History Main / OuthumblingEachOther

** Taken to even more extreme levels in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E9NonCompeteClause "Non-Compete Clause"]] when after Applejack and Rainbow Dash become to competitive with each other, they switch to becoming overly agreeable to the other's ideas for every decision to prove they're better at teamwork.

When this happens expect lots of PassiveAggressiveCombat. May also involve a GiftOfTheMagiPlot if the two characters are arguing over who should get the other their gift. Compare with the AbileneParadox, where characters try to let the other have their way, and wind up choosing something that neither side wants. It can also take the form of dueling ComplimentFishing ("No, you're really good, much better than me!"). Compare MoreHeroThanThou, OverlyPolitePals, PolitenessJudo. SisterTrope to MiseryPoker.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', the episode "Trade Ya!" features Applejack and Rarity each wanting to trade all their shared barter goods for an item the other thinks is frivolous. They then shift to demanding the trade that's done should be the one the other wants, to prove they're the better friend.

* ''Lightnovel/DateALive'': The competitive "splinters"/twins Kaguya and Yuzura call each other out on arrogance and get violent again instead of waiting on the "duel" outcome when they find out that they both have secretly asked Shidou to actually choose ''the other one of the two'' as the winner (Shidou is agreed to be [[FinalBattle the tie-breaking]] judge as well as the target of novel-for-the-two duel in womanly charms). The said winner is to get to solely inherit the Yamai spirit identity and keep on living while the loser is to cease to exist.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

-->Gwendolyn: Here's some champagne to thank you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for the champagne you sent me.

* ''VideoGame/MyStory'' has a story arc where Margaret and Felicia got double-booked at the same wedding venue and date, ''twice''. They then argue that the other deserves the wedding more and try to back out of their own reservation, to the point that the organizer gets tired of their antics and cancels both reservations. [[spoiler:The grooms eventually settle this by organizing a double wedding for both at the venue of their first reservation (which was previously destroyed by an unrelated event).]]

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* In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', this is the correct way to negotiate with Shin merchants. In one scene, a Shin livestock merchant keeps telling his trading partner how dirt cheap he got the chickens he's selling and expresses awe at the Thaylen merchant's unmined metal[[note]]Shin consider breaking rock to be blasphemy[[/note]], while the Thaylen tells him that the chickens are a lucrative niche product and the metal was basically classroom detritus produced by [[AlchemyIsMagic Soulcaster]] apprentices practicing.

* In ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', Eleanor and Chidi find a bottle of champagne and decide to drink it, but feel bad about stealing it until they read the attached note:
-->Gwendolyn: Here's some champagne to thank you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for thanking you for thanking me for the champagne you sent me.

* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': After an argument between Sheldon & Howard over a parking spot, Howard comes over to apologize and let Sheldon have the spot. Sheldon, annoyed Howard is trying to be the bigger man, decides to let him have it instead and demands Howard acknowledge him as the bigger man.

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', Elliot and Ashley [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-237 argue]] by putting themselves down and praising the other.

* In the ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' episode "MLK Jr. vs. Mahatma Gandhi", they try to out-forgive each other.

* On ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', one of the fights between Peter and the Chicken was over who would pick up the check after the Chicken and his wife take Peter out for dinner in an attempt to bury the hatchet because Peter refused to let the Chicken pay for everything.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', the episode "Trade Ya!" features Applejack and Rarity each wanting to trade all their shared barter goods for an item the other thinks is frivolous. They then shift to demanding the trade that's done should be the one the other wants, to prove they're the better friend.

* In ''Film/BigBirdInJapan'', when Big Bird meets the grandparents of the Shimizu family, they take turns bowing formally to each other, each bow deeper than the last to show increased [[JapaneseHumility respect and humility]]. Big Bird concludes by falling flat on his face! Everyone breaks up laughing and the father remarks, "I wish my daughters could bow as well as you!"

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', the episode "Trade Ya!" features Applejack and Rarity each wanting to trade all their barter goods for an item the other thinks is frivolous. They then shift to demanding the other do the trade they want to prove they're the better friend.