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| 5 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
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| 11 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1424642702091874400 |
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| 14 | [[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/NerfNow https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/be2f9d287e2eab450ff5a4085f082420.png]]]] |
| 15 | |
| 16 | ->'''Lisa:''' ''[gasps]'' That sounds like Sideshow Bob!\ |
| 17 | '''Homer:''' Yes, ma'am. Sideshow Bob, yakking it up on the old yak box.\ |
| 18 | '''Lisa:''' Dad, I'll spare you the embarrassment of admitting you don't know who Sideshow Bob is.\ |
| 19 | '''Homer:''' Phew! |
| 20 | -->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E5SideshowBobRoberts Sideshow Bob Roberts]]" |
| 21 | |
| 22 | A character (often TheDitz) encounters a word or phrase, and makes some comment expressing what he thinks about the thing the word refers to — just before revealing that actually, he doesn't know the word at all. ''("Lorem Ipsum is terrible! By the way, what's Lorem Ipsum?")'' |
| 23 | |
| 24 | If the character doesn't outright imply that he knows what the thing is, but is willing to venture a ''guess'', that guess will likely be IsItSomethingYouEat While that trope overlaps with this one, it generally involves an honest uncertainty, while this one is about dishonest certainty ("Of course I know that gazebos are something you eat.") |
| 25 | |
| 26 | The thing in question just might turn out to be a [[WhatsAHenway Henway]]. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | This trope is usually used in preschool shows in order to present to the target audience a new word or concept by making the ignorant character an AudienceSurrogate for them. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | SubTrope of FeigningIntelligence, although the feigning is usually quite brief before the character admits she really doesn't know what she's talking about. Not to be confused with {{Malaproper}}, which is when the character misuses words ''without knowing'' that he don't know what the words mean (honest, but false, certainty). Completing the quadrangle is ObfuscatingStupidity, which is dishonest uncertainty/ignorance. Related and often a SuperTrope to CallingMeALogarithm, which is where someone takes offense to a word they don't know the meaning of, with or without pretending to know what it means. Also compare ScaryScienceWords for when someone is afraid of a technical word, and, again, may or may not pretend to know the meaning. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | Compare TwoFacedAside. |
| 33 | ---- |
| 34 | !!Examples: |
| 35 | |
| 36 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 37 | |
| 38 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 39 | * In ''Manga/BlackButler'', Lau does this ''all the time''. While investigating UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper, Ciel announces to his companions that to get information on the killer they must go see... and Lau reacts in shock/horror. When they reach the location of their informant (the Undertaker), Lau finally asks, "So where are we?" |
| 40 | * In one episode of ''Anime/DiGiCharatNyo'', the town is out of natto, so Gramps suggests going to the next town over to get some. Gran immediately gets spooked, but then asks, "Where is the next town, anyway?" |
| 41 | * An episode of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY'' features this gem: |
| 42 | -->'''Ash:''' Awesome, that sounds so cool. I wish I knew what that meant! |
| 43 | * ''Anime/SailorMoon'': |
| 44 | ** The first episode has this exchange. |
| 45 | --->'''Naru:''' Did you hear? Sailor V stopped another robbery!\ |
| 46 | '''Usagi:''' That's so cool!\ |
| 47 | '''Naru:''' Isn't it?\ |
| 48 | '''Usagi:''' What's a Sailor V? |
| 49 | ** Done again by Usagi in ''Sailor Moon R'' after Luna and Artemis figure out they're dealing with a Makai tree. |
| 50 | * ''Manga/{{Yotsuba}}'': Upon being told that they got tickets to Water World, Yotsuba says, "Ohhh! That place!?" Jumbo asks whether she knows it: "... Not really." |
| 51 | [[/folder]] |
| 52 | |
| 53 | [[folder:Asian Animation]] |
| 54 | * ''Animation/BoBoiBoy'': In "Physical Education", when Probe suggests to Adu Du that they should try to defeat [=BoBoiBoy=] in a football[[note]]the kind better known as "soccer" to Americans, just to make that distinction clear[[/note]] match, Adu Du grins and laughs evilly. Then he asks what is a football match, causing Probe to FaceFault. |
| 55 | * In the ''Animation/KingShakir'' episode "Very Remote Shopping Mall", Shakir realizes the numbers on the doors are coordinates and tells his dad. His dad's response is "Well, awesome! ...what are coordinates? Don't tell me weird things!" |
| 56 | [[/folder]] |
| 57 | |
| 58 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 59 | * In a ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' strip, Calvin is told that dinner will be tortellini, and complains at length about how disgusting it is. In the last panel, he's looking up the word in the dictionary. |
| 60 | * Truman does this often in ''ComicStrip/LibertyMeadows''. |
| 61 | -->'''Dean:''' Hey Truman, want to play football with us?\ |
| 62 | '''Truman:''' ''[dancing around]'' Football? Oh joy! There's nothing like football! Um... what's "football", sir? |
| 63 | [[/folder]] |
| 64 | |
| 65 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 66 | * ''Fanfic/FireEmblemThreeHousesFifthPath'': In the support Flayn's Rescue, one of the two thieves accosting Flayn realizes that she's Seteth's sister and they can ransom her off to him. The other thief is slow to catch on but tries to pretend he understands. |
| 67 | -->'''Mugger 2:''' Hold on a second. I recognize this girl. Isn't she the sister of that guy?\ |
| 68 | '''Mugger 1:''' Yeah, that guy. I definitely know what guy you’re talking about, but, just to refresh my memory, tell me about that guy. |
| 69 | * In the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse CrackFic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/16690054 How Long Does It Take to Cook a Turkey in the Microwave?]]'', Peter has to ask the titular question to every Avenger as a prank. When he gets to Thor, the thunder god excitedly declares that of ''course'' it's possible to cook a turkey in the microwave, before asking Peter what a turkey is. |
| 70 | * Inverted for laughs in ''FanFic/OhYouDontHaveToDoThatCommunication'', where after Lila asks the rest of the class details about Marinette and Adrien's relationship before leaving, Nino asks his classmates if they felt that Lila was fishing for something. [[DumbJock Kim]] isn't sure what fishing means in that context, but he is certain that Lila was asking specific questions to deliberately get information out of them... which is exactly what fishing means. |
| 71 | -->'''Kim''': Not sure what you’re talking about, but I thought that she was asking specific questions while making it seem like she was curious and involved in the conversation to get information out of us.\ |
| 72 | '''Ivan''': Uh, Kim, that’s what Nino was talking about. |
| 73 | * ''Fanfic/VowOfNudity'': Just to rub it in Fiora's face how much less-qualified Aeva is to become the new Sister (aka clan matriarch and magic-user) over her: |
| 74 | -->'''Current Sister:''' Keep it quiet for now, I’ll make an announcement after the Mating Ceremony, and then we can start on your first cantrip. |
| 75 | -->'''Aeva:''' Understood! I won't let you down, your holiness. Um, out of curiosity, what’s a cantrip? |
| 76 | [[/folder]] |
| 77 | |
| 78 | [[folder:Film -- Animation]] |
| 79 | * In ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', after the Sultan announces that he wants to make Aladdin the royal vizier, Genie pretends to be a newsman and souvenir seller announcing the new Royal Vizier and repeating the phrase several times, only to turn to the Sultan afterwards and ask "What's a royal vizier?" |
| 80 | * In ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest'', after Fievel stabs him in the butt with a fork, Cat R. Waul orders his spider lackey Julep to track down "the subversive who attempted to assassinate me." |
| 81 | -->'''Julep:''' Ooh, I just ''love'' finding subversives! Hey boss, what's a subversive?\ |
| 82 | '''Cat R. Waul:''' [[ImpliedDeathThreat Someone who doesn't have very long to live...]] |
| 83 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'', as they're preparing to find the Court of Miracles to warn the gypsies about Frollo's attack, Quasimodo shows Phoebus the amulet Esmeralda gave him. |
| 84 | -->'''Phoebus:''' ''[holding up the amulet]'' Good, good! Ah... great... what is it? |
| 85 | * In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'', Twilight mentions to her Equestrian friends that the trouble caused by the Dazzlings sounds like the work of the Sirens. |
| 86 | -->'''[[CloudCuckoolander Pinkie Pie]]:''' ''NOT'' THE ''SIRENS''! ''[stage-whisper to Fluttershy]'' I don't actually know what that is... |
| 87 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeCaballeros'', Panchito's gift to Donald is a piñata. Donald says, "Oh boy, oh boy! A piñata!... What's a piñata?" |
| 88 | * In ''Animation/UpinAndIpin'' movie ''Geng: The Adventure Begins'', Ros realizes that the group has got lost. Upin and Ipin happily declares that they're lost before asking Rajoo about what does ''lost'' mean. |
| 89 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'' has Russel do this when the pair meet Carl's childhood hero. |
| 90 | -->'''Carl:''' That's Charles Muntz!\ |
| 91 | '''Russel:''' ''[excitedly]'' It is!!!... Who's Charles Muntz?? |
| 92 | [[/folder]] |
| 93 | |
| 94 | [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]] |
| 95 | * In ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkle'', Boris (in cartoon form on a TV set) asks Minnie Mogul about producing a ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' movie. She leaps at the proposition before asking him what is ''Rocky and Bullwinkle''. |
| 96 | * PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/BewareOfTheCar''. A policeman arrives to a crime scene and asks for witnesses from the assembled crowd of bystanders. Some elderly lady immediately volunteers herself... before asking what happened. |
| 97 | * In ''Film/DrDolittle'', as Maya's egg hatches at the end of the original film, Lucky comments "A swan egg, this is gonna be great." He then says that he has one question: "What is a swan?" |
| 98 | * ''Film/DrStrangelove'': After the US officials are informed of the DoomsdayDevice, General Turgidson declares that such a thing is proven impossible. Ambassador Sadesky remarks that Turgidson has clearly never heard of Cobalt-Thorium G (the chemical that makes the device work), causing Turgidson to smugly scoff and roll his eyes at the insinuation, indicating he does know of it... then he sheepishly asks what that is. |
| 99 | * ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'': Justified as Edward and Giselle came from a fairy tale realm where the custom was to meet one day, fall in love and wed the next. Now both are in the human world. |
| 100 | -->'''Giselle:''' I want to go on a date.\ |
| 101 | '''Edward:''' ''[excited voice]'' A date!... What's a date? |
| 102 | * In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'', at the foundation of the Fellowship, Merry and Pippin barge in and vocally and adamantly declare that they are joining the crew. Nobody really objects, and all seems settled, and then Pippin cheerfully asks where exactly they will be heading. |
| 103 | * Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: |
| 104 | ** Quill to Gamora in ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': "Yeah, we know who you are." (turning around to Groot, whispering) "Who is she?" |
| 105 | ** [[spoiler:Raimi-verse Peter Parker]] has this reaction in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' when MCU Peter Parker boasts that he was in the Avengers. |
| 106 | --->'''[[spoiler:Raimi-verse Peter]]:''' The Avengers?\ |
| 107 | '''Peter:''' Yeah.\ |
| 108 | '''[[spoiler:Raimi-verse Peter]]:''' That's great!\ |
| 109 | '''Peter:''' Thank you!\ |
| 110 | '''[[spoiler:Raimi-verse Peter]]:''' What ''is'' that?\ |
| 111 | '''Peter:''' ''[non-verbal FlatWhat face]'' |
| 112 | * In ''Film/SpaceJam'', WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, in an effort to defend himself and the rest of the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes gang from becoming slaves to the Nerdlucks, challenges them to a basketball game. They eagerly accept the challenge... right before asking "What is basketball?". |
| 113 | * ''Film/WhatsNewPussycat'' begins with Dr. Fassbender and his wife Anna in a heated shouting match: |
| 114 | -->'''Anna:''' Lascivious adulterer!\ |
| 115 | '''Fassbender:''' Don't you dare call me that again until I have looked it up! |
| 116 | [[/folder]] |
| 117 | |
| 118 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 119 | * ''Literature/TheNightsDawnTrilogy''. Someone comes to UsefulNotes/AlCapone and tells him he has AntiMatter to trade in exchange for a place in his organisation. Capone nods sagely and tells him to discuss it in detail with his Brain Trust, then storms into his bedroom and [[TantrumThrowing starts to trash it]], demanding to know what the hell anti-matter is. His mistress from the contemporary [=27th=] Century refuses to answer [[BelligerentSexualTension just to annoy him further]], until they've finishing having SlapSlapKiss sex. |
| 120 | [[/folder]] |
| 121 | |
| 122 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 123 | * ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse'': |
| 124 | ** It's a fairly regular RunningGag for Pip and Pop to say that they love something, only to then ask what it is. For example, in "Clear as a Bell," Bear is learning Spanish from a tape. They say that they want to learn with him. |
| 125 | --->'''Pip and Pop:''' We love Spanish! B, b, but, Bear? What's Spanish? |
| 126 | ** In "A Wagon of a Different Color," Bear and Tutter are going through the mail and Bear says that they got coupons from the market. Tutter says that he loves coupons. |
| 127 | --->'''Tutter:''' Ya'ay, coupons! ... Bear, what's a coupon? |
| 128 | * ''Series/BestFriendsWhenever'': Shelby does this in the episode "The Butterscotch Effect". |
| 129 | -->'''Barry:''' Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect?\ |
| 130 | '''Shelby:''' I've heard of it. But can you explain it in case someone else didn't?\ |
| 131 | '''Naldo:''' I know what it is.\ |
| 132 | '''Cyd:''' Me too.\ |
| 133 | '''Shelby:''' Just let him explain. |
| 134 | * In the ''Series/{{Blackadder}} The Third'' episode "Dish and Dishonesty", following the death of Sir Talbot Buxomly: |
| 135 | -->'''Blackadder:''' Sir Talbot represented the constituency of Dunny-on-the-Wold, and, by an extraordinary stroke of luck, it is a rotten borough.\ |
| 136 | '''George:''' ''[enthusiastically]'' Really? ''Is'' it? Well! Well, lucky, lucky us! Lucky, lucky, luck, luck, cluck, ''claaark''-cluck-cluck-cluck...\ |
| 137 | '''Blackadder:''' ''[[[DeadpanSnarker utterly expressionless]]]'' You don't know what a rotten borough is, do you, sir?\ |
| 138 | '''George:''' No.\ |
| 139 | '''Blackadder:''' So what was the chicken impression in aid of?\ |
| 140 | '''George:''' I didn't want to hurt your feelings. So, what is a rubber button? |
| 141 | * ''Series/BlakesSeven'': A Federation general is discussing with his aide what the next target in the [[TheWarOfEarthlyAggression Terran Federation's reconquest of their former empire]] will be. |
| 142 | -->'''Quute:''' Wanta?\ |
| 143 | '''General:''' That's our next assignment. Something to look forward to, eh?\ |
| 144 | '''Quute:''' Yes, sir. ''[with patent insincerity]'' I'm looking forward to that no end. ''[beat]'' Where exactly ''is'' Wanta, sir? |
| 145 | * In the opening of "You Can Lead Eeyore to Books" from ''Series/TheBookOfPooh'', Owl announces to Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit and Piglet that he's turning his collection of books into a library. Everyone cheers and chatters excitedly, then Pooh asks him what a library is. |
| 146 | * On ''Series/{{Community}}'' we get this exchange: |
| 147 | -->'''Dean:''' The prize was a Blu-ray DVD player... but it got stolen. So now it's TBD!\ |
| 148 | '''Troy:''' I want TBD! Is that new? |
| 149 | * ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'': When someone uses an exotic word in conversation with Cy Tolliver, he blusters, "I know what that word means. Prove that ''you'' do!" |
| 150 | * In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E2CityOfDeath City of Death]]": |
| 151 | -->'''Guard:''' Soon, you will be interrogated by Captain Tancredi.\ |
| 152 | '''The Doctor:''' Captain Tancredi?!\ |
| 153 | '''Guard:''' Do you know him?\ |
| 154 | '''The Doctor:''' No. |
| 155 | * In the opening of "Bobski Bounce" from ''Series/DonkeyHodie'', Donkey Hodie greets Bob Dog at his place, excitedly telling him that "Today is the day!" He tells her that he's so glad that today is the day, and that it's exciting, but he just has one little question: "Um, today is the day for what?" |
| 156 | * ''Series/{{Friends}}'': When Joey is diagnosed with kidney stones the doctor informs him that his condition is such that the only options are to wait until he passes them naturally or the doctor can go up the urethra and extract them. |
| 157 | -->'''Joey:''' Whoa-whoa! No-no-no-no-no, nothing is going "up"! Okay? "Up" -- "up" is not an option! What's a urethra?\ |
| 158 | ''[Monica whispers an explanation that makes Joey's eyes go very wide]''\ |
| 159 | '''Joey:''' ''[to the Doctor]'' ARE YOU CRAZY?! |
| 160 | * One of Max's catchphrases on ''Series/GetSmart'' was "A [X]! Of ''course'', a [X]! Just one thing -- what's a [X]?" |
| 161 | * ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': |
| 162 | ** Ted once gushes about how his current GirlOfTheWeek was taking classes in Krav Maga (an Israeli system of hand-to-hand combat). When she leaves, he admits that he doesn't really know what it is, but presumes it's some kind of yoga. He later finds out when [[spoiler:she beats him up for breaking up with her... [[KickTheDog on her birthday]]... for the second time]]. |
| 163 | ** Later seasons have various characters insulting each other and getting this as a RunningGag response. For example: |
| 164 | --->'''Robin:''' You're a stamp tramp.\ |
| 165 | '''Marshall:''' How DARE you?! ...and what is that? |
| 166 | * On ''Series/{{Lost}}'', Sawyer reacts badly to the news he has hyperopia... but asks what it is. [[spoiler:Hyperopia is being far-sighted.]] |
| 167 | * ''Series/MimpiMetropolitan'': When his employee Dinda suggests they make a mukbang video, Alexi immediately and enthusiastically agrees and demands they film it right now, before asking what is mukbang. |
| 168 | * ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': In "Mr. Casey's Will", Mr. Conklin, Mr. Boynton and Walter Denton all pretend to have been good friends of the late Mr. Casey once they discover they were beneficiaries in his will. Each of them give hilariously wrong descriptions of Mr. Casey. It turns out that Mr. Casey was the late pet cat of Angela Devon. Angela is the sister of Mrs. Davis, Miss Brooks' landlady and confidante - although eccentric, she is more of a KindHeartedCatLover than a CrazyCatLady. |
| 169 | * In "Puppy Love" from ''Series/ThePajanimals'', Apollo says that their Mom and Dad told them that it's their responsibility to care to take care of the puppy, Fluffy. Squacky shouts "We get to be [[{{Malaproper}} presponsible]], hooray!", then asks "Wait, what does that mean?" |
| 170 | * ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' |
| 171 | ** Andy's response when Tom offers him a job at Entertainment 720: |
| 172 | --->'''Andy:''' (excitedly) "Oh my God!" (Beat) "What is that?" |
| 173 | ** Leslie announces her former friend has put up a fence between Pawnee and Eagleton: |
| 174 | --->'''Leslie:''' Lindsay Carlyle Shay.\ |
| 175 | '''Andy:''' ''[agrees disgustedly, then...]'' Who? |
| 176 | * ''Series/RadioEnfer'': When Camille tells Vincent and Dominique that she managed to invite Marie-Thérèse Schmout (a world-renowned anthropologist), they're both excited, only for Vincent to ask who is she. |
| 177 | * Brain Fellows from ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', who claimed to be an expert on whatever animal was being brought to his show, then once the zookeeper brought it in he'd ask "what's that?" |
| 178 | * This exchange in ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': |
| 179 | -->'''Jade:''' Our pristine little friend Cat has never had a taco.\ |
| 180 | '''Cat:''' I'm not that pristine. ''[pause]'' Wait, what's pristine mean? |
| 181 | * In ''Series/TobyTerrierAndHisVideoPals'', Bob, playing one of the Three Little Pigs, is asked if he can build a house made of bricks. He sings a song boasting that he can, only to ask at the end of the song, "By the way, what's a brick?" |
| 182 | * In an episode of ''Series/TheWestWing'', C.J. is at a firing range with a Secret Service agent and asks what kind of gun he has. When he tells her it's a .357 Magnum, she eagerly replies, "I've heard of that!" Apparently, she hasn't heard enough about them, because she wants to fire it, despite never having fired a gun before, and is promptly knocked back on the ground by the force of the shot. |
| 183 | --> "That thing practically broke my arm!" |
| 184 | [[/folder]] |
| 185 | |
| 186 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 187 | * Pulled several different ways on ''Radio/TheGoonShow'', including: |
| 188 | -->'''Major Bloodnok:''' Neddie Seagoon? I didn't recognize you!\ |
| 189 | '''Ned Seagoon:''' Why not?\ |
| 190 | '''Bloodnok:''' I've never seen you before! |
| 191 | [[/folder]] |
| 192 | |
| 193 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 194 | * In the musical ''Theatre/TheBookOfMormon'', upon hearing that he and his mission companion are being sent to Uganda, Elder Cunningham exclaims "Uganda? COOL! ...where is that?" |
| 195 | [[/folder]] |
| 196 | |
| 197 | [[folder:Toys]] |
| 198 | * ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'': |
| 199 | ** Pohatu does this as a RunningGag. |
| 200 | --->'''Pohatu:''' A Toa? Oh great, I've always wanted to be a Toa! Just one thing... What's a Toa? |
| 201 | ** Later... |
| 202 | --->'''Pohatu:''' ...What's a Bohrok? |
| 203 | ** And again: |
| 204 | --->'''Pohatu:''' ...What's a Rahkshi? |
| 205 | ** One more time: |
| 206 | --->'''Pohatu:''' ...What's a Solek? |
| 207 | [[/folder]] |
| 208 | |
| 209 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 210 | * In ''VideoGame/GhostTrick'': Missile the Pomeranian is concerned when he learns [[spoiler: his owner, Kamila]] is being held as a hostage... then he asks "What's a hostage?" |
| 211 | * In ''VideoGame/MergeMansion'' Pearl announces that Hopewell Bay's annual Topiary Event is taking place. |
| 212 | -->'''Maddie:''' Oooh! A topiary event! ... What's a topiary? |
| 213 | [[/folder]] |
| 214 | |
| 215 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 216 | * Dropped by Coiny in ''WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland'': |
| 217 | -->'''Coiny:''' ''Wow''! That is so cool; my absolute favorite thing in the ''whole'' world! Also, what's a Wall Teleporter? |
| 218 | * Commonly used by Apple of ''WebAnimation/InanimateInsanity'', since she's "definitionally challenged". |
| 219 | [[/folder]] |
| 220 | |
| 221 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 222 | * ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' has a case of this in the mini-arc [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=118 "Catnip"]] |
| 223 | -->'''Tedd:''' ''[jumping]'' '''''Catnip!!!!'''''\ |
| 224 | '''Grace:''' ''[joining him]'' Yay catnip!!! ...what's catnip? |
| 225 | [[/folder]] |
| 226 | |
| 227 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 228 | * The [[http://dndshallneverdie.blogspot.com/2007/11/from-dread-gazebo-part-of-blackhammers.html Tale of the Dread Gazebo]] is based around this Trope: a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' player who has no idea what a gazebo is but refuses to admit it, runs with the assumption it's some kind of mythical monster and tries to "slay" the gazebo. |
| 229 | [[/folder]] |
| 230 | |
| 231 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 232 | * From ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVvIOoMvXVM Alex Reads Twilight]]'', we have a variation: "Fucking Lauren, man. What the fuck is Lauren in this book? Just coming in, ruining our protagonist's life, I hate Lauren! Who's Lauren??" |
| 233 | * Found in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': Pike (played by Creator/AshleyJohnson) returns to the party after an absence, and Keyleth excitedly tells her about Kashaw, a new acquaintance of the party who, like Pike, is a cleric. Pike asks what god Kashaw follows and is told that he follows Vesh, leading to this exchange: |
| 234 | -->'''Pike (knowledgeably):''' Oh. ''Ohh''.\ |
| 235 | '''[[Creator/MatthewMercer DM]]:''' You don't know who that is.\ |
| 236 | '''Pike:''' I don't know who that is! |
| 237 | [[/folder]] |
| 238 | |
| 239 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 240 | * In ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', when Sterling reveals he has cancer, everyone gasps. Then [[TheDitz Cheryl/Carol]] asks what cancer is. Later in the episode, she still doesn't know what cancer is. |
| 241 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': In "The Making of Arthur", Arthur messes up while recording a video and fears that he'll have to do it all over again. Buster tells him that he can just edit the mistake out, and D.W. repeats, "Yeah, smarty-pants! You can just edit it out!" After a {{Beat}}, she asks what an edit is and how they can get it out. |
| 242 | * ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': In "Brunchsquatch", the restaurant starts serving brunch, including bottomless mimosas. One of the customers, a food blogger named Dalton, warns Linda that all the customers who are [[JustHereForTheFreeSnacks just hanging around ordering more free drinks]] are "brunch skunks". |
| 243 | --> '''Linda:''' Oh no, not brunch skunks! ...What are those, what are those? |
| 244 | * In "Race to the Fairy Finish!" from ''WesternAnimation/ButterbeansCafe'', Ms. Marmalady has Spork and Spatch spy on the Bean Team and discover that they're making a ''croquembouche'' (a type of French dessert, which is basically a tower of pastry puffs). They report back to Ms. Marmalady... |
| 245 | --> '''Ms. Marmalady:''' ''[brightly]'' Oh, of course, a ''croquembouche''. ''[flatly]'' What is that? |
| 246 | * ''WesternAnimation/CaptainFlamingo'': In "[[Recap/CaptainFlamingoS1E19MissedMannersDomoAriOttoMrRobotto Missed Manners]]", since Sanjay lost his manners and has to find his proper manners before he goes out with his family for dinner at a fancy restaurant, Lizbeth asks Milo and Sanjay what exactly are manners. They then try to start explaining what it means, but they replied that they have no idea what they are. |
| 247 | --> '''Lizbeth:''' Do you even know what manners are? |
| 248 | --> '''Milo:''' It's like a... |
| 249 | --> '''Sanjay:''' Oh, well, yeah, it's about like this big and kind of a bit... |
| 250 | --> '''Milo and Sanjay:''' Oh, we have no idea. |
| 251 | --> '''Lizbeth:''' It's like being polite. Like you know, not eating your soup with your fingers? |
| 252 | * In "Sniff Sniff" from ''WesternAnimation/CliffordsPuppyDays'', Clifford hears Mrs. Howard saying that Emily Elizabeth has a cold. He tells this to Norville, who replies that it's a tough break. "Yeah," says Clifford sadly, before asking him what a cold is. |
| 253 | * In "The Dagger and the Wolf" from ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'', the group witnesses a man using a glowing blade. Rayla explains that it's a Sunforge blade. Ezran comments "I can't believe I just saw a real Sunforge blade ... What's a Sunforge blade?" |
| 254 | * ''Literature/{{Franklin}} and Friends'': |
| 255 | ** In "Franklin in the Stars," Aunt T suggests that she, Franklin and Harriet might be able to see Saturn using the telescope that she brought. Franklin comments "Wow, Saturn!", then asks her what that is. |
| 256 | ** In "Franklin the Dinosaur Hunter," also from ''Franklin and Friends'', Mrs. Turtle tells Franklin, Bear and Rabbit that they found the time capsule she buried. They all get excited, saying that it's "sweet" and "awesome," then Franklin asks what a time capsule is. |
| 257 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': |
| 258 | ** "[[Recap/FuturamaS1E4LovesLaborsLostInSpace Love's Labors Lost in Space]]": |
| 259 | ---> '''Leela:''' That's Zapp Brannigan's ship. |
| 260 | ---> '''Fry:''' ''The'' Zapp Brannigan? |
| 261 | ---> '''Leela:''' Uh-huh. |
| 262 | ---> '''Fry:''' Who's ''the'' Zapp Brannigan? |
| 263 | ** "[[Recap/FuturamaS7E1131stCenturyFox 31st Century Fox]]": |
| 264 | ---> '''Fox hunter:''' View-halloo! |
| 265 | ---> '''Bender:''' View-halloo? ''[pumps fist]'' All right! What does that mean? |
| 266 | * Botch in ''WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch'' episode "Panda Pandemonium" after he and Peevly discover Percy, a baby panda who was displaced from his transport to the St. Louis Zoo: |
| 267 | --> '''Botch:''' A panda? Gosh! A panda! A real live panda!... What's a panda? |
| 268 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheHectorHeathcoteShow'' cartoon "Pig in a Poke" demonstrates its title with Hector assigned to accompany Lewis and Clark to see if the Louisiana Purchase is worth executing. His dog, Winston, posits this at the end: |
| 269 | --> '''Winston:''' There's just one thing that's puzzled me from the very start. What ''is'' a pig in a poke? |
| 270 | ** Members of Congress actually invoke it earlier when Hector says "Never buy a pig in a poke." |
| 271 | -->'''Congressman:''' What's a poke?\ |
| 272 | '''Hector:''' What's Louisiana? ''Where'' is Louisiana? These are things you must find out first. |
| 273 | * In "Looking After Lovey" from ''Literature/IfYouGiveAMouseACookie'', Mouse tells Moose that the can be a reliable Lovey-sitter for him. He then says that if he's going to be a reliable Lovey-sitter for Moose, he first needs to know what "reliable" means. Oliver tells him that "reliable means that you're someone Moose can trust to keep Lovey safe." |
| 274 | * GIR from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' pulls this quite a lot. Often with things that he has [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} previously proven beyond all doubt that he understands]]. |
| 275 | --> '''Zim:''' Do you realize what this ''means''?! |
| 276 | --> '''GIR:''' Yes! Wait a minute... no. |
| 277 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': In "Let's Play Hopscotch", [[TheDitz Stumpy]] sees Kaeloo drawing on the ground with chalk and asks her what it is. She shows him that it is a game of hopscotch. Stumpy excitedly raves about how much he loves hopscotch, but he has one question: "what's hopscotch"? |
| 278 | * In "The Curious Case of the Champelippo" from ''WesternAnimation/KateAndMimMim'', Kate says that she and her friends didn't see the person that's taking their stuff because they're invisible. "They were invisible!" says Mim-Mim excitedly, then asks her what "invisible" means. |
| 279 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' episode "Texas City Twister" when Hank and Bobby drive to the Megalo Mart to buy some fuel filters a riot has broken out because of the tornado and Hank reluctantly purchases a pack for 60 dollars, when suddenly an old woman runs up to the counter and says "Hurry honey this jackass is buying all the fuel filters!", her husband replies "Leave some for us jackass!" and a woman says "I need a fuel filter!, what are they for?, I need one!". |
| 280 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'': In "Bugs & Daffy Get a Job", Dr. Weisberg tells Daffy that he has a deviated septum. Daffy's reaction is to snap "I do not!" and slap Weisberg, before asking "What's a septum?". |
| 281 | * In "Field Trip" from ''WesternAnimation/LouAndLouSafetyPatrol'', Lester says that he loves field trips, only to then respond with a "no" when Lou and Louise ask him if he's ever been on one before. |
| 282 | * ''WesternAnimation/MissSpidersSunnyPatchFriends'': |
| 283 | ** In "The Listening Walk," Miss Spider tells Wiggle, Squirt, Dragon and Bounce that the Firefly Ballet is about to start. Bounce shouts "Ballet! Ballet! Ballet!", then asks what a ballet is. |
| 284 | ** In "The Marin Rose," Spiderus is cast as the king in Miss Spider's story of ''The Marin Rose''. He summons his Knights of the Round Toadstool, portrayed by Miss Spider's children, to fetch the Marin Rose, but warns them that the quest will be filled with "pitfalls and perils." Bounce shouts "Huzzah!" and Squirt tells him that pitfalls and perils are dangerous things. "They are?" he asks. "Can I take back my huzzah?" |
| 285 | ** In "Big Bad Buggysitter," Spiderus tells the kids that he'll grace them with a "nocturnal narrative" if they're good and get to bed. Bounce hops up and down and shouts excitedly about the idea of a "nocturnal narrative," then asks what this is. Spiderus explains that it's a bedtime story. |
| 286 | ** In "Be Good to Bugs... and Frogs," Felix the frog hops up and down excitedly in the Cozy Hole at the idea of breakfast. Miss Spider tells him to calm down, that it's just berry cakes and honey. "Honey! Yum!" he says, then asks what exactly honey is. |
| 287 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyFriendsTiggerAndPooh'': |
| 288 | ** In "Rabbit's Ruta-Wakening," Darby excitedly declares that the Super Sleuths will have a stakeout to determine why Rabbit's radishes are disappearing. Pooh agrees that a stakeout is just what they need to have. |
| 289 | --->'''Pooh:''' ... What... exactly is a stakeout, Darby? |
| 290 | ** In "Pooh Sticks Get Stuck," the mystery is why there isn't any water in one side of the steam. Roo suggests that the water went down the drain. Tigger agrees "I bet you're right. Hoo hoo! ... What's a drain?" Roo explains about how when Kanga gives him a bath she pulls the plug and the water goes down the drain. Darby points out that streams don't have plugs or drains. |
| 291 | ** In "Tigger Cleans House," Darby suggests a game of "trashketball" as a means of keeping cleaning the trash in Tigger's home from being boring. Pooh says that he loves trashketball, then asks Darby if he's ever played it. |
| 292 | ** In "Darby's Fog-Gone Mystery," in the song "Floating in a Cloud," Pooh sings "''We sail, oh yes! Up above the trail, over hill and dale''," then asks Tigger if he happens to know what a dale is. Tigger replies that he doesn't even know where his tail is because it's kind of hard to see. |
| 293 | * The writers of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' seem to like this joke: |
| 294 | ** In "The Ticket Master", Rarity tells Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle that The Grand Galloping Gala is where she's destined to meet "[[RedStringOfFate Him!]]" Pinkie Pie immediately echoes her with an admiring "Him!" only to follow it with "Who?" |
| 295 | ** Pinkie Pie has a similar reaction in "Sonic Rainboom" on hearing about the eponymous stunt Rainbow Dash is trying to master. |
| 296 | ** In "Pinkie Pride", Fluttershy reacts with shock when Pinkie Pie challenges Cheese Sandwich to a Goof-Off... then admits to Applejack that she doesn't know what a Goof-Off is. |
| 297 | ** In "Buckball Season", Rainbow Dash is all pumped to help Applejack put together a winning buckball team... she just has one question. "What's buckball?" |
| 298 | * In "Kai-lan's Sleepover" from ''WesternAnimation/NiHaoKaiLan'', Kai-lan declares that the group is going to play "Flashlight Funny Faces." Rintoo says that the loves "Flashlight Funny Faces," then asks Kai-lan how to play it. Later in the same episode, Tolee suggests a game of "Pass the Panda" with his stuffed toy Pandy. Rintoo says that he loves it, then asks what it is. |
| 299 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', episode "Otter Gone Wild". Marlene, having been born in captivity, is shown to be completely unfamiliar with life outside the zoo. [[spoiler:She even goes feral upon leaving zoo grounds]]. |
| 300 | -->'''Private:''' We're going for yummy snow cones, Marlene. Wanna come?\ |
| 301 | '''Marlene:''' Snow cones? Oh, snow cones are the best! Real quick: A snow cone is...? |
| 302 | * In the opening of "Meteor Shower" from ''WesternAnimation/PeteTheCat'', Pete and his friends are all excited about the meteor shower, before realizing they don't know exactly what one is. |
| 303 | * ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', "Cheer Up Candace": Candace and Stacy are in a comedy club Phineas and Ferb built in their efforts to cheer up Candace: |
| 304 | -->'''Ferb:''' So, how 'bout that airline food?\ |
| 305 | ''[audience laughs]''\ |
| 306 | '''Stacy:''' ''[laughing]'' What's airline food? |
| 307 | * In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010'', [=McLeish=] describes his plans for an adoption fair, and Olaf approves: "I just love adoption fairs. Even though I've never been to one before. In fact, I don't even know what one is." |
| 308 | * ''WesternAnimation/RazzberryJazzberryJam'': Buddy utters this trope nearly word-for word in “Helping Hands”, when Betty shows him her piano roll. |
| 309 | -->'''Buddy''': Of course! What is it? |
| 310 | * ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'': |
| 311 | ** In the episode "[[Recap/ReadyJetGoS2E21MoonCircusEveryDayIsEarthDay Every Day Is Earth Day]]”, Jet says that he loves Earth Day, but then asks what it is. |
| 312 | ** In "Mini-Golf at the DSA", Sean tells Jet that he needs to use the right amount of force to get his golf ball to move properly and not bounce all over the place. Jet says he loves force, only to ask a second later what force is. |
| 313 | * Invoked in the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS2E1ARickleInTime A Rickle in Time]]": Rick calls Jerry "the Redgren Grumbholdt of pretending he knows what's going on". When Morty and summer laugh, Rick explains that was a name he just made up, [[SecretTestOfCharacter he just wanted to know if they were sycophantic enough to laugh anyway]]. |
| 314 | * ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'': |
| 315 | ** In the episode "New Kid On the Block", shortly after meeting Sam, the kids realize he can fill the empty spot on their street hockey team. |
| 316 | --->'''Otto:''' Now we got a quad team.\ |
| 317 | '''Sam:''' Great. ''[{{beat}}]'' What's a quad team? |
| 318 | ** In the episode "Typhoid Sam", Ray does this after finding out from the doctor that Otto and Reggie have the Fiji Flu. |
| 319 | --->'''Ray:''' The Fiji Flu?! Not the Fiji Flu! Why, oh why the Fiji Flu?! ''[{{beat}}]'' What's the Fiji Flu? |
| 320 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' |
| 321 | ** It's a running gag for Clumsy Smurf to do this. |
| 322 | --->'''Brainy Smurf:''' Clumsy, you just violated rule number 3!\ |
| 323 | '''Clumsy Smurf:''' Rule number 3? Oh, no! I can't believe I broke rule number three! ''[{{beat}}]'' Uh, what's rule number three? |
| 324 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': |
| 325 | ** "Opposite Day" is the TropeNamer. In this case, the topic was impossible for Patrick to know of because Squidward had just made it up. |
| 326 | --->'''Patrick:''' Opposite Day? Hey, I've heard of that!\ |
| 327 | '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' You have?\ |
| 328 | '''Patrick:''' No! What is it? |
| 329 | ** In "Tea at the Treedome", Sandy mentions that she needs to breathe air, and [=SpongeBob=] replies, "Me too!" Then he goes to Patrick and asks him what air is. Naturally, Patrick gives him the wrong information and [[HilarityEnsues Asphyxiation Ensues]]. |
| 330 | ** In "Patty Hype" the Krusty Krab is robbed of (yet another) customer when a man runs in and says that a different restaurant has a talking dog. The customer goes with him because he thinks it's cool, and then asks [[FurryReminder what a dog is.]] |
| 331 | ** In "Chocolate with Nuts", [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick, who are trying to sell chocolate bars, come across a much less honest salesman, who displays a bag. [=SpongeBob=] is awed, but doesn't know what it is until the salesman explains that they can use it to conveniently carry and preserve their chocolate. |
| 332 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': In "Fortune Cookies", Star sounds enthusiastic at the idea of Chinese food... before admitting she has no idea what that is. |
| 333 | * ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': |
| 334 | ** "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E08PathOfTheJedi Path of the Jedi]]": After Ezra gets a [[PowerCrystal kyber crystal]] from the Lothal Jedi temple: |
| 335 | --->'''Kanan:''' Ezra, that's a kyber crystal.\ |
| 336 | '''Ezra:''' Wow! ''[{{beat}}]'' What's a kyber crystal? |
| 337 | ** "[[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E09IdiotsArray Idiot's Array]]": |
| 338 | --->'''Sabine:''' I don't suppose you'd like to see some of my more impressionistic pieces?\ |
| 339 | '''Lando:''' I happen to be an impressionistic connoisseur. ''[to Ezra]'' That means--\ |
| 340 | '''Ezra:''' I know what it means.\ |
| 341 | ''[Sabine and Lando leave]''\ |
| 342 | '''Ezra:''' ''[to Zeb]'' Wait, what does that mean?\ |
| 343 | '''Zeb:''' [[DeadpanSnarker A lot less than he thinks.]] |
| 344 | * ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': |
| 345 | ** In "Cat Fingers", when Greg and Steven are washing Mayor Dewey's campaign van. |
| 346 | --->'''Greg:''' If we do this right, we might get political favors!\ |
| 347 | '''Steven:''' I'm not sure what that is, but I like it! |
| 348 | ** In "Lars' Head", the Rutile twins are relieved when Steven states [[spoiler: a [[BackFromTheDead recently-resurrected]] Lars]] isn't a zombie; then the one on the right wonders "What's a zombie?" |
| 349 | ** In "Made of Honor", Steven tells Bismuth that they're planning a wedding for Ruby and Sapphire, and he wants her to attend. Bismuth tries to sound enthusiastic, saying "This is gonna be [[ItsTheBestWhateverEver the best wedding ever]]!", but she ends up admitting she doesn't know what a wedding is. |
| 350 | * In "Time to Earn Our Wings" from ''WesternAnimation/TopWing'', after being told about turbo-thrusters, Rod states that he loves turbo-thrusters, whatever they are. |
| 351 | * ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBotsAcademy'' had this happen in the episode "More Than Meets the Eye" when the young Rescue Bots found out that Laserbeak is a Decepticon. |
| 352 | -->'''Whirl:''' I totally know what a Decepticon is, but... what's a Decepticon? |
| 353 | * In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'', Sadlygrove pulls one on the party's first visit to the Sadida kingdom, after Evangelyne advises them that in the royal palace, they should act like gentlemen and with courtesy. |
| 354 | -->'''Sadlygrove:''' Please Eva, who do you think I am? I am a knight; I know about "gentlemaning".\ |
| 355 | ''[stage-whispers to Ruel]'' Who's this "courtesy" guy? |
| 356 | * ''WesternAnimation/WorkItOutWombats'': In "[[Recap/WorkItOutWombatsS1E33ParrandaHappyNewAcornYear Happy New Acorn Year]]," Zeke thinks that it stinks that the wombats can't stay up late to see the New Year’s Eve Acorn drop, then asks what New Year's Eve is and what an acorn drop is. |
| 357 | [[/folder]] |
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