Just because your boss has betrayed you and will sacrifice you to his god is no reason to be impolite about it.
"Clever girl..."
A character graciously concedes a point while trying to save face. This is usually accomplished by saying words such as "Touché" (a term in fencing that acknowledges an opponent landing a hit), "point taken", "I stand corrected" (both when losing an argument), or "Well played".
There can be any manner of stakes and the form of defeat can vary from losing a minor argument to being Out-Gambitted in a war. When someone merely has to admit that a good joke was made at his/her expense, it's Actually Pretty Funny.
It's often spoofed when someone tries a really pathetic plan, it gets easily beaten, but the planner acts as though he/she was outwitted by a master.
Compare Worthy Opponent and Graceful Loser, who are likely to use this. Contrast Sore Loser, who will not. No relation to actual fencing.
Examples:
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Anime and Manga
- In Fullmetal Alchemist, this is Fuhrer Bradley's response when he's outmaneuvered by Lan Fan. In an earlier fight, he had stabbed her in the arm, and she's bleeding heavily enough to leave a trail of blood from it. When Bradley follows this trail to track her down, he finds her arm, completely cut off and tied to a dog, while Lan Fan is long gone. "That was well-played, girl."
- At the end of the Pokémon the Series: Black & White episode "Battle for the Underground!", after a six-episode-long arc of being duped by Meowth and Team Rocket putting up one of their most persistent and well laid attempts to steal their Pokémon, Ash and co finally neutralize them, though admit quite willingly they had very nearly out-gambitted them. Given the heroes are usually dismissive or complacent towards the Terrible Trio's bumbling plans, this is quite something for them.
- In Bokurano, Seki, an officer in the Self-Defense Force, tries to get Koyemshi to let him and the others investigate Zearth, saying it has cost many of his countrymen their lives. Koyemshi then replies that the children piloting it are fighting for their entire planet, and thus every country on Earth has the same right to investigate it. In response, Seki faintly smiles and says "You're absolutely right."
- In Persona 5: The Animation, Ren and Ryuji meet Ohya, a journalist who eventually becomes one of Ren's Confidants, when Ohya is staking out Madarame's shack. Since Ren and Ryuji are investigating Madarame to facilitate their infiltration of his Palace, Ohya quickly realizes that they know more than they're letting on, and comments that they seem "fishy." Ryuji then points out that Ohya's hardly one to talk, at which point she laughs and admits Ryuji has a point.
Comic Books
- In Dragon's Claws, the Claws' Token Evil Teammate Deller shoots guest star Death's Head in the back while Dragon's trying to negotiate with him:
Death's Head: Nhh... tricked me, eh? Kept me talking while another sneaks up behind me. Like your style, yes?
- In New Teen Titans Vol 2 #9, Terry Long and Starfire chat:
Terry: Gotta tell you, Koriand'r, I still haven't gotten over the fact that you're an alien. I mean, you're not a little green man with tentacles or anything.
Starfire: Why, thank you, Terry Long. Neither are you.
Terry: Touche! Guess I deserved that, huh? - In Gotham City Garage, Jason Todd sets a bomb off to take Clayface with him. Kara quickly flings him away and tanks the blast.
Jason: What... What are you?
Kara: I'm super. And you're a suicidal idiot.
Jason: Touché.
Comic Strips
- One Calvin and Hobbes strip had Miss Wormwood giving a geography lesson and interrupt Calvin's daydreaming to ask him what state he was in. When he answers with "denial," she admits she can't argue with that.
Fan Works
- In The Silmarillion story A Boy, a Girl and a Dog: The Leithian Script, Finrod tells his father he shouldn't start out something he isn't willing to finish. Finarfin reminds Finrod he walked out of his own wedding ceremony.
Finrod: [coolly] A rescue seemed in order. Again.
Finarfin: And of whom, pray?
Finrod: Whichever most needed it. — One ought not begin an endeavor which one has not the will to finish.
Finarfin: Aye... As, for example, — to wed.
Finrod: [touché] - Chaos Effect: From Chapter 20:
Mai: Pegasus and those Toon monsters are pretty impressive—
Edwin: Not really. Destroy the book and you can take out his entire strategy.
Mai: (chuckles) Not everyone has Endymion, Edwin.
Edwin: Harpie's Feather Duster.
Mai: Touché. - In Dinner and a Show
, Maleficent wonders what made Aurora invite her to a formal dinner if the latter heard that she was rather unpleasant and easily angered, resulting in this exchange.
Maleficent: You've heard? What exactly have you heard, Princess, that compelled you to invite me to dinner?
Aurora: Well, I've heard that you don't like to be uninvited.
Maleficent: Touché. - In Enslaved when Derflinger tries to press Saito into joining a mercenary band when the latter leaves Louise (because the greater his distance from her, the less the Familiar runes will warp his mind), Saito starts saying how he doesn't want to fight and just wants to go home when he realizes what just happened. Before he'd left, he had wanted to stay with Louise but Derflinger just showed he was right that Saito was turning back to himself. Saito offers a simple "Well played" once he realizes.
- When Voldemort attacks Spellhaven in For Love of Magic, Harry's group doesn't learn until after they've killed most of the attackers that the majority were Imperius victims. Once Harry realizes the political and social ramifications of all those deaths, he offers an irritated, "You cheeky motherfucker."
- In Swapping the Cage Kuushou's sole reaction to Anko invoking a regulation regarding rations on a mission to make him buy her dango is a simply, "Well played."
- The Wrong Reflection: Eleya, a Bajoran, has a soft spot for Earth science fiction and is queried on why by her operations officer and boyfriend Gaarra.
Eleya: Well, why do you like Trill mystery novels?
Gaarra: Touché. - In X-Men 1970, Professor Xavier utters one after Cyclops points out that it's kind of unfair that he expects them to fall in line and keep doing whatever he says after he faked his death for one entire year.
Scott: Damn it, Professor, I've got a lot I need to say.
Professor X: Apparently you thought this was to be a one-sided conversation. I will not play the role which you have written for me in your mind, Scott.
Scott: Then, Professor— Then, Professor, how can you expect us to play the role you've written for us?
Professor X: Touché. - In Where Talent Goes to Die, Sora Hoshino, a brutally honest individual, gets an exchange leading to this after Miura, having exposed him as a killer, says she can't forgive him for killing two of her friends, but she's always respected his honesty despite his lack of tact.
Hoshino: You don't pull any punches, do you, Miura?
Miura: You're the last person I want lecturing me about that.
Hoshino: Good one. There's hope for you yet. - During the first trial of Blackened Skies, Monokuma dances around giving the students a vital piece of information… until Chiaki points out that unless he gives them a straight answer, they won't be able to get anywhere, and "That wouldn't be very fun for you, would it?" Monokuma drops his usual demeanor to concede the point.
- Rig the Game: Royal: In Chapter 26, discussing Yusuke's new design for their calling cards:
Morgana: No kidding, it was so much better than the one Ryuji made.
Ryuji: Hey, not like you could do any better
Morgana: I have paws, what’s your excuse?
Ryuji: Dammit... - You See Them: From Chapter 6, after Chihaya inadvertently exposes Ren's secret to Morgana, and the latter asks why he had kept it secret:
Ren: I was scared that you'd think I'm crazy just like everyone else... I see and hear people that most people can't see or hear, and have no way to prove it but with what they tell me.
Morgana: I'm a human who lost his true form to turn into what looks like a magical, talking cat because of the Metaverse, an alternate dimension of human cognition. Why in the world would I think you're crazy, especially after all you've done to prove it?
Ren: Touché. - Sword Art Online Abridged gives us this between a player and Kayaba in the very first episode:
Player: So you want us to beat an MMO?
Kayaba: Essentially
Player: F*ck You!
Kayaba: Whoa, sensing a lot of hostility there.
Player: Well, when was the last time you heard of someone beating EverQuest?
Kayaba: When was the last time you heard of someone playing EverQuest?
Player: (Beat) ...That's fair. - The Bugger Anthology: Dalek Jast begrudgingly admits that the Cybermen's means of tricking him into identifying himself as a Dalek was clever.
- True Potential: In Chapter 64, this is Naruto's answer when his student Kanji points out the irony of the Uzumaki wishing to become Hokage despite the fact he's "not the biggest fan of political crap."
- Naru-Hina Chronicles: When Hotaru tells her niece Ino that the latter being happy with Choji is all that should matter:
Ino: Yeah. You remember that too, with you and Iruka, okay?
Hotaru: Oh. Touché, Ino.
Films — Animated
- Superman/Batman: Apocalypse: After Darkseid brainwashes Kara and makes her one of his Female Furies, Batman decides to take the planet of Apokolips hostage by activating all of the Hellsporesnote and demands that Darkseid give up Kara in exchange for him turning them off. After kicking his ass seven different ways, Darkseid is actually impressed that Batman still has the audacity to make demands and decides to relent:
Darkseid: Well played.
- In Corpse Bride, Lord Barkis gives this to his then-fiancee Emily. Her response? "Get Out!!"
- This exchange from Wreck-It Ralph, when King Candy slaps on a pair of glasses to avoid Ralph's wrath:
King Candy: You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses, would you? (Ralph removes King Candy's glasses and hits Candy over the head with them) You hit a guy with glasses. That's… well-played.
- In Meet the Robinsons, Wilbur tries to get Lewis to fix the time machine he crashed, but Lewis will only do it if he takes him back in time to meet his birth mother.
Wilbur: You didn't even follow through on our last deal. How can I trust you?
Lewis: Well, you told me you were a time cop from the future. How can I trust you?
Wilbur: ...Touché.- There's also this moment when Lewis and Wilbur are first seen about to enter the Robinson residence:
Carl: (deep voice) Who dares to disturb my sanctuary?
Wilbur: Carl, it's me. Let me in!
Carl: None may enter unless they speak the royal password!
Wilbur: Carl, what're you talking about? We don't have a password!
Carl: Yes we do, I made one up while you were gone.
Wilbur: Well, how am I supposed to know what it is?
Carl: You... (Beat, voice returns to normal) Good point. (the door opens) - In The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney), during Phoebus and Esmeralda's fight in the church:
Phoebus: You fight almost as well as a man!
Esmeralda: Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you!
Phoebus: That's hitting a little below the belt, don't you think?
Esmeralda: No. This is! [attempts a Groin Attack]
Phoebus: Touché! - Aladdin has the titular Guile Hero get the Genie to do what he wants without expending one of his three wishes. Aladdin pulls a Batman Gambit and notes that since the Genie has a few rules on what he can't do, then he's not really all-powerful, and probably can't even get them out of the now-sealed Cave of Wonders. Insulted, Genie disproves Aladdin by taking them to an oasis, only for Aladdin to casually admit that he never actually wished to get out of the Cave. After a brief Jaw Drop of shock, Genie takes it rather well and lets it go, but then says "no more freebies". This comes up later when Aladdin passes out underwater while drowning, but the Genie can't help Aladdin to safety due to what he said before. Instead, Genie uses Loophole Abuse to interpret a vague nod as Aladdin telling Genie to save him.
- Aladdin: The Return of Jafar: Iago's Anti-Love Song "Forget About Love" is a pretty transparent Reverse Psychology ploy to get Jasmine to forgive Aladdin. She does catch on, but admits "you're calling my bluff — I can't forget about love".
- Aladdin: The Return of Jafar: Iago's Anti-Love Song "Forget About Love
Films — Live-Action
- In Jurassic Park, Great White Hunter Muldoon knows from the start that the raptors are intelligent and dangerous. When he realizes that he has just been outwitted by the raptors in a well-laid Batman Gambit, he mutters a sincere and respectful "Clever girl" to the pack leader just before being eaten.
- In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark is reading through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s profile on him, and objecting to every critique listed, until he reaches "textbook narcissism". After a moment of consideration — and a profoundly deadpan stare from Nick Fury — he agrees.
- In The Rocketeer, Cliff goes to pick up his girlfriend Jenny at her boarding house, but finds the door blocked by the landlady, who says "You know my rules, no gentlemen after 6 pm!" Cliff replies "Well, I'm no gentleman!" The landlady mutters "You can say that again..." and tells them to have a good time.
- In Casino Royale (2006), after Vesper Lynd gets in a few good barbs at James Bond, she asks him, how was his dinner?
Bond: Skewered. One sympathizes.
- In Deadpool, it happens to snarker supreme Negasonic Teenage Warhead, of all people.
Deadpool: LOOK! I'm a teenage girl, I'd rather be anywhere than here! I'm all about long sullen silences, followed by mean comments, followed by more silence! So what's it gonna be: long sullen silence or mean comment? Go on, take your pick.
Negasonic Teenage Warhead: ...You got me in a box here. - In Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond kills time before his backup plan activates by getting the media-mogul villain to rant about how Bond won't be able to beat him, in the midst of which Bond kills the mook trying to sneak up on him overhead.
Bond: Sorry. I tuned out there for a minute, Eliot.
Carver: Touché. - Black Panther: After T'Challa mortally wounds Killmonger with a particularly adroit bit of knifework, the latter chokes out a pained "...Hell of a move", initiating a reasonably respectful Dying Truce.
- At the end of The Babysitter: Killer Queen, the cultists' ritual fails because it required virgin blood to work, and Cole had just lost his virginity to Phoebe. As the cultists all die agonizing deaths from drinking the tainted blood, Max, who always had a measure of Villain Respect for Cole, takes the opportunity in his final words to praise him for having gotten laid.
Max: You fucking stud, Cole! I'm not even mad bro! Respect!
- In Clue, Wadsworth expresses this in the third ending, after Mr. Green kills him with a fatal quickdraw from the hip, despite Wadsworth already holding a gun on him.
Wadsworth:Oh, good shot, Green! Very... good... (dies)
- In Tremors, Val and Earl have spent a considerable amount of time poking fun at Crazy-Prepared Burt for his doomsday prepping, Wall of Weapons, and general overbearing paranoia. All of which ends up allowing Burt and his wife to fight off a Graboid, unharmed, by just pumping an obscene amount of ammunition into it until it drops dead. After hearing the good news over the radio, a relieved Earl admits Burt was Properly Paranoid all along.
Earl: I guess we don't get to make fun of Burt's lifestyle anymore.
- As Good as It Gets: This conversation between Melvin (who has obsessive-compulsive disorder) and Simon (a Straight Gay painter who's recovering from being robbed and beaten):
Melvin: Can I ask you a personal question?
Simon: Sure.
Melvin: You ever get an erection over a woman?
Simon: Melvin-
Melvin: I mean, wouldn't your life be easier if you weren't-?
Simon: You consider your life easy?
Melvin: (Beat) All right, I give you that one. - The Three Musketeers (1961): At the end, the Cardinal Richelieu sends a sign of the hand to the Musketeers as they show up on time at the call to arms, after also receiving the news of the death of both Milady and Rochefort, meaning their scheme to kill the three Musketeers and D'Artagnan has failed. Judging by his body language, that means he grudgingly admits the Musketeers won this time. But now they're being sent on assignment to the siege of La Rochelle, so they're part of other plans of his anyway.
Literature
- Card Force Infection: Erica tries to reassure Jimmy that he bears no responsibility for Fletcher losing his entire deck trying to defend him because "We chose to get involved." Jimmy counters that if they can choose to get involved, so can he. Erica gives in, admitting she can't argue with that.
- Battle Ground: When Harry demands his lab back and makes the accords think Marcone took the Eye of Balor, Marcone's only response is to concede and pack up, as said scenario was technically one Marcone had engineered.
- Gaea's grudgingly impressed by Percy's gamble to force her to choose him over Phineas in The Heroes of Olympus.
- Serge Storms : In The Riptide ultra-glide, Serge is Out-Gambitted by two assassins who only spare his life out of Pragmatic Villainy (the continuing police manhunt for Serge will distract the cops from realizing what the assassins did). Serge threatens to reveal the truth, but the assassins point out he's insane and therefore not credible, which Serge concedes with a wry "Touche."
Live Action Television
- On Sisters, an escalating mess between Teddy and Alex ends with: "Touché, sister dear, you've drawn blood, care to finish me off?"
- Something of a running gag in NCIS: Los Angeles is that Deeks will says "Touché" to acknowledge Kensi has a point, and Kensi will say it too (regardless of the meaning), because she just likes the word.
- In Frasier, Niles had heart surgery, and Frasier made a promise to God to be nice to Niles if he lived. Niles then acted insufferably (over his fear of what might happen again), and Frasier wanted to lay into his brother, but felt he couldn't break his promise. Then he found a loophole, and felt it was enough. But it turned out their father already talked Niles out of it. Frasier then just said "Well played, God. I'll see you at Easter."
- On Seinfeld, George Costanza once pretended to be handicapped at work so he could get lots of special treatment, including a private bathroom. When the truth came out, his boss was so disgusted that he wanted to fire George, but couldn't because George had a one year contract with the company. Instead the boss does everything in his power to make George miserable at work and convince him to quit. After he gives everyone in the company access to George's previously private bathroom:
George: Well played.
Boss: I'll see you in hell, Costanza. - In the first season of The Naked Truth, Nora gets her Camilla's job back by tricking the owner of The Comet. He said earlier "Who said life was fair?", and after she tricked him, she said the same thing. He said "Touché", although did give her a crappy assignment as payback.
- In The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, when Mr. Moseby admits at a baseball game that he spent his childhood learning ballet rather than sports, he gets heckled by some other guys sitting nearby. Moseby responds "Mock me if you will, but I was the only boy amongst twelve pretty girls. Mamma didn't raise no fool." The hecklers then shrug and nod in a way that says "Fair point."
- In one episode of Drake & Josh, Walter gets a laughably bad haircut. When one of Drake's slacker friends mocks him for it, Walter counters by mocking his hair too. Drake's friend remarks "Touché" and begins to walk away, when Walter yells:
Walter: It's pronounced "tush"!
- In an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun, Mary worries about getting her First Gray Hair. Dick says that gray hair makes you look distinguished, but she insists "When men get gray hair they're called distinguished, when women get gray hair they're just called old." Dick replies "When women have breasts it's seen as a good thing, when men have breasts they just look old"; Mary mulls this over for a few seconds, then says "Good point."
- From Community, when Jeff is having woes over having to wear a pair of pretty dorky looking shorts:
Leonard: Heh! You're gonna look like an ass in those!
Jeff: Shut up, Leonard! I talked to your son on family day. I know all about your gambling.
Leonard: ...Touché.- He turns it around in another episode:
Leonard: ...The stakes have never been higher!
Shirley: Shut up, Leonard! I found your YouTube page! What's the point in reviewing frozen pizza?!
Leonard: You're talking about it.
Shirley: ...Well. That is true...
- He turns it around in another episode:
- Star Trek: The Original Series: In "Space Seed", Khan doesn't admit to be one of the tyrants who had dominated Earth during the Eugenics Wars.
Kirk: You fled. Why? Were you afraid?
Khan: I've never been afraid.
Kirk: But you left at the very time mankind needed courage.
Khan: We offered the world order!
Kirk: "We"?
Khan: (smiling) Excellent. - Friday Night Lights: The third season episode "How the Other Half Lives" has this exchange between Coach Taylor and his wife Tami (the high school principal at this point):
Coach Taylor: You know who I miss? I miss the coach's wife.
Tami: You know who I can't wait to meet? The principal's husband.
Coach Taylor: Touché. - The Wire: In the third season episode "Reformation", when McNulty is dismissive of the idea of going to see Judge Phelan to get a warrant for the Major Crimes Squad:
McNulty: He's a piece of shit.
Daniels: We're all pieces of shit when we're in your way. That goes with the territory.
McNulty: (grudgingly) Point taken. - One episode of Cobra Kai has this happen twice, when Johnny and Daniel trying to teach each other their methodology of karate:
- When Daniel is trying to teach Johnny that the best way to win a fight is, as Mr. Miyagi once said, "no be there", Johnny clearly disagrees. However when Daniel says "nobody was more bad-ass than Mr. Miyagi", Johnny remembers the time Mr. Miyagi beat Kreese in a fight — something even Johnny would struggle to do in his prime — without laying a single finger on him and nods in agreement.
- Johnny on the other hand tries to teach Daniel to be more assertive by instigating a fight between them and some hockey players, and then bailing to let Daniel fight them by himself. When Johnny gives "no be there" as his reasoning for taking off, Daniel's reaction is an equal mix of pure frustration and a genuine nod of "well done."
- One episode of All in the Family has Lionel and the Meathead return from jogging, with Archie questioning why Lionel would take him along. Lionel asks what Archie would think if he saw a black man running through that neighborhood alone at 7:30 in the morning, and Archie concedes the point.
- While Sam and Bucky are discussing their philosophies with Zemo in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Zemo says "touché" as he conceded to Bucky's statement that Steve was never corrupted by the serum, while also mentioning that Steve is the only exception.
Radio
- The Goon Show parodied it.
"Touché."
"Threeché!"
Video Games
- In Team Fortress 2 Spy will occasionally greet an enemy that kills him with "Well played."
- Rubick from Dota 2 will sometimes compliment his killer.
- One of the emotes that players can use in Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is "Well Played", among others.
- Unfortunately, like many emotes in such games, many players have figured out how to use it clearly sarcastically, such as after a blunder they are about to seize upon with devastating results, or while deploying a near-unbeatable combo, inverting the usual meaning.
- Lara and Pierre in Tomb Raider: Anniversary have a small spat over whether or not one's compulsion can make or break an archaeological find:
Lara: I trust my instincts.
Pierre: And that is why you are in second place! I am a professional, mademoiselle. I focus on the job and I get paid.
Lara: There's more to life than money, Pierre.
Piere: This isn't life, mademoiselle! It's business! Your compulsion prevents you from seeing the difference!
Lara: It hasn't prevented me from getting a piece of the Scion. How's business for you?
Pierre: ...Touche. Well then, why don't we see who gets the next piece? - In Tyranny, one of the final encounters with Tunon has him putting you on trial to answer for your actions during the Tiers campaign. If the Player Character has used the [Glare silently.] option a lot during the game, Tunon will interrogate you about your seeming inability to speak. The player is allowed to respond with [Glare silently.], which will infuriate Tunon. Alternatively you can break character and explain it's an interrogation technique to make the other party feel like they need to keep talking to fill in the awkward silence, increasing the chance they'll incriminate themselves.
Tunon: That is... a better justification than I had suspected. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity.
- In the Berlin level of Hitman 3', Agent 47 is up against 10 disguised agents hunting him in a crowd. Though you only need to kill half of them before their handler pulls the remaining ones out, going above and beyond with careful planning to kill all 10 in one fell swoop nets you this from the handler.
ICA Handler: (bitterly, close to tears) Expertly done, 47. Expertly fucking done.
- At one point in Deus Ex, JC Denton confronts one of the villains, who promptly orders his hidden troops to spring out and ambush him. It's possible to sneak up on and kill or knock out all of those troops before the meeting. Do this and the villain begrudgingly says, "You win this round, Denton."
- Final Fantasy XIV: At the end of the Endwalker expansion pack, after he's helped you defeat the Endsinger, Zenos will ask you to finally give him that rematch he's been after since you killed him back in Stormblood, point out that you are at heart still the adventurer you started as, and that you love seeking out strong foes to fight for its own sake just like he does. One of the responses you can give to all this is to just admit that the speaker has you pegged — say "That, I can't deny", and give a bloodthirsty grin. Zenos is extremely pleased if you pick this option.
- Mortal Kombat 11:
- One possible intro between D'Vorah and the Terminator has D'Vorah point out that Skynet or Legion can coexist with the Kytinn, but the Terminator rebukes this by stating "insectoids are a greater threat than humans." D'Vorah's response: "Clever boy."
- Another intro has Noob Saibot give backtalk a deposed Shao Kahn, who takes it surprisingly well given that he responds with grudging acknowledgement of Noob's wit rather than his usual threatening bluster.
Shao Kahn: Serve me and conquer realms!
Noob Saibot: Name one realm you control.
Shao Kahn: Sharp tongue for a dead man. - Johnny Cage and Kung Lao's intro, in a Call-Back to Mortal Kombat 9.
Johnny Cage: What has Liu Kang got that I haven't got?
Kung Lao: A personality not at all like sanding paper?
Johnny Cage: Ouch.
- Sly Cooper:
- In Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, Sly saves Carmelita from gang members and Bentley points out that, by doing so, she's now around to be a constant thorn in their schemes. Sly tries to brush it off, but concedes the point when Bentley points out exactly why Sly saved her:
Bentley: I hope you realize that by saving Carmelita, we're only making our operation here more difficult.
Sly Cooper: Maybe so, but what's the fun in stealing if there's nobody trying to catch you? Besides, she's helped us out in the past.
Bentley: That, and you've got a thing for her.
(Beat)
Sly Cooper: And I've a got thing for her. - And in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, while the Cooper Gang needs a special device to communicate with Dmitri across time, The Grizz is simply able to use a specialized cell phone to communicate across time. Sly is envious, but only for a moment:
Sly Cooper: Bentley, why don't we have a phone like that to talk to Dimitri?
Bentley: You really want Dimitri calling you?
Sly Cooper: Good point. Forget I asked.
- In Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, Sly saves Carmelita from gang members and Bentley points out that, by doing so, she's now around to be a constant thorn in their schemes. Sly tries to brush it off, but concedes the point when Bentley points out exactly why Sly saved her:
Visual Novels
- The Judge does this in "Bridge to the Turnabout" in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations, after Phoenix uses his own words against the Judge in response to the latter insisting that Phoenix ask Maya (who's on the witness stand) about Godot's presence at the Inner Temple, instead of asking Godot himself.
Phoenix: "Something you heard from someone else isn't admissible as testimony". Your words, Your Honor.
Judge: ...Touche, Mr. Wright.
Web Animation
- In Dorkly Originals, a skit for Zombies Ate My Neighbors has the teen questioning the NPCs actions while a Zombie Apocalypse is occurring, until he encounters a guy swimming in his pool.
Teen: Hey Pool Idiot!
Pool Guy: What?
Teen: Why are you lounging in the middle of a zombie attack?
Pool Guy: Well why are you wearing 3D glasses?
[Beat]
Teen: Touche Pool Idiot... Touche. - In Homestar Runner Goes for the Gold, Strong Bad reads from an old story book and is doubtful when it says that The Sneak crippled Mr. Bland (one of Homestar's teammates), saying that "That Old-Timey rat thing's not gonna cripple anybody!". One Big Ball of Violence later, Bland is on the ground in a heap and Strong Bad responds "Whoa-ho-ho! Touché."
- In RWBY, when the girls are going on a week-long field study, Professor Oobleck tells Ruby to leave her giant backpack behind since he already packed the essentials. When they get to the airport, he tells the team that out in the field they need to obey his instructions exactly... and then he notices Ruby still has her backpacknote . When he asks why she brought it, she responds "You hadn't told us to obey your orders yet, so I didn't". After thinking about it for a second, Oobleck concedes "She's not wrong".
- Helluva Boss: "Spring Broken" reveals that Blitzo used to date the famous succubus popstar Verosika Mayday, to everyone's shock. When Millie slyly asks him what it was like to have sex with her, her husband Moxxie acts outraged... Only for Millie to then irritably point out that Moxxie would like to know what it's like to have sex with Michael Crawford (Who has played the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Moxxie's favorite musical), to which he concedes her point.note
Webcomics
- Buck Godot Zapgun For Hire: Der Rock's reaction when he finds out Buck really did get him the genuine MacGuffin back, and he, believing it fake, just used it to call the servant of one very pissed off Sufficiently Advanced Alien he stole it from originally was to simply pay Buck for a job well done, while offering an apology for doubting his professional standards. And swear eternal vengeance for this.
- In Exterminatus Now Silas constantly gets attempts on his life from his second-in-command. Not only does Silas expect this, he already undoes most of what the second-in-command was going to do when it's revealed. The usurper takes it rather gracefully, all things considered, shaking hands with Silas and complimenting him on his foresight. Of course, Silas still kills him, but at least they were polite about it.
- Jupiter-Men:
- Quintin wonders how Arrio, who is partly Hispanic, is failing an "easy" subject like Spanish. Arrio asks how Quintin is failing social studies. Quintin mutters touché and drops the subject.
- In Episode 50, Arrio is about to relax and play video games in his room when he's spooked by Jackie appearing out of nowhere. Arrio asks if she's ever heard of a front door. Jackie points out that Arrio frequently climbs into her room through her window, to which he mutters touché and asks what she wants.
- Homestuck: Dirk gets this pulled on him by his Auto-Responder, basically a digital copy of his own (younger) brain installed into a pair of sunglasses to respond to instant message chat when he can't.
Dirk: It's also obvious because you're me, and I'm sure I would be constantly fucking with my own head if I were you.
AR: Touché. Or should I say douché?
Dirk: You shouldn't say the former, and you should definitely, never, under any circumstance, say the latter. - Lola and Mr. Wrinkles: When Lola realizes that Mr. Wrinkles has sent Hugo off running with the end of her leash in his mouth, she manages a resigned "Well played." before getting yanked out of sight.
- In Questionable Content, after Dora's dad accidentally has a TMI moment with Marten, Marten's comeback leads to this.
- Tales of the Questor: The Junior Questors, attempting to distract a suspected cultist, have knocked on his door claiming to be selling cookies. When he points out, among other flaws in the claim, that it's the middle of the night, they respond that they caught him at home. After an Aside Glance, he gives up and asks if they've got any macaroons.
- Twin Dragons: Happens often.
- In Chapter 2:
Benji: I have my own vacuum cleaner next to my bed, who even has that?
Kaya: Other doggy hybrids?
Benji: Touché.- In Chapter 7:
Benji: Where would the dinosaurs be?
Kai: Can't you sniff them out?
Benji: Why don't you fly up and take a look, Dragonboy?
Kai: Touché.- In Chapter 8:
Dr. Fern: You're pulling my leg, aren't you?
Kaya: Ahahahaha! Yup! But it's only fair since you're pulling my ear.
Dr. Fern: ...Touché.
Web Original
- When The Angry Video Game Nerd is playing Indiana Jones on Atari he is utterly baffled by how surprisingly obtuse and hard to figure out the gameplay is he complains the only chance you'd have at winning is if you actually thought and felt like Indiana Jones... and then realizes what he said:
Nerd: Wow. How complicated can it be for an Atari game? Let alone that this is one of the few Atari games that you can actually beat, whereas most of them are just about tryin' to get a high score. And when I say it can be beat, that's hypothetical, because honestly, I think it'd be easier to find the real lost Ark. Just the fact that you have to feel around for secret passage ways and stuff, it makes you feel like Indiana Jones. Well, they got me there.
- In the Christmas Episode of Dragon Ball Z Abridged, Turles mocks Goku by forcing him to fight Gohan turned Great Ape, until Goku immediately cuts off Gohan's tail and restores him, earning a "well played" response from Turles.
- A Running Gag in Naruto: The Abridged Series.
- Iruka, as the first person in the series to say it, gets irritated whenever other characters use it.
- Bob (Homura) asked Gladys (Koharu) if he could be the Hokage. When told he couldn't, he put on a disguise and asked again.
Gladys: Dammit, Bob, that's just you with a fake mustache!
Bob: Touché, Gladys. Touché.
- The Wiiviewer said this after he tried to argue he couldn't compare Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, as they were different genres, and his sons pointed out he compared a racing game with a platformer game.
- In the Star Wars episode III parody trailer: A Lost Hope, Vader quips to Mace Windu:
Vader: I thought you'd be better.
Windu: I thought you'd be taller.
Vader: ...Touché! - In this Team Service Announcement, both the Spy and the Engineer react rather gracefully when they realise they've been bested by the other.
- In Taco-Man episode "McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure", this conversation happen:
Taco-Man: You know I never understood why you guys hang out with someone who actually steals your products.
Donald McRonald: Well you put videos on a channel that steals your money.
Taco-Man: ...Touché! - A variant on reddit: R/AngryUpvote, a collection of responses that earn the soul-searing ire and grudging respect of redditors.
- In an episode of Counter Monkey, Spoony relates a story about a Dungeons & Dragons game where he played a half-orc thief. The party's wizard incredulously asked how anyone that big and hard-to-miss could possibly be a thief; Spoony responded by conking him on the head and taking the money off his unconscious body. The wizard's player laughed and conceded the point.
- When JonTron is playing Clock Tower: The First Fear, he throws some shade at Scissorman for acting childish and immature by hiding behind the drapes to ambush the player, but quickly concedes the point because Scissorman actually is a young child:
Jon: Wouldn't it be funny if someone were like hiding behind the drapes like it was a horror movie or something— ALLRIGHT!!! Really?! There?! Scissorman what are you, like fucking seven?! Actually I think you are seven aren't you? Alright, checks out.
- When Mangs is facing wolf_71 in an Advance Wars By Web tournament match, he makes a couple of outright devastating wins such as getting both Comms Towers and securing 4 extra properties. This means he, as Hawke, has a crippling +30% attack and 4000 extra money per turn, which basically means his victory is a foregone conclusion. wolf_71's only hope, as Von Bolt, is to begin hurling units at Mangs' in a desperate attempt to get enough charge to activate Ex Machina, which could cripple Mangs' troops enough to go for an HQ capture. After hurling everything he had, though, he only managed to charge his super power meter to 9.5 / 10. He then sends this private message to Mangs, and yields next turn:
Well, shit. So close.
Western Animation
- In the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien episode "Perplexahedron", Azmuth contacts Ben and his team to reprimand them for failing to stop Aggregor from gathering 3 out of the 4 pieces of the Map of Infinity and reminds them of the dire consequences if Aggregor reaches the Forge of Creation. Ben isn't interested in hearing any of it because it's not helping them find Aggregor and his words are thus not important. Azmuth looks like he's about to argue, only to end up conceding Ben's point:
Azmuth: Tennyson!
Ben: Hmm?
Azmuth: Pay attention, this is important!
Ben: No it isn't. You're yelling at us and telling us how stupid we are. That's not helping us find Aggregor, so it's not important.
Azmuth: (livid) Ben Tennyson, you are... (relents) absolutely correct.
Kevin: He is?
Gwen: He is. - Dragons: Riders of Berk: Astrid is having trouble finding a gift for Hiccup, who at that point in the series, is the Viking who has everything. Fishlegs tries helping her, but...
Fishlegs: Who knows Hiccup better than I do?
Astrid: (annoyed) Me.
Fishlegs: Good point. - In the The Fairly Oddparents episode "Hex Games", Timmy challenges Vicky to a skateboarding challenge in order to dethrone her as de facto queen of the skate park, and wins. Vicky goes back on her end of the wager, however, and says there's a greater chance of a kid falling from space and plowing her into the ground. Francis proceeds to do exactly that, having launched himself from the biggest ramp in the park at the beginning of the episode, prompting Vicky to give up the crown without a fuss.
- In the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Keep Calm And Flutter On", Fluttershy has been appointed to reform Discord. She reveals that she knew he was lying to her and attempting to manipulate her the whole time, and after he has apparently stabbed her in the back, she walks off, declaring that they're no longer friends.
Discord: You think you can boss Discord around? You think I'm going to turn all this back because you say so? Because if I don't, I'll lose the one friend I ever had? (long, reflective pause) Well played, Fluttershy. Well played.
- The Simpsons:
- In "E-I-E-I-D'oh", Homer goes to a movie theater lobby for some snacks and gets into an argument with the concessioner.
Squeaky Voiced Teen: I'm sorry, but we're not supposed to put butter on the Milk Duds.
Homer: You're not supposed to go to the bathroom without washing your hands either.
Squeaky Voiced Teen: (beat) Touché. - In "Maximum Homerdrive", Homer has taken on a deceased trucker's final delivery and Bart jumps into the cab to come along.
Homer: Don't you have school?
Bart: Don't you have work?
Homer: Ah, touché. (starts the truck)
- In "E-I-E-I-D'oh", Homer goes to a movie theater lobby for some snacks and gets into an argument with the concessioner.
- Star Wars Rebels: In "Through Imperial Eyes", Ezra and Kallus have snuck into Grand Admiral Thrawn's office, and Ezra tells Chopper to transmit the Chimaera's access codes to Kanan and Rex. Kallus protests that it'll be recognized as a rebel transmission.
Ezra: Yeah, but it'll be detected as having come from Thrawn's office.
Kallus: Good point. - Uttered verbatim by Clark Kent in The Batman/Superman Movie (aka the "World's Finest" multi-parter in Superman: The Animated Series) when he finds a Bat-tracker on his cape after he changes back to Clark Kent to go to bed. As he'd earlier discovered Batman is Bruce Wayne using X-Ray Vision, he now looks out his window and sees Batman some distance away looking at Clark through some binoculars. Batman gives a little wave and departs. Clark can only mutter "Touché" as he breaks the tracker.
- In one episode of Phineas and Ferb where Perry disappears, due to being transferred to a new villain, a guilty Candace, thinking it was her fault because she threw him out at night, went searching for him, and spots what she thinks is his tail, but it turns out to belong to a woman's pet beaver.
Candace: You have a pet beaver?
Woman: You have a pet platypus.
Candace: Touche. - In the Merrie Melodies short Compressed Hare, Wile E. Coyote uses a vacuum cleaner to try to suck Bugs Bunny up out of Bugs's rabbit hole. After he gets back to his cave, Wile E. looks in the vacuum bag to discover that Bugs planted a rabbit-shaped decoy — made of lit sticks of dynamite. Coyote, knowing he's about to get blown up, chuckles approvingly and says, "Well, well. The boy has talent!"
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- During "The King of Omashu", when Sokka refers to the eponymous king as old:
Bumi: Who are you calling old? [Beat] Okay, I am old.
- Azula and Long Feng fight... and Azula wins. Long Feng simply reacts to her victory with a Touche-equivalent, and acknowledgement of her as a Worthy Opponent. She then points out he is not her Worthy Opponent.
Long Feng: (bows) You have beaten me at my own game.
Azula: Don't flatter yourself. You were never even a player. - Azula earns one from Toph after telling a obvious lie right in front of her without setting off the latter's Living Lie Detector abilities.
- During "The King of Omashu", when Sokka refers to the eponymous king as old:
- The Secret Saturdays: After getting sent to the Shadow World in "Paris Is Melting", Zak gets captured by the Mondays, but successfully talks them into an Enemy Mine against Zak Monday following this exchange.
Drew Monday: And why should we trust you?
Zak: Would you trust Zak Monday?
Drew Monday: Not a chance.
Zak: Well there you go.
Beat
Doc Monday: Bad copy...good point. - In Batman: The Animated Series episode "Almost Got 'Im", Harley Quinn tries to escape Batman by giving him a Sadistic Choice: either save Catwoman who is strapped to a Conveyor Belt of Doom, or chase after her. Batman simply kills power to the conveyor belt and continues to stare her down.
Harley: Good call. Help!
