History Main / TalkAboutThatThing

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Elan and Haley [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0740.html come up with an excuse]] that they have to "give their pet orangutan a bath" when they want to speak with Durkon. Tarquin [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow mistakes it]] for a SexualEuphemism. [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html Later]] Elan comes up with the excuse that they need to have sex instead.

Contrast with TakeFive, where the extra character is sent out of the room, and TalkAboutTheWeather, where they can't get away and use innocuous talk about the weather instead. If "that thing" is something like "where do babies come from", you'll be talking about in {{sexual euphemism}}s instead.

(Contrary to the title, these conversations rarely involve Franchise/{{Marvel|Universe}} SuperHero and Comicbook/FantasticFour member Ben Grimm, or a certain member of Series/TheAddamsFamily, or the creature from [[Film/TheThing1982 John Carpenter's classic horror film]], [[OverlyLongGag or the blue-haired troublemakers in]] Dr. Seuss' ''The Cat In The Hat''.)

A.K.A TakeYouAsideTalk: A type of RoomShuffle where a character wants to talk with another character in private, so comes up with some random excuse for the two of them to leave the room together, usually just stepping into a hallway or a bathroom or something for a minute or two.

* In ''{{Naruto}}'', after Sakura's injuries force her to stop pursuing Orochimaru, Yamato orders the team to stop because of Sakura's importance as TheMedic. He then tells Naruto to come with him, supposedly to discuss new strategies now that Sai, Naruto's partner for tactical purposes, has betrayed them. As soon as they're out of earshot, Yamato tells Naruto that he was responsible for injuring Sakura while under the fox's control, and that if he wants to rescue Sasuke, he must do so with his own power.

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* Used by Hermione in ''Literature/{{Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}'', as an excuse to get herself, Harry, and Ron out of the room before Mrs. Weasley blows up at Fred and George. Mrs. Weasley allows it... but goes for the block when Fred and George try to tag along.

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* ''Series/TheITCrowd'' - upon meeting Jen for the first time, Roy attempts to pretend that he and Moss were having a high-brow conversation about Tolstoy. Unfortunately, Moss isn't quite as sharp as Roy ("I don't remember this conversation at all!").
** (gets hit by thrown object) "Why are you giving me the secret signal to shut up?"
* ''Series/{{Bottom}}'': Richie wishes Eddie to join him in the pub toilets to purchase condoms. Eddie doesn't immediately follow along. So Richie's brilliant idea for alerting him is to shout "Edward Hitler, will you please join me in the lavatory ''this instant''!" - in front of everyone in the pub. Naturally, this has got everyone's attention, so Richie's brilliant excuse to explain his eagerness to see Eddie in the toilets? "We're toilet inspectors."
* ''Series/{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}'' overdoes this to the point of subversion, such as when Xander and Cordelia are looking for an excuse to go and make out.
-->'''Cordelia:''' ''(about someone no one else in the episode has registered as in danger)'' Well, his body could fall out of a closet somewhere. So we should check out some closets to see if he's in a closet?\\

-->'''Buffy''': We were gonna do that...thing.
-->'''Willow''': ...oh, right. That thing!
-->'''Xander''': Hey. We can do that thing ''anytime''. I'm ''tired'' of doing that thing! We're on!

* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': "Niles/Daphne/Dad, can you help me in the kitchen?"

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