Tempting Fate - Television Tropes & Idioms

Ten seconds later, they were abducted by aliens.

Sokka: The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?
Toph: You make it too easy!

— Avatar: The Last Airbender

Brad: What's Next, God? Huh? Bring it on! I can take it! BRING-IT-ON!!!
SFX: Fwashoom!

of Fur Will Fly, illustrating why it is a bad idea to goad the Almighty

There are some things a person should probably never say, even in jest. The many, many times a character in a movie or TV show does, they're Tempting Fate. Like the old phrase: "Speak Of The Devil", a person seemingly brings something upon himself or herself by mentioning it out loud.

Classic Fate-Tempting phrases (and consequences):

"It could be worse!" — Yes, and it will, after somebody asks how.
"Things can't get any worse!" — Things get worse.
- "Things can't get any better!" — Right before they do, or get worse. Not used as much as the above but still sees occasional use.
"Nothing can go wrong!" — go wrong... go wrong... go wrong...
"What could possibly go wrong?" — Not just "go wrong" but "Go Horribly Wrong".
- "What's the worst that could happen?" — Well, this, for one.
"Nothing can stop us now." — Cue the Big Damn Heroes.
- "Nothing can save us now." — Same result, but you'll likely want it to happen; cue the Deus Ex Machina.
"No one could survive that." — Could and did, especially since you haven't bothered to check for the body.
"We did it!" — Saying that after successfully smacking a powerful villain with a strong projectile attack means he survived and will proceed to kick your sorry ass in the following seconds.
- Or worse, defeating the bait villain, only to have the real villain and his henchmen walk out from the shadows and proceed to do the same.
- Or even worse...
- Or that.
- Or still worse.
"It's finally over." — Except for the Big Bad emerging from the wreckage of his base and probably growing some new appendages.
"Who would be stupid enough..." — Whoever you're talking to. Alternately used to summon The Ditz.
"Whatever you do, don't look down." — They will look down. Blame Forbidden Fruit.
"Nothing exciting ever happens here." — Hope your hometown has Hero Insurance.
"I'll be right back." — No you won't. Especially if you're in a horror movie. The slasher, Monster, or Army of Zombies say otherwise.
- Unless you phrase it "I'll be back."
"This cannot be!" — Oh yes it can.
[Anything said sarcastically.] — "You thought I was serious?! I Was Just Joking!"
"There's no such thing as vampires/ghosts/two-headed mummy robozombies/etc." — So sorry, hope you had life insurance. No prizes for guessing what will kill you.
- Alternatively, it might not be fatal, but you'll have one serious adventure trying to survive.
"X is such a loser!" — Expect X to kick your butt, and most likely throw in an Ironic Echo for good measure.
"So far, so good" — And about to get so very, very bad.
"That was a piece of cake!" — The cake is a lie.
[Calling a cruise ship "Titanic" or any relevant play-on-words thereof.] — That's just asking for trouble.
- [Anything that can be a lead-in to a Monty Python joke.] — Same deal. You better expect the Spanish (Imperial, Mobian, etc.) Inquisition.
"It's quiet. TOO quiet." — Don't worry, it's about to get noisy. And painfully so.
- This is a rather interesting example, as the phrase displays a certain amount of Genre Savviness while still tempting fate.
"No problem, I'll just use my <convenient_device> to get out of this mess..." — It's out of gas.
"No one has ever escaped from The Alcatraz." — Somebody has or will do so shortly.
- Sometimes twice for good measure.
Alternatively, no one has ever broken into The Alcatraz for a rescue mission.
"I am invincible!" — Death usually follows instantaneously.
- Similarly: "Soon, I shall be invincible!" — Their suffering will live on eternally.
"It's probably nothing." — Prepare to get your face chewed off.
- "It's just the wind." It wasn't just the wind.
- "You're seeing things." Guess what? They weren't.
"I wonder what's in the attic/basement/coffin?" — You really don't want to know.
"I wonder what's in this mysterious box?" — Either something very good or very bad.
"I wonder what this button does...?" — It makes things go horribly awry.
"She'd never betray me!" — She's doing the hero/villain right now.
"You're not so tough!" — He is that tough and more.
"Your punches are weak." — You are already dead.
"I hope I get to see my wife/kids again." — You mean your widow/orphans.
"I don't ever want to leave!" — *evil smile* We're so glad you think so. We hope you enjoy your permanent stay.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" — You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into.
"I could only fail on a natural 1." Gee, tough luck with those dice...
- "Anything but a 20..." (uses teleport power and ends up spot-welded to the lunar surface)
"You And What Army?" ... Oh, that army.
- Alternatively, "I don't need one."
"<The hero> missed!" — This comes in ~~two~~ three flavors:
1) Actually, no. He didn't.
2) Then how do you explain that? (cue the clean Diagonal Cut or fatal gunshot wound)
3) Look behind you!
"How hard can it be?" — DON'T SAY THAT!
- Alternatively...
"Maybe this won't be so bad..." — No, it'll be terrible.
"Youre Nothing Without Your Phlebotinum" — Turns out they are something, and you're about to get owned.
"That Insignificant Little Blue Planet shall soon be ours/cease to exist!" — "What's that Police Box doing in there?"
"I could use some good news." — He doesn't have any for you.
"It's like a dream come true!" — The dream will become a nightmare.
"Oh, did you ever see such a cute critter?" — It's a Killer Rabbit.
"Whew! I made it back to base!" — All Your Base Are Belong To Us.
"Seems like everything happened according to the plan." — You better have a handy Plan B ready in 3, 2, 1...
"I don't believe they exist." — They do.
- "I never believed in Santa Claus" — Now you believe in other things.
"(Insert stream of things a character isn't supposed to hear.)" — Yes, they are standing right behind you.
"Macbe— name of thing which must not be named" — Summons whatever you named, and it's usually not happy to see you.
Any time a sports commentator says something along the lines of "There's no way he'll miss this shot." — He will.
- "I can't miss." — You will, quite possibly for the worse. And that's if you have ammo and something doesn't stop you.
"You can't defend yourself forever." — Cue your butt being kicked. Way to stereotype your opponent.
"At least it isn't raining/snowing/hailing/etc." — Cue extreme version of the weather referenced, with a thunderclap, if appropriate.
"I can't believe I'm finally retiring after 50 years on the force." — Your coffin has already been prepared.
"What are the chances of X happening?" — 100% now that you've asked.
"No one comes around here, let's skinny-dip!" — Prepare for a Naked First Impression, or worse. Always Female.
"You won't shoot..." — Anyone order More Dakka?
"Candle Jack" — Expect your next sentence to be unfin...
"I deserve a break." — Hey, was that an earthquake? Wait, where'd you go? And what's that hole doing where you were standing a second ago?
"Nobody will ever know/see us." — At least two people is guaranteed to see you, and least one of them will be carrying a camera.
"Last time they <insert term for mobilizing soldiers> this many <insert term for unit type> was during <insert notorious historical conflict>." — That feeling things could get worse? You have no idea...
"You have beaten me once, but this time..." —The first time you was just casually swatted aside, now you will be properly steamrolled.
1) The first time the walking powerhouse just passed by and didn't want to be distracted, this time the challenger interrupted the meal and is going to be met with the full attention.
2) The repeated encounter only proves the challenger is not easily shooed away, so the powerhouse is going to make more than token effort just to get rid of the bothersome insect.
3) The challenger really have an extra tactical advantage this time. Enough to be reclassified from "annoyance" to "threat" and dealt with accordingly.

Afterwards, the fateful words may be followed up by a Genre Savvy friend saying You Just Had To Say It!

But sometimes, fate is tempted in a less direct way. In anime, for example, many a misadventure is prefaced by an Ordinary High School Student's complaint about how boring or ordinary his life is. Often leads right into Little Did I Know, if he happens to be the narrator. Also quite common is a kidnapping or other separation of two loved ones being prefaced by one telling the other something to the effect of, "I don't know what I'd do without you." or "I wish you would just... disappear!". Likewise, a desire for something exciting to happen (common in both Eastern and Western entertainment) usually means you should Be Careful What You Wish For, because Finagles Law is very much a Literal Genie. Then again, a little curiosity can be a very eventful thing.

See also Smite Me Oh Mighty Smiter, in which the character stops tempting fate and starts double-dog daring it. Also see Gilligan Cut and Ironic Echo Cut which are similar. Not related to Fate Testarossa or Tertium Fate Averruncus, even though tempting them might be a similarly bad idea.