One Liner - Television Tropes & Idioms

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One Liner

Kat: Now say something witty to the Enigmarons and finish the mission!
Antimony: Do I have to?

— Gunnerkrigg Court

"Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!"

Neville Flynn , Snakes On A Plane

Any line of dialogue which demonstrates remarkable wit and composure for someone in that particular situation. Whereas a normal person would freak out upon finding (for example) a pack of dogs mauling a dead lawyer, the main character gives a wry smirk and says, "Well, I always said the legal profession was going to the dogs," thereby proving that they're Just That Cool.

Differs from a Catch Phrase in that repetition is a key component of the Catch Phrase. The One Liner is typically used once and never again.

Tropes:

Bond One Liner
Just after killing someone.
Facing The Bullets One Liner
Just before a Bolivian Army Ending.
Grissom One Liner
Used to segue into a commercial break.
Incoming Ham
When a character enters the scene.
One Liner Echo
When it is reinforced by immediate repetition by others (non-immediate repetition by the same character elevates it to a Catch Phrase).
One Liner, Name... One Liner
When it is addressed to a character and then repeated by the original speaker.
Pre Ass Kicking One Liner
Just before a fight.
Pre Mortem One Liner
Delivered just before the killing blow; in other words, used to end fights.
Schiff One Liner
Used to end an episode in a rather dark way.
Wham Line
Why Cant You Say Good Night
Delivered after Slipping A Mickey but before the victim departs from consciousness.