History Main / ObviousObjectCouldBeAnything

* In one strip of ''Webcomic/{{Precocious}}'', Autumn pretends to be surprised at getting gift cards even though, as Tiffany points out, "You ordered us to get those for you, Autumn."

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'' gives an unusual example with Henry. He wears his school uniform as ''pajamas''. And when the protagonist points out that he is, in fact, wearing his school uniform, Henry explains why it makes sense to him to wear his school uniform as pajamas. Nobody else buys it.
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* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' has a few examples:

This is a trope played for comedy in which characters are incapable of ascertaining facts that are pretty obvious to normal folk. Another variation is that a more intelligent character responds to the gift sarcastically invoking this trope. In this case, odds are good that the gift in question will turn out to be something completely different from the implied shape. Either way, HilarityEnsues.

** Brian (who drinks a lot) receives a bottle-shaped package at Christmas and sarcastically wonders what it could be. Turns out it's a book.

* In ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Marik thinks that his snake-shaped present might contain the [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] figure he always wanted.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Harry is instructed not to open his broomstick shaped package in the Great Hall as the teachers don't want the other kids to notice and get jealous. In the movie, there is no note as the suggestion looks even more ridiculous when you can actually see the package. The broom in the book was in a box of some sort or wrapped ambiguously, not just wrapped in paper, since nobody in the Great Hall could tell what it was by sight -- Malfoy had to physically hold the package to know what it was. However, [[AdaptationInducedPlothole Harry still has the astonished "It's a broomstick!" reaction from the book, so while the movie qualifies for this trope, the book doesn't]].

** Peter and Lois have agreed to go to a meeting about timeshares for the sole purpose of receiving a free boat for going to the meeting. When they're about to accept the gift, the salesman suggests that they could take the MysteryBox instead of the boat, said mystery box being about the size of a shoebox. Peter excitedly demands the mystery box over Lois' protestations, exclaiming that it could be anything, even a boat! [[spoiler:It's not.]]

!Examples:

[[AC:Advertising]]

[[AC:AbridgedSeries]]
* In ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Marik thinks that his snake-shaped present might contain the [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Buzz Lightyear]] figure he always wanted.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Harry is instructed not to open his broomstick shaped package in the Great Hall as the teachers don't want the other kids to notice and get jealous. In the movie, there is no note as the suggestion looks even more ridiculous when you can actually see the package.
** He was possibly told to do this so no one would see the ''kind'' of broomstick he had received. Receiving a new broom through the mail probably isn't too unusual... getting a top-of-the-line broom is another story.
** The broom in the book was in a box of some sort or wrapped ambiguously, not just wrapped in paper, since nobody in the Great Hall could tell what it was by sight- Malfoy had to physically hold the package to know what it was. However, [[AdaptationInducedPlothole Harry still has the astonished "It's a broomstick!" reaction from the book, so while the movie qualifies for this trope, the book doesn't]].


[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* In the ChristmasEpisode of ''Series/HappyDays'' Ritchie's [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome brother Chuck]] (who is going to college on a basketball scholarship) gets a round object covered in paper.
-->'''Joanie:''' Here's a present from Richie to you. What do you think it is? ''bounces it to Chuck''
-->'''Chuck:''' Hey, watch it. ''shakes'' It might be something breakable.
* In one episode of ''Series/{{Community}}'', Troy points out that his present is an even bigger secret. His present is a remote control helicopter, with even the blades being individually wrapped.
* Tom does the sarcastic version in an episode of ''Series/BlueHeelers'' when he is looking over his granddaughter's Christmas presents, one of which is a toy giraffe that is so tightly wrapped that even the individual horns are distinguishable.
* ''Series/HorribleHistories'': In the "Scary Special", a deliveryman delivers what is obviously a scythe wrapped in brown paper. Death wonders what it could be, and when the deliveryman tells him it's a scythe, Death tells him off for ruining the surprise.
* Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s ''[[ChristmasSpecial Ho Ho Holiday Special]]'' has a sketch about a fake game show called ''Guess the Gift'', where you guess an item that's hidden behind gift-wrapping and you get to keep the present if you answered correctly. One contestant (played by Benjamin Flores Jr. of ''Series/GameShakers'') guesses two wrapped items that look like a guitar and a bike, but they turn out to be a bunch of rolled-up socks. [[RuleOfThree The third time around]], he sees what looks like a car and [[GenreSavvy guesses rolled-up socks]]. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Nope!]] It ''was'' a car!]]

[[AC:NewspaperComics]]

[[AC:PuppetShows]]
* A ''Series/SesameStreet'' skit has Kermit offer Cookie Monster a cookie if he can guess what's in the box. Cookie Monster shotguns off a long list of guesses, none of which could fit in the box.

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* In one strip of ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', Marten gets a large envelope from his mother. Faye [[AllGirlsLikePonies hopes it might be a pony]], and when it's pointed out that the envelope is far too small, she argues that it might be "A collapsible pony". (Turns out it's an embarrassing T-shirt.)
* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' has one xmas strip where Riff and Torg got each other their usual present, a beer. They open them and chug them, Torg remarks on how predictable they are, and Riff mentions that he actually got Torg habanero hot sauce.

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts: In ''Pluto's Party'', Pluto receives a present that looks like a giant bone. When he unwraps it and tries to take a bit out of it, he realizes it's really a red wagon.

* Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s ''[[ChristmasSpecial Ho Ho Holiday Special]]'' has a fake game show called ''Guess the Gift'', where you guess an item that's hidden behind gift-wrapping and you get to keep the present if you answered correctly. One contestant (played by Benjamin Flores Jr. of ''Series/GameShakers'') guesses two wrapped items that look like a guitar and a bike, but they turn out to be a bunch of rolled-up socks. [[RuleOfThree The third time around]], he sees what looks like a car and [[GenreSavvy guesses rolled-up socks]]. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Nope!]] It ''was'' a car!]]