History Main / DesperateObjectCatch

* In the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Discworld/SoulMusic'', Susan tosses the lifetimer of one of the Assassins towards him, sending him diving desperately to catch it because he'd die if it shattered.

** In ''Discworld/{{Mort}}'', while Mort is dueling with Death, several lifetimers are knocked off the shelves and Ysabell and Cutwell rush to catch them before they break. Thanks to their quick reflexes, the five people to whom the lifetimers belong are miraculously saved from falling to their deaths.
** In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', Vimes dives to catch Errol the swamp dragon when the big dragon knocks the smaller one out of the air. It's only ''after'' he's got Errol in his arms, volatile multiple stomachs rumbling alarmingly, that Lady Sybil tells him that the swamp dragon would've exploded on impact.
** In the fiction portion of ''Discworld/TheScienceOfDiscworld I'', a startled Rincewind reflexively hurls the glass globe containing Roundworld's universe into the air when the Bursar pops out of thin air near him. Lucky for us, his DivingSave safely intercepts it a few inches shy of the hard stone floor.

Sometimes PlayedForLaughs by having a character catch a ''non-essential'' falling object with [[MundaneMadeAwesome just as much drama]] as if the situation were life and death, even if all that's at risk is a nice clean floor. Occasionally subverted when the thrown object turns out to be harmless, as when DrillSergeantNasty tosses a dud grenade at trainees to watch how they react.

-->'''Shrek:''' Nice catch, Donkey.\\
'''Puss:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Finally, a good use for your mouth]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:'' This happens a few times in the Volume 7 episode ''Ace Ops'' with very volatile explosive Dust. Each member of the titular Ace Ops catches at least one, with Ruby bearing out Harriet's SuperSpeed to catch the last piece.

* In "Darkly Through A Glass Of Ale", a short story set in the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms, one of several treacherous spies threatens to drop a glass sphere containing smoke powder and an ignition chemical, thus blowing up himself and everyone else in the tavern. When a third party disrupts the stalemate and everyone involved in the confrontation starts killing each other, the spy is shot in the head and a guard captain on the scene frantically snatches the incendiary device out of the air. Then ''he'' drops it because his gloves are slippery, but another participant in the brawl strikes his knees from behind, causing his feet to shoot out from under him, so the explosive sphere lands in his lap, undamaged.

* In "Darkly Through A Glass Of Ale", a short story set in the TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms, one of several treacherous spies threatens to drop a glass sphere containing smoke powder and an ignition chemical, thus blowing up himself and everyone else in the tavern. When a third party disrupts the stalemate and everyone involved in the confrontation starts killing each other, the spy is shot in the head and a guard captain on the scene frantically snatches it out of the air. Then ''he'' drops it because his gloves are slippery, but another participant in the brawl strikes his knees from behind, causing his feet to shoot out from under him, so the explosive sphere lands in his lap, undamaged.

* At the climax of ''Film/SuicideSquad'', Harley scoops up Deadshot's pistol and throws it to him, allowing him to set off the explosive device which Croc hurled into Enchantress's WorldWreckingWave-generator.

* In ''[[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Unnatural Acts]]'', a villain threatens to smash a jar containing a highly-volatile captive soul unless the heroes back off. When another character jumps the villain from behind, the jar falls and Dan dives to intercept it, letting it land safely on his own body rather than the concrete floor.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier "On your left!"]]]]

* In Creator/SimonRGreen's ''Beyond the Blue Moon'', an assassin/sorcerer under powerful magical protection takes the infant king hostage and demands that the Queen Regent trade her life for the boy's. The Queen's father tosses a protective amulet of his own for his royal daughter to catch, and its power lets her bypass the assassin's shielding spells and cut his throat to save her child.

* In Creator/SimonRGreen's ''Beyond the Blue Moon'', an assassin/sorcerer under powerful magical protection takes the infant king hostage and demands that the Queen Regent trade her life for the boy's. The Queen's father tosses a protective amulet of his own to the Queen, and it lets her bypass the assassin's shielding spells and cut his throat to save her child.

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