[[quoteright:220:[[ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/explains.PNG]]]]
[[caption-width-right:220:The joke he's laughing at is too stupid to print... [[DontExplainTheJoke that's the joke]].]]
->'''Mobius:''' Do you have candy on Asgard?\\
'''Loki:''' Yeah. Grapes, nuts.\\
'''Mobius:''' No wonder you're so bitter.
-->-- ''Series/Loki2021''

StockPhrases are usually uttered in comedies. Basically, someone has learned something strange about another character, but rather than being surprised or shocked, they take it in stride. Why? Because it actually explains a great deal of the odd characteristics of the character in question.

Usually intended as a StealthInsult. Basically InUniverse FridgeBrilliance and MindScrewdriver in more serious works. Can be PlayedForLaughs or PlayedForDrama depending on general context.

Compare with EurekaMoment.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* One of the 2015 UsefulNotes/McDonalds ads that used a revamped Hamburglar to advertise their third pound sirloin burgers depicts the Hamburglar's son walking in on his dad changing into his iconic costume and stating "That explains so much".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', Goku remarks that he appreciates his wife Chi-Chi being strong-willed, and Vegeta (whose wife Bulma is the same way) states that [[AmazonChaser Saiyan men are naturally attracted to strong women]], since Saiyan women were similarly strong. Piccolo, who's standing in the background, gets a JawDrop as he thinks to himself "That. Explains. ''EVERYTHING!''"
* In ''Manga/KOn'', this is Azusa's reaction when she learned that [[spoiler: Sumire]] used to bring Mugi manga. Said manga is implied to be yuri manga.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Upon the Straw Hats meeting Garp, Luffy's grandfather, they find out about the TrainingFromHell he subjected his grandson to at a very young age. They all then realize where Luffy's stubborn refusal to die comes from.
** During the "Marineford Arc", when Sengoku reveals that Luffy is the son of the revolutionary Dragon, this helps Smoker to realize why Dragon appeared back in Loguetown and prevented him from capturing Luffy.
* In the fifth-to-last episode of ''Anime/SonicX'', this is exactly what Sonic says after he has been listening in on Hertia/Earthia telling a story to Amy and Rouge about how her former home planet Seedrius-Flora/Greengate got destroyed and how the Metarex, the main villains of the third season, came into the picture.
* In ''Anime/TigerMaskW'' this is Miss X's reaction when she learns the new Tiger Mask has been trained by a former Tiger's Den wrestler, as it explains why he's as strong as if he had been trained by Tiger's Den.
* In ''Manga/ToLoveRu'', this is just about every human character's response to learning that [[HumanAliens Lala is an alien]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* In the ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse science fiction saga ''The Lords of the Universe'' this is Mickey's reaction when Goofy is revealed to be one of the twelve Masters, as it confirms he has extraterrestrial ancestors (something Mickey had actually suspected for a while).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* In one ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' strip, Calvin's father tells him that unlike other babies who were brought by a DeliveryStork, Calvin was unceremoniously dumped down the chimney, with his father saying it explains a lot about him.
* In [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2001-01-16/ this]] ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' comic, the pointy-haired boss bursts into laughter upon seeing sarcasm formatted in such a way as to minimally resemble a joke, causing Dilbert respond with the stock phrase.
* The [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1999/06/16 June 16, 1999]] strip of ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' has Garfield quip "This explains a lot" after Jon tells him that he played pin the tail on the donkey with a real donkey on his 21st birthday and doesn't recall much after doing so.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' fic ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1230547 Blood Relations]]'', [[TheHero Soma]] and [[TheHeart Mina]] have this reaction when they find out Arikado is a vampire (strictly speaking, [[spoiler:he's a {{Dhampyr}}, but they don't know that and it's a little more information than he's willing to share]]).
* In ''Fanfic/ADoorJam'', Twilight and Applejack give each other a look that says this when they hear that Pinkie Pie hits her head on her ceiling every morning.
* ''Fanfic/AnImpracticalGuideToGodhood'': After Percy meets Hercules, the God of Strength's attitude and demeanor cause him to comment that now he has a better understanding of why Zoe Nightshade became such a misandrist after he seduced and used her.
* When Hitsuguya finds out that Ichigo's [[MentalWorld inner world]] is normally tilted on it's side in ''[[https://fanfiction.net/s/10452084/30/Ichigo-Meet-Ichigo Ichigo, Meet Ichigo]]'', he says, "I suppose that makes sense, now that I think about it."
* In ''Fanfic/AnInsecureViolet'', when Izuku was about to reveal One For All to Kyoka, she immediately deduces that he has All Might's Quirk after some previous revelations. Kyoka then proceeds to explain how she came to the conclusion with one hundred percent accurate assumptions, much to Izuku's astonishment.
* In ''Fanfic/{{Magnetism}}'', this is what [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fluttershy]] realizes when she remembers that Rainbow Dash - who in this fic is ObliviousToLove, and prone to [[ThatCameOutWrong inadvertent]] [[InnocentInnuendo innuendo]] that she never seems to notice - was home sick during the week when sex ed was taught.
* In ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7239383/15/ National Security]]'', [[Series/WhiteCollar Neal]] wonders how [[Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers America/Alfred]] ended [[TheDitz up]] the [[LargeHam way]] he [[{{Manchild}} did]] (while [[TheMasquerade unaware of national personifications]]). When he hears [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} Alfred's former guardian]] over the phone swearing and desperately chasing Tony while [[BlackMagic chanting a bizarre spell]], Neal thinks that it explains everything.
* In ''Fanfic/OhGodNotAgain'', in chapter 21, Harry learns that Arthur is a television fan, and reflects that if he's getting most of his knowledge of Muggles from cable, that would explain a lot.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'':
** Luffy offhandedly tells Chopper that his grandfather taught him that concussions are harmless (they're ''not''). SelfInsert Cross groans that if Garp really believes that, it explains ''much'' about Luffy's IdiotHero status.
** PlayedForLaughs when Cross sees the damage Luffy had caused, prompting him to wonder if Luffy was a human, a monster, or a freak force of nature.
--->'''Soundbite:''' ''[[StealthPun D:]]'' '''[[TakeAThirdOption all of the above!]]'''\\
'''Cross:''' ...That makes ''way'' too much sense.
** Upon being faced down by the Unluckies for the third time and chased all over Water 7, Cross demands to know just where the hell an otter and a vulture could have come from to be this stupidly tough. Mr. 13 bluntly informs him that they were born on Kuraigana Island, home of Dracule Mihawk, whilst Miss Friday grumbles about the island's resident [[KillerGorilla Humandrills]]. Cross takes a moment to process this, before admitting that it makes sense.
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
** This response to Duke Devlin's desire to avenge Pegasus.
---> '''Duke:''' He was my idol! I've tried my whole life to be as masculine as [[TheDandy he]] [[AmbiguouslyGay is]]!\\
'''Yami:''' That would explain a lot.
** During the matches on Kaiba's blimp, [[TheDitz Tristan]] assumes they're in outer space. Then Bakura summons Dark Necrofear, a gaunt, sallow and thin figure...
--->'''Tristan:''' Ahh! It's an alien! Just like [[AlienAbduction the ones that abducted me when I was a child.]]\\
'''Tea:''' That explains so much, and yet so little.
** Then later, during the Virtual World Arc, when [[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment Team 4Kids]] states that their test audiences loved their dub of ''Manga/OnePiece'', the scene switches to Iruka and [[DeadpanSnarker The Hokage]] from ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedComedyFandubSpoofSeriesShow''.
--->'''Iruka''': Guess what Hokage, I was the guy who test screened the 4Kids ''One Piece'' dub!\\
'''Hokage''': That makes way too much sense.
** During Marik's fifth "Evil Council" video, Bakura defects to Dartz' Evil Council, and Marik declares that [[{{Unperson}} Bakura's name is never to be spoken again]], simply calling him [[Franchise/HarryPotter "He Who Shall Not Be Named."]]
--->'''Zorc:''' Bakura was Voldemort? That explains so much.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13072150/1/Freedom-From-Fear Freedom From Fear]]'', after Mrs.Beakley explains to Lena that she's a [[RetiredBadass retired spy]], Lena notes that explains so much about [[LittleMissBadass Webby]].
* ''Fanfic/MariaCampbellOfTheAstralClocktower'':
** Maria spends the first twenty or so chapters under the mistaken impression that Katarina is trying to seduce her. Later, when she and Keith are discussing their past traumas, she dryly notes that she's so messed up that when someone paid her an honest compliment for the first time in years, she assumed she was being invited to join a harem.
--->'''Keith:''' That explains so much of the first half of our first year.
** When Katarina uses the phrase "trash fetish" (correctly!) her friends are shocked, and blame local not-so CovertPervert Sophia for teaching it to her. She claims that she never uses that phrase, because she believes there's no such thing as a "trash fetish". Her friends consider that this explains a ''lot'' about her personality.
* ''Fanfic/OneForAllAndEightForTheNinth'': When Aizawa tells Inko Midoriya how Power Loader argued in favor of putting [[MadScientist Mei Hatsume]] in 1-A's dormitory, since Izuku and the other girls are the only ones that can convince Mei to take regular breaks, Inko devolves into a mutter storm much like Izuku's to plot a routine for Mei, causing Aizawa to realize "the world suddenly made sense".
* ''Webcomic/{{Spooky}}'': Tombstones says one of the requirements of being a reaper is having "above-average intelligence"; when Claw questions how the not very bright Tombstones got the job, the Mynci says he won it in a sweepstakes. Claw comments that this fact explains a lot about him as Komo tells Tombstones his robe is on fire because of some candles he sliced in half earlier.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9963013/11/He-s-Not-Dead-Yet He's Not Dead Yet]]'', Harry's talking to a portrait of Cedrella Black Weasley (Arthur Weasley's mother), and she mentions having seen Fred [[ChildhoodBrainDamage accidentally drop Ron on his head as a baby]]. Harry comments "that explains ''so'' much".
* Similarly in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8233288/3/Faery-Heroes Faery Heroes]]'', this time when Luna and her father allegedly found out that [[ChildhoodBrainDamage juggling is not one of his talents]] when Luna was a (presumably quite young) child.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6667449/11/Dearest-Hermione Dearest Hermione]]'', Luna tells Harry, Hermione, and Viktor about Blibbering Humdingers, which supposedly infest garden gnomes (a common chore for Weasleys is eliminating these from the garden) and cause confusion and aggression.
--> '''Hermione''': (telepathic comment to Harry) You know if those actually exist, it would explain quite a bit about Ron.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film — Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeContinentalDrift'', after Sid's family leaves Granny with Sid and the herd and abandon him for the second time.
-->'''Diego:''' Well, that explains a lot about Sid.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MickeysTwiceUponAChristmas'', during "Mickey's Dog-Gone Christmas", while [[TropeyComeHome searching for Pluto]], Mickey [[RunningGag continuously]] got buried in snow by [[DrivesLikeCrazy a crazy snow plow driver]]. At the end, following Mickey and Pluto reuniting, the snow plow comes up towards Mickey's house, with the driver revealed to be ''Goofy''[[note]]Mickey's friends having used the plow to search the city for Pluto[[/note]]. As Mickey commented "That explains a lot".
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsLegendOfEverfree'', Sunset, who has just gained the power of TouchTelepathy, has her hand grabbed and put on Pinkie's forehead...only for the screen to be assaulted by an image of Pinkie [[CloudCuckooLand merrily skipping through a land where everything is food and in the midst of a perpetual party]]. Eventually, Sunset [[ThousandYardStare quietly removes her hand]] and remarks:
-->'''Sunset Shimmer:''' That explains so much.\\
'''Pinkie Pie:''' Yep!
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Planes}}'': Upon being told Chug came up with the "Strut Jetstream" nickname for Dusty, Dottie says it explains everything.
* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'': The titular character has this reaction to [[InternalReveal Fiona turning into an ogre]] near the end of the first movie, having understood the conversation he overhead where she hypothetically asked who could love such an ugly creature.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/AlmostFamous'', William's response to finding out that his mother has been lying to him about his own age so that he wouldn't know that he'd actually skipped two grades is literally "This explains ''so'' much."
* From ''Film/TheBoyWhoCriedWerewolf'', regarding Music/BritneySpears:
-->'''Madam Varcoloc:''' She's a werewolf, you know.\\
'''Hunter:''' [[DeadpanSnarker That explains a few things.]]
* ''Film/MenInBlack'':
** At the end of the movie, J offhandedly mentions to L that [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Rodman Dennis Rodman]] is an alien, which results in this:
--->'''L:''' The high consulate from Solaxium 9 wants seats for the next Bulls game.\\
'''J:''' Let's put in a call to Dennis Rodman. He's from that planet.\\
'''L:''' Rodman? You're kidding.\\
'''J:''' Nope.\\
'''L:''' Not much of a disguise.
** And earlier, J gets this realization that his 3rd grade teacher was an alien, which he's suspected all along.
** When Dr. Weaver and J see that the man she was performing an autopsy on was actually a human-shaped transportation unit for a dying alien, Dr. Weaver starts muttering to herself about how the presence of aliens makes so much sense, because "how else can you explain New York?"
* In ''Film/MrDeeds'', Longfellow Deeds persuades a packed boardroom to remember their childhood dreams and ambitions, and one of his neighbours, a [[ButchLesbian denim-and-flannel-shirt-clad woman]] [[FreudianSlip announces that her wish was to become a man.]] Deeds' response is justified.
* When Shakes disguises himself as a mime in ''Film/ShakesTheClown'' to search for clues to the solving of a murder at a mime school, his two friends nearly beat him to a pulp (mimes are subject to FantasticRacism in this movie) before realizing who it is - and even then, they remain disgusted, with one of them remarking that he suddenly understands "all those times he would just sit there saying nothing." But Shakes finally manages to persuade his friends that he's still a clown.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/ShazamFuryOfTheGods'': Upon seeing Billy transform via a lightning bolt striking him, his foster father asked if that's why there was always holes in the roof. At the end of the film, he puts up a sign with the rule "No Shazaming in the house".
* ''Film/SomeKindOfWonderful'' has this darling piece of dialogue:
-->'''Ray:''' If you wanted to, you could be a girl...like that!\\
'''Watts:''' Ray, this is 1987. Did you know that a girl can be whatever she wants to be?\\
'''Ray:''' I know, my mom's a plumber.\\
'''Watts:''' That explains a lot about you, Ray.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheCousins'': When the main trio's fellow intern Brittany learns that [[spoiler:Milly and Jonah, who have quite a bit of chemistry, aren't really cousins]], she says "Everything makes so much more sense now."
* ''Literature/GravityFallsJournal3'': Dipper's Observation #1 about Quentin Trembley. "Haircut by his third wife, Sandy. (She was a woodpecker. That explains a lot.)"
* The Creator/DickFrancis short story "A Song for Mona" features the eponymous stable worker and her social-climbing AntagonisticOffspring daughter Joanie, who obsessively tries to cut Mona out of her life and keep people from knowing about her origins. At the end of the story, Mona's friends find a newspaper article mentioning that Joanie's father was convicted of child rape when she was ten (whether she was his victim is unclear) and comment "This explains a lot."
* The ''Franchise/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/MovingPictures'' says that the author of the Necrotelecomicon, Achmed the "I-Just-Get-These-Headaches", has an About the Author section which says his other book is "Achmed the I Just Get These Headaches' Book of Humorous Cat Stories", which may shed some light on things.
* ''Literature/{{Linked}}'': Clayton Pouncey's grandfather was a member of the [=KKK=] "and worse", and took his five-year-old son (who grew up to be a more low-key racist) to a mass cross-burning, the Night of a Thousand Flames. After hearing this story, Pouncey's friend Jordie muses that that explains why barely anyone [[LonelyFuneral attended Pouncey's grandfather's funeral]] (and some of those who did, like a younger Jordie, were ignorant of the old man's past and/or just wanted to be there for his family).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In an episode of ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', Dick discovered he was Canadian in his phony Earth identity. When he told Mary that he was Canadian, she said that it explained all his weird behavior.
** Crops up again in the final episode when he confesses to her that he's an alien- at first she refuses to believe him, and then he points out everything he's done over the past 6 years.
---> '''Mary''': ''([[{{beat}} Her expression gradually transitions from irritation to dawning realization]])'' You '''''are''''' an alien.
---> '''Dick''': Yes
---> '''Mary''': Why didn't I see this before?!
* In the first episode of the last season of ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jack explains that he's been deliberately "tanking" Creator/{{NBC}}, so that it will turn into a money-losing embarrassment and the owner will have to sell it.
-->'''Liz''': [[BitingTheHandHumor This explains everything! How long has this been going on? Seven years? Eight?]]\\
'''Jack''': Six weeks.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': from "[[Recap/AngelS05E08Destiny Destiny]]", as Spike demands an office at Wolfram & Hart:
-->'''Spike:''' At least give me Wesley's office, I mean, since he's gone -\\
'''Angel:''' He's not gone, he's on a leave of absence.\\
'''Spike:''' Yeah, right. [[SarcasmMode Boo hoo]]. Thought he killed his bloody father. Try staking your mother when she's coming on to you!\\
'''Harmony:''' Well. That explains a lot.
* When Felicity Smoak of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' learns that Oliver is The Hood, she has this to say:
-->'''Felicity:''' Everything about you just became so unbelievably clear.
** Felicity ends up on the receiving end in a later episode. When Curtis first meets Felicity's mother, he's visibly confused that this [[TheDitz ditzy blonde]] is related to the technologically gifted Felicity (keep in mind that in her very first scene, Donna is shown to be incapable of properly sending a text message). Later, he meets Felicity's father Noah, an EvilGenius notorious criminal hacker, and comments that the pairing makes Felicity's characteristics "make more sense".
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': From "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E13Surprise Surprise]]":
--> '''Xander:''' Yes, vampires are real, there are a lot of them in Sunnydale.\\
'''Willow:''' I know this must come as a shock...\\
'''Oz:''' Actually, it explains a ''lot''.
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'': Frasier Crane meets Cliff's [[MyBelovedSmother mother]]:
-->'''Frasier''': I suddenly have an image of Cliff being heroically well-adjusted.
* ''Series/{{CSI}}'': In the episode "Happenstance", the second victim's therapist is intrigued to learn that she was adopted and says it explains a lot about how she had a harder time connecting with her family.
* After Mike meets Susan's rather... flighty mother in ''Series/DesperateHousewives'':
-->I had a bunch of questions about you. They were all just answered.
* ''Series/GrowingPains'': When Carol complains about her nomination for Homecoming Queen in the eponymous episode, she says that Homecoming Queens never do anything consequential with their lives. Maggie argues that she was Homecoming Queen, and Carol says "that explains so much."
* In an episode of ''Series/HannahMontana'', Lily and Miley are sitting in front of their computer when they receive a video e-mail from their teacher Mr. Corelli reminding them about International Relations week at school. During the course of this video, it is revealed that [[BasementDweller he still lives with his mother]] and is somewhat nerdy. This causes Lily to remark "This explains so much."
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'':
** After Tony gets {{Dope Slap}}ped by Gibbs:
-->'''Tony:''' You know, repeated head trauma causes brain damage?\\
'''[=McGee=]:''' Explains a lot.
** In another episode, after Kate compares Tony and [=McGee=]'s bickering to her two "practically psychotic" older brothers:
-->'''Gibbs:''' Are your brothers really like that?\\
'''Kate:''' Sadly, yes.\\
'''Gibbs:''' Explains a lot.
* ''Series/{{Newhart}}'': when the regulars are convinced that aliens are invading the inn. And then Larry, his brother Darryl and [[RunningGag his other brother Darryl]] arrive.
-->'''George''': They're the guys from space?\\
'''Dick Loudon''': That would explain so much.
* ''Series/{{Psych}}'': In the episode "Shawn Versus Darth Vader", when a foreign exchange student learns that his host is a StalkerWithACrush who was obsessed with his girlfriend and is being accused of killing her, he muses that that would explain why his girlfriend stopped going to his host's house and had him meet her elsewhere.
* In the last episode of Season 10 of ''Series/RedDwarf'', we get a hell of a revelation that Rimmer's father [[spoiler: really wasn't his father; it was actually the idiot family gardener, Dungo.]]
-->'''Lister:''' And suddenly a ''billion''-piece jigsaw puzzle falls beautifully into place!!
* ''Series/ResidentAlien'': After the initial shock of discovering that bumbling, strange HughMann Harry is an alien, Asta remarks that it "sort of explains a lot."
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': In a crossover with ''Series/SesameStreet'', J.D. has a fantasy about treating a muppet patient, and explains that the issue is he has an arm up his butt. The muppet responds, "That explains so many things."
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in an episode of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. Kira has recently learned that Odo, whom she has been working alongside for quite a few years, has been in love with her the whole time, and is taking some time to figure out what to do about it. When she tells Jadzia about it, this conversation results:
-->'''Jadzia:''' That explains a lot.\\
'''Kira:''' What do you mean?\\
'''Jadzia:''' ... I don't know, really. It just seemed like the thing to say.
* In ''Series/Stargirl2020'', when Yolanda finds out that Dr. King (the creepy father of her JerkJock ex-boyfriend) is a supervillain, her reply is, "Actually, that makes sense."
* In an episode of ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', Justin tells Harper that Alex thinks that there are no rules if you're on an island, prompting this exchange:
-->'''Harper:''' But you live on Manhattan Island.\\
'''Justin:''' I know. Doesn't that explain a lot?
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'': When the Militia reveal in the endgame that [[spoiler:The Detective was a high school gym teacher before joining the RCM]], Kim provides the stock phrase in an [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness astonished]] tone.
* ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'': At the climax of the League of Explorers' branch of the Galakrond's Awakening adventure, [[spoiler:it's revealed that Reno Jackson, a particularly [[{{Manchild}} childish]] AdventurerArcheologist "with the self-control of a magpie," was actually a juvenile blue dragon named Renogos all along, unknown to everybody [[IdiotHero including Reno himself]]]]. Elise responds to the revelation with the stock phrase.
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': When Shepard and Tali discuss the geth situation with quarian admiral Daro'Xen, she snaps that someone experimenting on (sapient) machines should feel no more guilt than she did performing surgery on her childhood toys. Tali provides the stock phrase.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', taking a picture of one of the male pinup posters as Snake and sending it to Otacon will prompt him to remark, "So...this explains a lot."
* In the final level of ''VideoGame/{{Octodad}}: Dadliest Catch'', Scarlet says this [[spoiler:when she finally learns that her husband of 10 years is actually [[HughMann an octopus in a suit]].]]
* In the lead-up to ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft: Legion'', it is revealed that the entire world of Azeroth itself is more just a "hunk of rock", rather, it is actually [[spoiler:a titan, one of the race of beings who created the world, and one of which leads the Burning Legion.]] Khadgar is shocked at first, but notes "That...actually explains a great many things."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'':
** In Season 5, when Sister first shows up, she comments that her and Grif's mother was in the circus. Prompting Simmons to respond, "You've already made my insults 45% more efficient by just saying one sentence."
** Back in Season 2, Doc is less confused once he learns that the Reds "ran out of water months ago" and have been drinking nothing but soysauce, ketchup, and gravy.
** In Season 14's "Meta vs. Agent Carolina" prologue, Grif and Simmons learn that Carolina is the daughter of Tex, and Simmons remarks, "Huh...suddenly everything makes a lot more sense."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Variant phrase, same sentiment in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater''. After Black Mage has been hit by what Red Mage describes as the dreaded "[[GroinAttack Goblin Punch]]".
-->'''Thief:''' You called it a Goblin Punch. Even though it was clearly a kick. And there isn't a goblin around for miles.\\
'''Red Mage:''' What? That's the name of the attack, as laid down by the greatest Red Mage cryptozoologist of all time: [[UnfortunateNames Blindy O'Sightless.]]\\
'''Thief:''' The more I learn about [[CloudCuckooLander you,]] the more it makes sense.
* In ''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'', Mario has this reaction when hears about the number of times [[KnightTemplar Max Force]] had been hit by hallucinogenic drug-filled needles in his war on drugs. Alex states that this is the tip of the iceberg.
* In ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' when Qui-Gon (played as an [[IdiotHero idiot]] [[KleptomaniacHero kleptomaniac]]) suggests that he acquired his laser sword by killing a Cheddar Monk and taking it from him. Padmé/the DM says "You know...that would explain a lot".
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
** In the Castle Heterodyne Arc, Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek find the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 Heterodyne Nursery]] which has a rampaging huge, steel-clawed, [[SpikesOfVillainy shoulder-spiked]] [[MonsterClown jack-in-the-box]] clank that acted as a nanny to the bloodthirsty, murderous Heterodynes. After it finally stops wrestling with boys, Tarvek comments on the trope.
** Also invoked by Agatha earlier in the story [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050415 when she discovers there are sparks among the traveling circus performers]].
** [[EmperorScientist Klaus Wulfenbach]] also says this [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040802 when]] he finds out that Adam and Lilith Clay, which his empire has been unable to locate, are actually Punch and Judy, the most famous [[ArtificialHuman Constructs]] of the Heterodyne Boys.
** Wooster [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140421 says it once]] and it makes the page quote for TheSpymaster.
* Used at least once in Andrew Hussie's second-person webcomic ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=004667 "You suddenly understand everything."]]
* Subverted in ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', when Hanners reveals that she grew up on a space station. (Her dad is a MadScientist.)
-->'''Faye''': You're actually ''from space''?\\
'''Hannelore''': Yes. I'd say "That explains a lot, doesn't it?", but it really doesn't.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''WebVideo/TheAnnoyingOrange'' video ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzz-vx3XoBs Introduction To "Ultimate Dog Tease"]]'' (when Marshmallow and Midget Apple have just watched ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog]]''):
--> '''Marshmallow:''' Yay! I love Bizkit!\\
'''Midget Apple:''' You think Bizkit's gonna be okay after bashing his head against the wall?\\
'''Marshmallow:''' Ooh! I love bashing my head against the wall!\\
'''Midget Apple:''' That explains a lot, actually.
* In ''Bibliography'', Raoul answers that when he learns that his SuperStrength [[PowerAtAPrice came at the price of]] his sense of direction: A moment earlier, he had gotten [[NoSenseOfDirection spectacularly lost]].
* Website/CollegeHumor: In one of the jeggings videos, where teenagers keep coming to school wearing inappropriate clothing, the exasperated teacher eventually asks them what their parents have to say about it. When one of them confesses that all of their parents have died, he pauses and admits that does make sense.
* ''WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment'': Spoony's reaction in his "Let's Play ''[[VideoGame/PhantasmagoriaAPuzzleOfFlesh Phantasmagoria 2]]''", after the big reveal that the [[RidiculouslyAverageGuy otherwise bland, dorky PC Curtis Craig]] is literally not of this world.
-->'''Spoony:''' So let's see if I have this right--according to Warner, Curtis is really an alien made out of slime and rat testicles? ... That actually explains a lot.
* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's reaction when WesternAnimation/BugsBunny references a joint by name in ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarsToTheRescue'':
-->'''Critic''': If Bugs Bunny knows of a what joint is, that means he knows what drugs are! If Bugs Bunny knows what drugs are, then the rest of the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes know what drugs are! If the rest of the Looney Tunes know what drugs are, well, that...just explains ''TOO GODDAMN MUCH''!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'':
** There are many times when Malory does something to which another character (sometimes Archer himself) states "A ''ton'' of stuff started making sense [about Archer's behavior]", or something to that effect.
--->'''Malory:''' 'cause he'll be back! Crying for his mommy! Just like that Christmas break when I moved and [[ParentalNeglect forgot to give my new address to his stupid boarding school]]. I mean, [[HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood he rode the train into the city all by himself, he couldn't pick up a phone book? 9 years old]] and ''bawling'' in that police station like a little girl! Huh - what's ''that'' tell you?\\
'''Cheryl:''' [[RunningGag Kind of a lot, actually]]...
** There's also several instances where Archer questions if he's on the Autism Spectrum, as he finds himself being the only one able to identify weapons at a glance, keep track of bullet counts, and other such things when in battles. Most people when they hear this theory usually say something along the lines of "Huh. That would explain a lot."
* In ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'', after Coach Steve confesses to Mr. Lizer that he's never "done sex", Mr. Lizer's response is: "That makes a ''tremendous'' amount of sense."
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{CatDog}}'' special "Great Parent Hunt", Rancid Rabbit hosts a fair on Parents' Day, where the show's recurring characters bring their parents. [[TheDitz Lube]] brings his ''parrots''. Thinking Lube misheard, Rancid explains he was supposed to bring the people who raised him and made him what he is.
-->'''Lube:''' Duh, yeah...[[RaisedByWolves parrots.]]\\
'''Rancid:''' This explains all so much.
* In the ''Big Boogey Adventure'' movie of ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', The Grim Reaper notes that love makes people do stupid things. Billy then declares that he loves everything...which Grim retorts explains a lot.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017,'' when Dewey finds out that constantly-tweeting AttentionWhore Mark Beaks is the son of tastemaker blogger Emma Glamour, he comments, "Huh, that actually makes a lot of sense."
* Used to the point it's a RunningGag in ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest''. For example, in one of the race episodes, Gil reveals to his partner, Bling-Bling, that [[RaisedByWolves "[He] was raised in the wild by gorillas!"]]
--> '''Bling-Bling''': Huh. That explains a lot.
* In the ''WebAnimation/MightyMagiswords'' episode "Bewitched, Bothered and Bothered Some More", Vambre remarks "This explains so much" in response to hearing that Flonk and Helmut, both of whom bullied her and her brother Prohyas when they were kids, are brothers and Flonk stating that Helmut taught him how to behave.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MikeLuAndOg'' episode "The Great Snipe Hunt", Mike Mazinski learns from Wendel that a rock is an important present for Og because Albonquetine tradition dictates that the rite of passage is done by hitting one's own head with the rock. Mike then quips that this explains a lot, having observed plenty of bizarre shenanigans with the Albonquetine natives.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MuppetBabies1984'' episode "He's a Wonderful Frog", Rowlf tries to read a book to Kermit about Kermit's life, but finds that the book contains various nonsensical and inaccurate details, such as Kermit being raised by wolves and being elected emperor of California. It turns out that the book was put together by wannabe comedian Fozzie and {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Gonzo, which causes Rowlf to remark that that explains the book's absurd inaccuracy.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRocketeer'': In "Hypnotic Hughesville", The Great Orsino has this reaction upon learning chickens are his assistant Deany's favorite animal.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
** From "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E15HomerAlone Homer Alone]]", after Marge has a nervous breakdown and stops her car in the middle of a bridge.
--->'''Homer''': Let me through, let me through! I'm her husband!\\
'''Eddie''': Well, that explains a lot. ''(He and Lou laugh)''
** From the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E19TheFront The Front]]":
--->'''Homer's brain:''' This is it, Homer. It's time to tell her the horrible secret from your past.\\
'''Homer:''' Marge, I ate those fancy soaps you bought for the bathroom.\\
'''Marge:''' Oh, my God!\\
'''Homer's brain:''' No, the ''other'' secret!\\
'''Homer:''' Marge, I never graduated from high school.\\
'''Marge:''' That still doesn't explain why you ate all the soaps. ''(sadly)'' Wait, maybe it does...
** A positive example in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E8MotherSimpson Mother Simpson]]", when Lisa meets Homer's long-lost mother and feels a rapport with her that she doesn't with any member of her immediate family.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': In [[Recap/StevenUniverseS5E22MadeOfHonor "Made of Honor",]] [[spoiler:Bismuth]] is initially shocked when Steven tells her about [[spoiler:Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond being [[TwoAliasesOneCharacter the same person,]]]] but after he further explains everything, including the [[TheCorruption Corrupted Gems,]] she realizes that everything makes perfect sense, since TheReveal fills in a lot of logical holes and explains [[spoiler:what happened between her and Rose.]]
* From an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SushiPack'':
-->'''Ben''': If you want to wear one later, Tako, just speak up.\\
'''Kani''': Yeah, we can't read your mind!\\
'''Tako''': There's nothing to read.\\
'''Kani''': That explains so very, very much.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Seen in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCiageqMHJc this short video]] of Kiefer Sutherland in a state of extreme intoxication.
[[/folder]]

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