History Main / Gasp

* ''WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland'' has an very recycled sound used by the contestants, it has been used in the entire series.

* Chiaki Konaka ''loves'' this one very, very much. Watch ''Anime/SerialExperimentsLain, ''Anime/{{Texhnolyze}}'' and ''Anime/GhostHound'' in case of doubt.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Nothing says "Drama!" like gasping it, often preceded by a nicely dramatic [[DoubleTake double-take]]. Originally came from {{Theater}}, since people far away had to see how terrified the actors were. Then used in silent films for similar reasons. There was an interview once with an old actress, who says that they gave her lessons on how to scream, and that they were taught to deliberately over-act, and always raise their hands up in half made fists to cover their mouth.

A SubTrope of {{Melodrama}}.

%% * All of the ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' films.

* In the episode, "Decision 3012", Bender gasps so hard, that he inhales Leela's ponytail.

%% * ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''.

!!Straight Examples:

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Cordelia does this during her spoofing of the RomanticHyperbole of Buffy/Angel.

* Done {{Narm}}ingly in ''Literature/{{Discworld}} Noir''. The film noir-ish protagonist Lewton is usually pretty hard-boiled and cool, but when he meets Death in person, he gives an enormous gasp, with the overacted line, "You're DEATH!" What's even funnier is that the character onscreen isn't animated any differently than usual, so it's all in the voice acting. Unfortunately, unlike most things Discworld, this is likely ''not'' meant as parody and is just a case of bad acting.

* Happens with regularity in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'', almost [[OncePerEpisode Once Per Chapter.]] It starts becoming rather funny hearing the whole cast "GASP" when some huge plot revelation is dropped... which is frequent.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel II'', this is the only reaction [[TheHero Rean]] can muster when he finds out that the EvilChancellor Giliath Osborne, who is [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky one of the scariest]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure political figures]] in all of Western Zemuria, is [[spoiler:[[LukeIAmYourFather his biological father]].]]

* In ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'' has Kat gasping with an extra JawDrop [[http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=784 when she realizes that she just saw]] her old arch-enemy Hilary affably hanging out with her roommate.
* Captain Kirk does this in ''Webcomic/PlanetOfHats'' when damning video evidence is shown to him during his [[http://www.mezzacotta.net/planetofhats/episodes/0020.html court martial.]]

%% * ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear''
%% * ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones''
* Used in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', which stick out like sore thumbs, compared to the rest of those series.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsAdventureInWonderland'', Alice gasps when she is told about the Princess test.
* In the DVD commentaries, the creators joke that ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' has more gasps per episode than any other show ever.
** Lampshaded in one episode when after repeated shocking statements, one man faints. A doctor rushes to his side and announces "This man has over-gasped!"

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' is ''very'' fond of this, with usually all the students doing this at least once per episode.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' is rather fond of these, either individually or in groups. It's particularly common when contestants are surprised at an elimination.
** The TDA episode ''Oceans Eight Or Nine'' parodies this by showing overdramatic GASP shots of Beth, Lindsay, Justin and then Lindsay ''again'', followed by a ShrugTake from Duncan.
*** The TDWT finale uses exactly the same format (list of "GASPS!" and then a ShrugTake), although the characters who perform the actions are different. The character who performs the ShrugTake ([[DeadpanSnarker Noah]]) had been revealed to already be aware of the "shocking revelation" nine episodes earlier.
* ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh'': Tigger does this a lot, [[SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud literally saying it.]] Only it comes out "[[VerbalTic GATHP!]]"
* Rob Paulsen deserves a trophy for this trope, whether playing Pinky, Yakko, or nearly anyone else.
* Definitely used many times on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' from various characters.
%% * ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales''.
%% * ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls''.
%% * The ''FranchiseSonicTheHedgehog'' shows.
%% * The ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBros'' shows.
%% * ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong''.
%% * ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}''.

----
!!Non-Straight Examples:

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* One issue of ''ComicBook/GrooTheWanderer'' has a large crowd perform a ''COLLECTIVE GASP!''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' parodied this, during a series of strips where Calvin floats away with his helium balloon, it pops and he figures it must be a dream. To try and wake up, he looks down toward the ground and "GASP!"s repeatedly. It doesn't work.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In episode 3 of ''WebVideo/RoseOfVersaillesAbridged'', Maria Theresa ended her lesson on "Amp up the drama" with a shot of Oscar gasping.
* ''WebVideo/AvatarTheAbridgedSeries'': "Le Gasp! I must flee, sexily."
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
-->'''Joey:''' It is implied that I am punching you!\\
'''Téa:''' Gasp!\\
'''Tristan:''' Hey, no fair! You can't punch me while I'm off-screen!
* ''WebVideo/CodeMENT'': "Audible gasp!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In the eighth ''Literature/CaptainUnderpants'' book, George and Harold audibly gasp when they see their {{Evil Twin}}s hypnotizing Crackers and Sulu. This alerts Evil George and Evil Harold to their presence, who order their hypnotized slaves to catch the "gaspers".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Spoofed on ''Series/WillAndGrace'', when Grace snooped in Leo's bag and found a romantic letter from another woman, but wants to pretend to be shocked when he finds it:
-->'''Grace:''' But then he'll know I snooped. No, he's got to find this on his own. And I've got to be there when he reads it so I can act all shocked about it. Ooh, I know what I'll do. I'll do this. ''(does three quick gasps)'' No, too big. Maybe ''(gasps twice)'' Maybe just one. ''(does a long and wildly exaggerated gasp, with slow-mo facial expressions)''\\
'''Will:''' ''[{{beat}}]'' Grace, do you work? Or do you just spend the day practicing your reactions? ''(Grace gives him an offended, open-mouthed look)'' Thought so.
* Frank does this repeatedly in an episode of ''Series/TheAdventuresOfLanoAndWoodley''. After the third or fourth, Col tells him to stop it because there's a risk of him fainting. Frank gasps and faints. Then when he comes around, he asks what happened. Col tells him that he fainted. Guess what happens.
* {{Lampshaded}} on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' when Monica admits to an amateur cooking class that she's a professional chef. The whole class let out a theatrical GASP and Monica tells them to stop it. "This isn't a courtroom drama!"
* Used in the ''WebVideo/{{Smosh}}'' franchise.
* In the ''Series/ShaneDawson'' franchise.
* During an ''Series/AllThat'' sketch where a member of the "Cheese Police" visits the school, he finds [[GRatedDrug cheese]] in Ms. Fingerly's purse.
-->'''Students:''' Gasp!
* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Cordelia does this when spoofing the Buffy/Angel romance in "Fredless". And she actually does say gasp.
* ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'': Leslie expects this reaction in "[[Recap/ParksAndRecreationS05E15 Correspondents' Lunch]]" when she announces at a press conference that the ''Pawnee Sun'' has been hacking her emails. Unfortunately for her, no one at the press conference reacts this way.
* When Doctor Series/{{Becker}} is sued for malpractice by a patient who suffered a heart attack while exercising under his advice, the plaintiff's lawyer asks him to identify Becker. When Vinny points at Becker, the jury gasps dramatically, much to his confusion. "Oh, come on! Who didn't know that already?"
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/ImSorryIllReadThatAgain'' had characters saying 'gasp' pretty often. The most notable example is probably when the entire cast, upon being told that their in-universe radio station is being closed down, react with "''SHOCKED GASP!''"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* Parodied in ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'', when Pennywise reveals that [[spoiler:Hope is her daughter]], the poor react with a "Gasp." When she follows it up with the fact that [[spoiler: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment she is Hope's mother]]]], the poor give a much more dramatic, "''GASP!''"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'': Oh, Jade Curtiss, you [[DeadpanSnarker never disappoint:]]
-->'''Jade:''' ''GASP!''\\
'''Luke:''' What?! What is it?\\
'''Jade:''' It's a recipe we don't know yet!!
* A comically frequent mannerism of Toan throughout ''VideoGame/DarkCloud''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland'' has an very recycled sound used by the contestants, it has been used in the entire series.
* ''WebAnimation/TheDementedCartoonMovie'' takes this to its logical extreme, with everyone letting out a "gasp" before the white screen appears with a "GASP".
* Spelled out in ''WebAnimation/BonusStage'' episode Evil's New Groove.
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' uses a "GASP!" stock effect whenever a character declares they're going to do something daring (or [[MundaneMadeAwesome what they think is daring]].) A good example is [[http://homestarrunner.com/xmas08.html A Death-Defying Decemberween]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Elliot and Ashley both say [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-237 "gasp"]] during an argument with each other in response to the same comment said by the other person.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* In the ''WebVideo/CodeMENT'' abridged series, Lelouch says "Audible Gasp!" rather than gasping, when something shocking happens.
* In the ''Website/{{cracked}}.com'' webseries ''Agents Of Cracked'', Swaim actually says "Gasp!" at least once per episode.
-->'''Swaim:''' Gasp! The Chief!
%% * ''WebVisdeo/PotterPuppetPals''.
%% * This is also used in ''WebVideo/TheAnnoyingOrange'' franchise.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'':
** Parodied a couple of times, at one point which Timmy's dad yells, "'''GIGA.GASP!!!'''"
** In another episode Cosmo goes to a party and [[BlatantLies fabricates]] various achievements to impress the other guests. One of them is inventing air, which he claims the entire world must pay him royalties for every breath. Whenever the guests gasp, he tells them to pay up.
* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheOblongs'' where a crowd of people continually gasp until it's revealed it was just Mikey's (the ass kid) asthma.
* One of the episodes of ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'' features "gasp" as one of the words to look out for. To help show the definition of the word and make sure they could work in the word as much as possible, the characters engage in this the entire episode. It's done ''so'' much that it's taken to the point of an OverlyLongGag, and Tobey even gets fed-up at one point and shouts "Will you STOP doing that??" after the crowd gasps for the umpteenth time.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'', everyone gasps upon hearing that Mort had been kidnapped. Everyone, that is, except King Julien, who momentarily forgets who Mort is, then reassures them that "I too am gasping in horror, but on the inside."
* WesternAnimation/BugsBunny actually says "Gasp!" in the short "Falling Hare", after turning around to accost the gremlin who almost tricked him into setting off a bomb with a hammer, and finding that the gremlin has vanished.
* Spoofed and given bonus points (obviously) in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Imitation Krabs."
-->'''Mr. Krabs:''' ''[gasp]''\\
'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' ''[gasp]''\\
'''Penny:''' ''[gasp]''\\
'''Plankton:''' [[SayingSoundEffectsOutLoud Gasp!]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** In the first episode, this is Twilight Sparkle's (and the audience's) first impression of [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie]] [[GenkiGirl Pie]], followed by Pinkie running away. It [[BrickJoke later turns out]] that Pinkie had rushed off to prepare [[LifeOfTheParty a welcoming party for Twilight]].
** Early on, this was Twilight's reaction to Celestia's response to her message that she "simply must stop reading those dusty old books!".
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, "Decision 3012", Bender gasps so hard, that he inhales Leela's ponytail.
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow,'' when Daffy presents his own defense in court. Since his 'points' are terrible and the courtroom is almost empty, he has to provide his own dramatic 'Gasp!' twice.
* When Sonic is accused of a rash of thefts in ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'', the crowd behind him gasps dramatically so much, he tells them to cut it out.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/DogCity'' episode "Of Mutts and Mayors", when Mayor Bugsy takes Chief O'Gravy's police badge she gasps dramatically. When he takes Ace's detective license, Ace reacts similarly. When he takes their driving licenses, they both give an even wilder take. But when he takes their ''dramatic'' licenses, they very flatly say "Gasp."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Marge has a pretty distinctive gasp. In "Chief of Hearts", she gasps so hard, she inhales one of Maggie's blocks.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'' episode “[[Recap/ReadyJetGoS2E16SunspotsSunspotOurSunIsAStar Sunspot’s Sunspot]]", when Sunspot says [[spoiler: "No, thank you"]], all the kids do a dramatic gasp.
[[/folder]]

-->I gasped- there was a Dork Mark on his you-know-wut!11!
-->And den.......I gasped............. Draco wuz there doing it wif Snap!1111111111111111111111111
-->"Look motherfucker." he said angrily as Dumbeldore gasped (c is da toot of crakter).
-->And then... I began frenching Draco sexily. Loopin gasped.

* ''Jonah: A WesternAnimation/VeggieTales Movie''. Jonah, Khalil, and the Pirates all take turns at dramatic gasping when they see just what "The Slap of No Return" is, before all doing a simultaneous gasp.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action ]]

--> "They've gone on board," Shuckworth was shouting, "and they've taken in the bed... I mean the bomb."
--> The President sucked in his breath sharply. He also sucked in a large fly which happened to be passing at the time.

--> The burning sting was so terrific that all I could do was gasp. I gave a great gushing gasp that emptied my lungs of every breath of air that was in them.

--> '''Miss Cackle''': If I see you in trouble once more this term, I shall be forced to disqualify you from the school itself.
--> (Mildred gasps)
--> '''Miss Cackle''': Yes Mildred, I shall be forced to expel you if this reckless behaviour continues.

--> '''Hamomoru & Shingoh''': *gasp''!''*

* The eponymous [[Franchise/DisneyFairies Tinkerbell]] causes an entire group of fairies to gasp and recoil, hands rising to their faces in horror at Tink causing a stampede.

%% * ''{{Caillou}}''.

'''Will:''' ''[{{beat}}]'' Grace, do you work? Or do you just spend the day practising your reactions? ''(Grace gives him an offended, open-mouthed look)'' Thought so.

* ''WebAnimation/BattleforDreamIsland'' has an very recycled sound used by the contestants, it has been used in the entire series.

* In the ''[[Website/{{Cracked}} cracked.com]] webseries ''Agents Of Cracked'', Swaim actually says "Gasp!" at least once per episode.
--> '''Swaim:''' Gasp! The Chief!

--> '''Mr. Krabs:''' ''[gasp]''\\

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DogCity'' episode "Of Mutts and Mayors", when Mayor Bugsy takes Chief O'Gravy's police badge she gasps dramatically. When he takes Ace's detective licence, Ace reacts similarly. When he takes their driving licences, they both give an even wilder take. But when he takes their ''dramatic'' licences, they very flatly say "Gasp."

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', this is Twilight Sparkle's (and the audience's) first impression of [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Pinkie]] [[GenkiGirl Pie]], followed by Pinkie running away. It [[BrickJoke later turns out]] that Pinkie had rushed off to prepare [[LifeOfTheParty a welcoming party for Twilight]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'': Esmeralda gasps in horror when she realizes Quasi's face is NotAMask.

* ''WebAnimation/BattleforDreamIsland'' has an very reclyced sound used by the contestants, it has been used in the entire series.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel II'', this is the only reaction [[TheHero Rean]] can muster when he finds out that the EvilChancellor Giliath Osborne, who is [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky one of the scariest]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesZeroNoKiseki political figures]] in all of Western Zemuria, is [[spoiler:[[LukeIAmYourFather his biological father]].]]

%%* This happens ridiculously often in ''Fanfic/MyImmortal''.

* ''Creator/RoaldDahl'' describes his reaction to being caned.

%% * The ''Digimon'' series.

* Used ''quite'' a bit in ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità.]]''
* This happens ridiculously often in ''Fanfic/MyImmortal''.
* Also overused in ''Fanfic/StarkitsProphecy''.