHrs'':
86-->'''Eddie Murphy''', in a redneck bar: "I'm your worst nightmare... a nigger with a badge."
87* Spoofed in ''Film/CanadianBacon'': The main characters use the line on a Mountie (played by Creator/StephenWright), who then describes, in excruciating deadpan, a nightmare about being chased by rabid wolves through the Yukon.
88* ''Look Who's Talking Too'':
89-->'''Mikey:''' Who are ''you''?\
90'''Julie:''' I'm your worst nightmare!
91* ''Film/TheSantaClause'':
92-->'''E.L.F.S. Leader:''' We're your worst nightmare. Elves with attitude.
93* In ''[[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie]]'', Kimberly does this for the Rangers.
94-->'''Kimberly:''' Franchise/PowerRangers, this is Divatox. Divatox, this is your worst nightmare.
95* ''Film/RaisingArizona'': Glenn turns up after getting punched out by H.I, sporting a black eye and a neck brace, and proceeds to blackmail him. He triumphantly states that he's H.I.'s worst nightmare, apparently ignorant of how ridiculous he looks, then ungracefully spits on the sidewalk.
96* Hilariously used by Gary Busey in the 80's cheeseball flick ''Film/{{Bulletproof}}'':
97-->'''Bad Guy:''' What the fuck is this?!\
98'''[=McBain=]:''' [[MemeticMutation Your worst nightmare, butthorn!]]
99* Used by Channing Tatum in ''Film/TwentyTwoJumpStreet'':
100-->'''Jenko:''' I'm your best ni... I'm your worst nightmare!
101* ''Film/{{Pixels}}'': Ludlow tries to be [[DrillSergeantNasty Mr. Big Bad Drill Sergeant]] and screams this [[spoiler:at a group of Navy SEALS just before their first video gaming training session]].
102* In the documentary ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1bBG1NtL18 Revolution OS]]'', open-source software advocate Eric S. Raymond recounts using this line on a Microsoft executive.
103[[/folder]]
104
105[[folder:Jokes]]
106* When the Boogeyman goes to bed at night, he looks under his bed to see if Chuck Norris is under it.
107** When the Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he looks under his bed to see if Christopher Walken is under it.
108[[/folder]]
109
110[[folder:Literature]]
111* Literature/{{Discworld}}:
112** ''Literature/GuardsGuards'' has: "Someone out there was going to find out that their worst nightmare was a maddened Librarian. With a badge."
113** Spoofed in ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}''. Teatime uses this line on a guard, but his would-be victim wants to know ''which'' nightmare that would be. When it's clarified that he means, "The one where the man appears out of nowhere and kills you stone dead", the guard relaxes and points out that ''that'' nightmare isn't particularly scary. Then Teatime kills him stone dead.
114** In ''Literature/{{Snuff}}'', Vimes makes Stinky the goblin a Special Constable, and Stinky responds to Vimes' quip that someone's worst nightmare is "a goblin with a badge" with "Stinky don't need no badges, fellow po-leess-maan! Stinky worst nightmare all by himself!"
115* Sidorio from ''Literature/{{Vampirates}}'' [[BadassBoast describes himself]] as the sort of thing your worst nightmares "wake up screaming about."
116* In Creator/DeanKoontz's ''Watchers'', one of the characters is Vince, an insane hitman who believes he absorbs the souls of the people he kills. Near the end of the book he meets Travis, a ShellShockedVeteran of Delta Force:
117-->'''Vince:''' I'm your worst nightmare!\
118'''Travis:''' [[ShutUpHannibal Not even close.]]
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
122* ''Series/BurnNotice'': [[PsychoForHire Simon]] is called a "walking nightmare" by several characters as well as the on-screen character designation captions.
123* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
124** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E4TheGirlInTheFireplace "The Girl in the Fireplace"]], the Doctor isn't saying this ''to'' the monster, but well within its earshot, while fighting it:
125--->'''The Doctor:''' Even monsters from under the bed have nightmares.\
126'''Reinette:''' What do monsters have nightmares about?\
127'''The Doctor:''' Me!
128** Spoofed in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E8MummyOnTheOrientExpress "Mummy on the Orient Express"]]. The Doctor needs to investigate the MonsterOfTheWeek, so walks up to TheCaptain brandishing his psychic paper, an all-purpose ID which makes him appear to be someone important to whomever it's shown to.
129--->'''The Doctor:''' I'm not a passenger. I'm your worst nightmare.\
130'''Captain Quell:''' ''[looks at psychic paper, looks disgusted]'' A mystery shopper. Oh, great!\
131'''The Doctor:''' Really? That's your worst... [[SureLetsGoWithThat Okay, I'm a mystery shopper.]]
132** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E2TheWitchsFamiliar "The Witch's Familiar"]] has a variant when Doctor steals the chair of Davros, creator of the Daleks, and then rolls up to the Daleks in it.
133--->'''The Doctor:''' Admit it! You've all had this exact nightmare.
134* ''Series/FamilyMatters'': When Steve's pen-pal in France reveals herself to be evil, her boyfriend introduces himself as Steve's worst nightmare. Steve replies that his worst nightmare is having a ton of cheese and no mouth to eat it.
135* Used for comical effect in an episode of ''[[Series/HermansHead Herman's Head]]'' where Louise (Yeardley Smith, better known as the voice of Lisa Simpson) says it to a tyrannical boss two heads taller than her.
136* In [[Film/{{It 1990}} the 90s miniseries]] based on Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/{{IT}}'', Pennywise says to the Losers' Club, "I'm every nightmare you've ever had! I'm your worst dream come true! I'm everything you ever were afraid of!"
137* In the ''Series/LALaw'' episode "Spanky and the Art Gang", Gwen Taylor finally meets the woman who's been stalking her:
138-->'''Gwen:''' Who are you?\
139'''Woman:''' Bad dream. Your worst nightmare.
140* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
141** In the episode "Teenage Caveman" the bots have a squirrel say this to the title character when he has rather more trouble catching than he should.
142** During the invention exchange for "The Giant Gila Monster", Dr. Forrester shows off a line of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0qY3OMT99I&ab_channel=CaptainMatticus Renaissance Fair punching bags]], which prompts TV's Frank to invoke this trope.
143--->'''Forrester''': I am Harlequin.\
144'''Frank''': I am your worst nightmare!
145** From the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W54hNYo6zbY&ab_channel=BoBalderson "Circus On Ice"]] short that accompanied "Monster A-Go-Go":
146--->'''Tom Servo'''''(singing)'': These to girls, they make quite a pair,\
147They both come from your worst nightmare..."
148* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':
149** The Titanium Ranger's introduction in ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''
150** In the ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' episode "White Light: Part 2", Kimberly delivers a variation to tiny!Rita as the Rangers re-seal her.
151--->'''Rita:''' Oh no, not you again!\
152'''Tommy:''' Afraid so, Rita.\
153'''Kimberly:''' We're like, you're worst nightmare.
154* Uttered verbatim by Riker while showing off his poker skills in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.
155-->'''Geordi:''' [[YouHaveGOTToBeKiddingMe I do not BELIEVE it!]]\
156'''Riker:''' I'm your worst nightmare.
157* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'': One story has a woman tangling with three UsefulNotes/{{CIA}} agents. She has killed two of them (not bad for a housewife) and faces the last agent, woman to woman. The housewife tells the agent, "I'm your worst nightmare. I'm a woman with ''balls''!" The agents acts dismissive about it. [[spoiler: The housewife ends up revealing that s/he's the male rogue CIA agent they're looking for. S/he easily kills off the agent]]! She clearly wasn't kidding when she said that!
158* In a promo for ABC's upcoming revival of ''Series/PressYourLuck'', a Whammy appears and calls himself the game shows' worst nightmare.
159* ''Series/BroadCity'': Abbi says this to a man in "Coat Check" after she has to threaten him to get him to give her Creator/KellyRipa's coat.
160[[/folder]]
161
162[[folder:Music]]
163* Music/EmilieAutumn's "Gothic Lolita":
164-->"I am your sugar, I am your cream, I am your anti-American dream\
165"I am your sugar, I am your cream, I am your worst nightmare, now scream!"
166* Music/FallOutBoy's "Novocaine": "Singing I am your worst, I am your worst nightmare"
167[[/folder]]
168
169[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
170* The tagline for the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Dark Eldar]] in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' is "They are not your worst nightmare -- they are your EVERY nightmare!"
171[[/folder]]
172
173[[folder:Video Games]]
174* One of Anders' battle cries in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''.
175* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', this boast is repeatedly made by [[spoiler:the Nightmare. It's NotHyperbole; he is literally a demon of fear, and does indeed take the form of what scares you most ([[SpidersAreScary spiders]], in the [[PlayerCharacter Inquisitor]]'s case). This is in addition to verbally taunting you with your greatest fears, doubts, and guilts.]]
176* Cyan from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' says this to the captain of the troops attacking his castle, and then [[CurbStompBattle defeats him in about two/three turns]]. "I am Cyan, retainer to the king of Doma. I am your worst nightmare..."
177* Lo Wang in ''VideoGame/ShadowWarrior1997'', is everybody's worst nightmare, at least according to himself.
178* "Welcome to the castle of nightmares! I'm your greatest nightmare!" So says the Tsukiko Johjima, FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/CastleOfShikigami 3''.
179* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'': "I will show you the greatest nightmare!"
180* Bruce Irvin's only opening pose in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''.
181* In ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 8'', We have Li Dian, who is the most awkward member of Wei. He makes impromptu FreudianSlip {{Love Confession}}s (regardless of the PlayerCharacter's sex) as his praise quote if he's an allied officer and the player is performing well. and [[InvokedTrope introduces himself]] with ''"I am Li Dian, your worst nightmare!"'' if you encounter him as an enemy (and you are not playing as [[HeterosexualLifePartners Yue Jin]]).
182* Downplayed in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. The final boss of the neutral route, [[spoiler:Photoshop Flowey]], is accompanied by a track entitled "Your Best Nightmare". Considering exactly what [[spoiler:Photoshop Flowey]] [[EldritchAbomination looks like,]] it's justified. It also ties in with [[spoiler:Flowey's normal theme]], "Your Best Friend".
183* In ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'', Franchise/{{Rambo}} introduces himself in his introduction trailer with the line back in ''Film/RamboIII'', against water-manipulator Rain and man-eating Mileena.
184-->'''Mileena''': Who're you?
185-->'''Rambo''': I'm your worst nightmare.
186* Sven T. Uncommon says this upon confronting the titular heroine of ''VideoGame/PopfulMail''.
187[[/folder]]
188
189[[folder:Webcomics]]
190* In [[http://www.brunothebandit.com/d/19990511.html this]] ''Webcomic/BrunoTheBandit'' strip, Bruno introduces himself this way to Sour Ron. But, no, Sour Ron's worst nightmare is his ex-wife. Bruno is actually nightmare #181.
191* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11072005/ "...a goblin with a readied action]] '''and''' an elevation bonus."
192* In ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'', [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000806c Cut Man uses it on Megaman.]]
193** Two game parodies later, [[EnsembleDarkhorse Shadow Man]] uses a similar line and gets... [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/020306c mixed results.]]
194* In [[http://www.undefined.net/1/0/?strip=37 this]] ''Webcomic/OneOverZero'' strip, a character attempts to intimidate another by using this line, with absolutely no success. Note that the character being threatened is an anthropomorphized and enlarged molecule.
195[[/folder]]
196
197[[folder:Web Original]]
198* Parodied on ''WebSite/SFDebris'' where the evil MirrorUniverse Star Fleet captains are arguing. Kirk says this line, leading Picard to shock him by asking if he's going to be raped by a giant spider. Picard is then severely underwhelmed by Kirk's actual intention of shooting him, pointing out that he has to worry about that [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder all the time]], and that you might as well say slipping in the shower is his worst nightmare.
199--> '''Picard:''' [[SarcasmMode Oh no, it's Jim!]] And he's ''slightly miffed''.
200[[/folder]]
201
202[[folder:Western Animation]]
203* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'': Weaker but constant example has Darkwing Duck introduces himself OncePerEpisode in his BadassCreed as the "Terror that flaps in the night", essentially naming himself as his foe's nightmares.
204* ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'':
205** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Batman replies with this when a terrified criminal asks "Who are you?!" in [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE5PrettyPoison episode 5,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDP8zru0FPE ''Pretty Poison.'']]
206** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'':
207*** From "[[Recap/{{JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream}} Only A Dream]]":
208---->'''Doctor Destiny:''' I'm your worst nightmare.\
209'''Batman:''' You have no idea what ''my'' nightmares are like.
210*** The exact same sequence occurs between Payback and Bruce Wayne in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
211* This results in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' when Jade meets [[BigBad Shendu]] for the first time.
212-->'''Jade''': Woah! What are you?!\
213'''Shendu''': Everything you will grow to fear.
214* Used to comedic effect on ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill''. [[CrazySurvivalist Conspiracy nut]] Dale Gribble, who has a virtually encyclopedic knowledge of the ins and outs of government bureaucracy, intimidates a worker at the Department of Motor Vehicles into providing better service by naming all of the worker's superiors in ascending order, then threatening to call them, using this exact line:
215-->'''Dale:''' I am your worst nightmare! I have a three-line phone and absolutely nothing at all to do with my time!
216* ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', "Can't Touch This":
217-->'''Randy:''' Is somebody there?\
218'''Skipper:''' Yes, somebody's here. Your worst nightmare!\
219'''Randy:''' A flying coyote with laser beam eyes?!\
220'''Skipper:''' Huh? No! Four angry penguins.\
221'''Randy:''' Phew! 'Cause if coyotes ever develop flight and eye laser technology, it's game over, you know?
222* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': Said by Cad Bane to C-3PO in "Evil Plans".
223* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' in the episode "War Dawn" when Optimus Prime is built from the wrecked body of Orion Pax, he steps onto the battlefield and quotes "You've caused enough destruction for one day, Megatron!" Megatron retorts with "I haven't even started!" then takes aim and blasts Prime - only for it to [[NoSell glance off]]. He then says in a panic "You! Who are you?!" Optimus responds with "Your worst nightmare!" and promptly inflicts a CurbStompBattle on Megatron's drones.
224[[/folder]]
225

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