History Main / SustainedMisunderstanding

* On ''Series/ANTFarm'', Lexi is unaware of a fellow cheerleader's birthday since she never received her invitation. When she stopped trying to find out why. Her DumbBlonde friend Paisley says she has to deliver an invitation to someone named " iX37" and assume its a robot. When Lexi sees the name, she realizes that Paisley had the envelope which says LEXI turned upside-down. When she tells Paisley its addressed to herself, Paisley replies, "I didn't know my best friend was a robot!"

Related to BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine, ChainOfCorrections, ComicallyMissingThePoint, TheoryTunnelvision, TheyJustDontGetIt and WhosOnFirst. Compare OneDialogueTwoConversations, where ''everybody'' is misunderstanding the point.

* The premises of the ''Manga/FairyTail'' fanfics ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/48229834/chapters/121627141 My Brother, the Devil]]'' and ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/18476011/chapters/43776895 My Brother's Not Normally a Psychopath, Promise!]]'' is that Natsu [[spoiler:remembers being raised by Zeref and Tartaros]]. In both, he tried explaining this to Makarov when he was seven, but Makarov concluded that the barely-literate child earnestly proclaiming the innocence of the darkest wizard in history was probably raised in a cult.

* In ''WebComic/ScarletLady'''s take on "Volpina", Lila believes that [[CelebrityLie claiming to be the superheroine's best friend]] will endear her to everyone. She's particularly certain that ''Adrien'' will find that impressive, when in reality, he absolutely ''despises'' [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Scarlet Lady]]. The only reason he's willing to spend any further time with Lila is because she stole an important book from him - something she isn't aware that he knows about.

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21872671 Exposed]]'': When Alya discovers Marinette's SecretIdentity, she publishes a video of her transforming into Ladybug on her blog without a single thought about how this will endanger her. One of her self-justifications when Marinette confronts her about it is that she won't have to "pretend" that she hates Lila anymore, rather than realizing that one of the reasons she dislikes Lila is how the other [[CelebrityLie lied about being Ladybug's "bestie"]].

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21872671 Exposed]]'': When Alya discovers Marinette's SecretIdentity, she publishes a video of her transforming into Ladybug on her blog without a single thought about how this will endanger her. One of her self-justifications when Marinette confronts her about it is that she won't have to "pretend" that she hates Lila anymore, rather than realizing that one of the reasons she dislikes Lila is how the other [[CelebrityLie lied about being Ladybug's "bestie"]].

* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
** Lars [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060501#.VeYdlXtxU7I tries to explain]] to the custodians of the AbsurdlySpaciousSewer that normal sewers do not contain {{giant spider}}s, [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent sewer serpents]], [[OurGhoulsAreCreepier ghouls]], [[TentacledTerror albino squid]], or [[RodentsOfUnusualSize giant glowing rats]], Their reaction: "So in these other sewers, what do the ''big'' monsters eat?" Justified in that Lars is contradicting a lifetime of ''very'' justified instincts in an ''equally'' justified environment - Sturmhalten Sewer Rats that ''don't'' worry about monsters of every shape and size get et. ''And Lars is in that "abnormal" sewer with them.'' He realizes this with the very next sentence;
--->'''Lars''': '''''WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!'''''
** As a sign of how messed-up Dr Vanoople's mind is, after his only reaction to seeing Queen Albia in GiantWoman mode is "Hello! You are a very big lady! Where do you buy your shoes?", and she shrinks down to human-size to converse properly, [[https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180511 he says]] "Now we're the same size! I must be a giant too!" He then spends a moment looking at an anthill and saying the people are as small as ants, before noticing Krosp and Agatha again, and asking "Are we ''all'' giants now? How is this ecologically sustainable?"

* ''Webcomic/MonsterOfTheWeek'': In the strip based on "[[Recap/TheXFilesMiniseriesE06MyStruggleII My Struggle II]]", when the Cigarette-Smoking Man [[http://www.shaenon.com/monsteroftheweek/2016/03/07/x-9/ pulls his nose off]], Mulder exclaims "You're a Muppet!" When CSM explains that he's actually been implanted with alien DNA, as has Scully, Fox's reaction is "Scully's a Muppet? Knew it!" And then when Scully explains they need to stop the plague by injecting people with her blood, he concludes "Turning ''everybody'' into Muppets!" [[SureLetsGoWithThat Scully gives up and agrees with him]].
* In a non-canon ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' NP [[https://www.elgoonishshive.com/egsnp/parable-103 strip]], [[ItMakesSenseInContext Susan goes to a video-game barber to get facial hair]]:
-->'''Susan''': You can really give me a beard?\\
'''{{NPC}}''': Of course! For ten gold a day, my associate Antonio will ''insist'' that [[TheBeard he's your boyfriend!]]\\
'''Susan''': What? ''No!'' Like, a beard on my ''face''.\\
'''NPC''': Sorry, Antonio doesn't actually swing that way.
* ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'': The "Jim, the Evil Brain Man" fiasco, in which some wires get crossed as Ed tries to explain Hijack and the morning's chaos to Isaac.
-->'''Ed:''' It's an evil brain, man! Controlling people's bodies! It was in Jeff and then attacked us all in gym!\\
'''Isaac:''' [[WhosOnFirst An evil brain man? In Jim?]] ...Who's Jim?!\\
'''Ed:''' Our gym! The only gym there is!\\
'''Isaac:''' Dude, there are at least six Jims in this school.\\
'''Ed:''' WHAT?! AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ALLOWED IT?!\\
'''Isaac:''' ...That's a weird prejudice but OK, let's go.\\
...\\
'''Isaac:''' You're Jim. ''The evil brain man.''\\
'''Hijack:''' [[FlatWhat what]]

* In [[https://notalwaysright.com/make-you-fall-off-your-chair/82145/ this]] ''Website/NotAlwaysRight'' story, the customer thinks the image on an [[https://www.usacoinbook.com/us-coins/2003-alabama-quarter.jpg Alabama quarter]] is of someone in an electric chair, and wonders why. When the cashier explains it's actually Helen Keller, the horrified customer asks why Helen Keller was given the electric chair.

* WebVideo/{{Kitboga}} is a scambaiter popular on Website/YouTube and Website/{{Twitch}}. This is the thrust of the gag in the scambaiting call "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOBZ7PpQI8 Do Not Cut The Cards]]." The scammer, Kristin, at one point tells Kitboga and guest streamer Veritas to go out and buy "four pieces of $500 Best Buy gift cards." This is a fairly common bit of scammer phrasing that arises from the fact that English is not their first language, but rather Hindi. (A native-English speaker would normally just say "four $500 Best Buy gift cards.") Veritas purposefully misunderstands this as cutting up the cards into four pieces and Kitboga's Dawn Dewitt (Granny Edna), supposedly his wife, latches on to this. They then milk the gag for all it's worth, pretending to go to the store and get the gift cards, then tell the scammer that they're cutting them up, that's like an infinite money hack. She goes ballistic, convinced that her payday is being cut up into little pieces.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball''

-->'''Master Shake''': ''[as Frylock gives money during an offering in Church]'' Where'd you get money?\\

'''Frylock''': ''[sighs; as Meatwad called a statue of Jesus Christ's crucifixion Santa]'' That ain't Santa Claus, okay? How many times do I gotta tell you that?\\

-->'''Kowalksi:''' [shows picture of Marlene and King Juilen] You there. Have you seen this otter and lemur?\\

'''Sideshow Bob:'''''[[ActuallyIAmHim I'm]]'' [[ActuallyIAmHim Wes Doobner!]]\\

* ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'':
** In "The Three Caballeros", during a ''Mouse on the Street'' segment in which Mickey has bystanders try to guess who the third Caballero (Donald) is.
--->'''Mickey:''' I'll give you a hint: "sailor shirt".\\
'''Goofy:''' Uh, Do-Do-Do... Mickey Mouse?\\
'''Mickey:''' ''I'm'' Mickey Mouse.\\
'''Goofy:''' Hey! You're not wearing a sailor shirt!
** In the short "Mickey's April Fools", Mickey fakes his death to prank Mortimer, and which leads to him having to prove to an executor that he's really ''the'' Mickey Mouse in order to claim an inheritance. In once scene, he brings Goofy to the office so he can vouch for him.
--->'''Mickey:''' Goofy, tell him who I am.\\
'''Goofy:''' Well, you used to be Mickey Mouse.\\
'''Mickey:''' See, I... What do you mean, ''used'' to?\\
'''Goofy:''' Didn't you see the newspaper, Mick? You're pushin' up daisies.\\
'''Mickey:''' How can I be pushin' up daisies when I'm standing here right in front of ya?\\
'''Goofy:''' ''...G-G-Ghost?!'' ''(runs away screaming through the walls of the building)''

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' with the Scotsman.
-->'''Scotsman''': So you think you're better than me, 'cause you're in a hurry. Well I'm in a hurry too! But no, you did not think of that did you. That I might be an equal. Nooo! You just consider yourself superior right off! You're rude!\\
'''Jack''': You mistake my comment, sir.\\
'''Scotsman''': Do I?! Ya think I'm dumb too?!
* In the second episode of ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'' when Greg saves Beatrice:
-->'''Beatrice''': I'm stuck. Help me out of here and I owe you a favor.\\
'''Greg''': WOOW. I get a wish?\\
'''Beatrice''': No no no. Not a wish, I'm not magical. I'll just do you a good turn.\\
'''Greg''': Can you turn me into a tiger?\\
'''Beatrice''': Umm...no. I just said I'm not magical.\\
'''Greg''': It doesn't have to be a magical tiger.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In "How the Griffin Stole Christmas", when Santa Claus confronts Peter for abusing his role as a MallSanta and soiling his image.
-->'''Santa:''' I'm the ''real'' Santa Claus.\\
'''Peter:''' Awesome! Okay, my first wish is for a thousand wishes. Yes!\\
'''Santa:''' That's not me. That's a genie.\\
'''Peter:''' Okay, then my first wish is for a genie.\\
'''Santa:''' Again, you'd need a genie. How wasted are you?\\
'''Peter:''' Don't judge me! You live in a bottle!\\
'''Santa:''' It's a lamp, and I'm not a genie!
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': In "An Abe Divided", Stimpy jumps onto the Lincoln Memorial, believing it to be Santa Claus.
-->'''Stimpy:''' And I want a bike, and a Betsy Wets-Herself doll, and a Cheesy Bake Oven, and a Puppy the Pup doll, and a jillion Army men, and a--''(Ren throws a scrub brush at him)''\\
'''Ren:''' Get down from there! That's not Santy Claus! It's a memorial!\\
'''Stimpy:''' A memorial? ''(gasp)'' I didn't know Santy Claus was... ''dead''. ''(cries hysterically)''
* In ''WesternAnimation/The7D'', Grim gets a letter from someone claiming to be his Aunt Gladys. When he decides to send a letter back Hildy tells him that he doesn't have an Aunt Gladys, which Grim takes as meaning that [[GenderBlenderName Gladys is his uncle]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'':
** In "100 Years a Solid Fool":
--->'''Bystander:''' He's covered in rhino poop!\\
'''Stan:''' No, it's supposed to be cocaine! Unless it's the uncut stuff? (dips his finger in the poop, then puts some in his mouth) Ew! Why do people like drugs?
** Happens repeatedly in "No Weddings and a Funeral" (always to Klaus, because no one really notices or cares what he's saying)
--->'''Klaus:''' I'm leaving. It's too late for apologies. Nothing could make it right. Not even acknowledging my existence in any way!\\
'''Steve:''' All right, Klaus. What's all this? You're selling lemonade?\\
'''Klaus:''' No, I'm leaving. I've never asked for anything but a little respect, and it's clear I'm never going to get it.\\
'''Stan:''' All right, I'll buy a lemonade.\\
'''Klaus:''' ARGH! I'm not selling lemonade! I'm leaving, forever!\\
'''Hayley:''' Should we stop him?\\
'''Roger:''' The lemonade guy?

'''Boss:''' ''[looking confused]'' The hell's physics got to do with this? That's like out there with Pluto.\\

'''Me:''' ''[realizing he meant Plato]'' That's philosophy.

* ''Manga/MyMonsterSecret'' has a particularly elaborate version in chapter 65, where a series of misunderstandings by multiple characters result in the cast believing that Akane is attempting to end the world because Ryou [[DisproportionateRetribution stole her candy.]]

<The Creator/{{NBC}} peacock appears> "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC."\\

* Creator/AbbottAndCostello: Aside from the famous WhosOnFirst routine, there was also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkbQDEXJy2k 13 times 7 = 28]], milking a cow ("You gotta go to the sauce [source]!" "Who wants sauce, I'm after milk! If I wanted sauce, I'd go pick apples!"), and a variety of others.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': In one comic, Lucy finds what appears to be a big yellow butterfly on the sidewalk. She tells Linus it must have flown all the way from Brazil.
-->'''Linus:''' This is no butterfly! This is a potato chip!\\
'''Lucy:''' Well, I'll be! So it is! I wonder how a potato chip got all the way up here from Brazil?

* In the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''Fanfic/{{Empire}}'' since no one bothers to explain to Harry what his classes are Harry assumes that Transfiguration is about transgenders and Defense Against the Dark Arts is an art class.

* ''Fanfic/Squad7AndTheirAccidentalInstructor'': The story [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8506661/1/ starts]] with Anko and Kakashi getting each other's assignments (demonstrating summons and teaching Team 7 respectively) due to poor communication. And since no one bothers to look into things or fully explain what's going on, the higher ups don't figure out something's wrong either. As a result, Kakashi thinks he has to train a group of eight-year-olds until they're Chunin and Sarutobi thinks Anko has taken to referring to herself in the third person when she talks about Team Anko, which results in Anko thinking Sarutobi has immense confidence in her as an instructor to let her take a Genin team on B-Rank missions. Others eventually get in the act with veteran shinobi thinking the whole situation is because Sarutobi is preparing for a coming conflict and they start training more themselves.

* Due to being from an alternate reality, Xander's actions in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12761489/2/A-brand-new-day A Brand New Day]]'' confuse some people. From his perspective, Xander's protecting his sorta-sister-in-law Tara without exposing that she's a lesbian by pretending to be her boyfriend when a jock hits on her. From everyone else's perspective, Xander and Tara are dating; even Tara and Willow (who ARE dating) are convinced that Xander's hopelessly in love with Tara and she's just never realized.
** Things are further complicated by Xander trying to nudge Willow and Tara together, not knowing they're already dating, while Willow and Tara try to figure out a way to let Xander down gently.
* The whole premise of the ''Franchise/StarWars'':''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' fic ''Fanfic/SiblingRevelry'', where, in [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5858012/1/Sibling-Revelry the first chapter]], Darth Vader finds out that [[ItWasHisSled Luke and Leia are his twin children]] and [[BrotherSisterIncest apparently in a relationship with each other]], and Luke and Leia's innocuous interactions, his intelligence division's findings, and even his own attempts to sabotage things only strengthen his misunderstanding. Things only escalate when Rogue Squadron starts playing along to mess with who they think is a Rebel stalker, but is actually one of Vader's moles.

* Nebula in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12980753/1/Been-There-Blown-That-Up Been There, Blown That Up]]'' is sent back in time along with Tony and turns against Thanos. She tries to hint at her plan to Gamora while fleeing but does a poor job, causing Gamora to think she's still loyal to Thanos. Similarly, Nebula thinks Gamora understands the plan, causing problems such as Nebula stealing the Power Stone and Gamora chasing her down, thinking she's taking it to Thanos.
** Similarly, Tony has trouble communicating with everyone because while he does do his best to explain everything in detail, the rest of the Avengers (present and future) are lost and too prideful to admit they don't understand what's going on.
* In the ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf[=/=]Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' story ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/40767/ Teineina Tenshi No Teze]]'', Ranma is undergoing the Marduk exams and is asked about any medical conditions he has by Ritsuko. When he tells her about his [[GenderBender curse]], this, his improvised clothing made from modifying [[SharingABody Rei's]] clothing, and his indignation during the physical leads her to believe he's a crossdresser. This misunderstanding seems to continue through the story as Ritsuko's report is submitted and filters through NERV's personnel.
* In ''WebComic/ScarletLady'''s take on "Volpina", Lila believes that [[CelebrityLie claiming to be the superheroine's best friend]] will endear her to everyone. She's particularly certain that ''Adrien'' will find that impressive, when in reality, he absolutely ''despises'' [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Scarlet Lady]]. The only reason he's willing to spend any further time with Lila is because she stole an important book from him - something she isn't aware that he knows about.
* In ''Fanfic/ConquestInTheNameOfAdvancement'', this happens during the ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'' arc when [[VideoGame/NierAutomata 2B and 9S]] meet a group of [[VideoGame/{{Warframe}} Tenno]] - the former two are dumbfounded to meet a group of humans, since the latter are supposed to be on the moon. The Tenno, who ironically come from one of the few settings where [[ItMakesSenseInContext such a remark would make sense]], state that they ''were'' on the moon, but had to leave, referencing the events of The Second Dream from ''Warframe''. This then gets cleared up by Commander Flame, though, due to [[ApocalypseHow the apocalyptic event happening around them]].
* In ''Fanfic/CursedBlood'', [[PlantHair Ibara]] [[TokenReligiousTeammate Shiozaki]] keeps thinking [[BadPowersGoodPeople Izuku]] [[TerrorHero Midoriya]] is some sort of otherworldly being. She begins thinking he's Satan (due to his power, which allows him to raise people from the dead); then, after he saves All Might from the League of Villains, she believes he is a FallenAngel; and, finally, after Izuku defeats her at the Sports Festival, she turns to think he may be the Angel of Death.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9051968/3/Harry-Potter-Unexpected-Animagus Harry Potter, Unexpected Animagus]]'' has a sustained lack of communication between Harry and his friends, due to his prior wielding of the Sword of Gryffindor, which his father often used [[ICallHimMisterHappy euphemistically]] in the past. This leads to a whole lot of funny and/or disturbing mental images for everyone but Harry, who is still thinking literally.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21872671 Exposed]]'': When Alya discovers Marinette is Ladybug, she publishes the video in the Ladyblog without a care for Marinette's safety, thinking that this means Marinette won't have to ''pretend'' hating Lila anymore - instead of realizing that maybe Marinette genuinely hates Lila and Lila lied to her about it.

'''Blitzen:''' ''[beat]'' Yes.

-->'''Luca:''' Yeah, how ya doin'? Let me have a pie with everything on it. Anchovies, meatballs, mushrooms...
-->'''Lino:''' ''Luca!''
-->'''Luca:''' Oh! Hi, boss! What are you doin' workin' in a pizza joint?
-->'''Lino:''' GET OFF THE PHONE!
-->'''Luca:''' But I'm hungry!
* This happens in ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'', when Donkey first sees Princess Fiona [[spoiler: in her ogre form.]]

* ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}'': Joe tries to explain to the people of the 26th century why they need to water plants with water and not sports drinks, but every rational explanation he gives them cause them more confusion. Eventually, the narration mentions that he gives up on logic and reason, and just tells them that he can talk to plants, and that the plants told him that they wanted water.
* From ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'': Uncle Henry pulls this with some deliberate ObfuscatingStupidity.
-->'''Uncle Henry''': Dorothy? Well, what has Dorothy done?\\
'''Miss Gulch''': What she's done? I'm all but lame from the bite on my leg!\\
'''Uncle Henry''': You mean she bit you?\\
'''Miss Gulch''': No, her dog!\\
'''Uncle Henry''': Oh, she bit her dog, eh?

'''Grant Taylor:''' [throws ball] Crazy.
* ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' takes this ball and runs around the stadium twice with it.
** This gem:
--->'''Dr. Rumack''': [[BreathlessNonSequitur How soon can you land?]]\\
'''Capt. Oveur''': I can't tell.\\
'''Dr. Rumack''': You can tell me, I'm a doctor.\\
'''Capt. Oveur''': No, I mean I'm just not sure!\\
'''Dr. Rumack''': Can't you take a guess?\\
'''Capt. Oveur''': Well, not for another two hours.\\
'''Dr. Rumack''': You can't take a guess for another two hours?
* Can be a staple of Gary King in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd''.
-->'''Steven''': We need to be able to differentiate between them, them, and us.\\
'''Peter''': Yeah, I think the pronouns are really confusing.\\
'''Gary''': I don't even know what a pronoun is.\\
'''Oliver''': Well, it's a word that can function by itself as a noun which refers to something else in the discourse.\\
'''Gary''': I don't get it.\\
'''Andrew''': You just used one.\\
'''Gary''': Did I?\\
'''Andrew''': "It", it's a pronoun.\\
'''Gary''': What is?\\
'''Andrew''': It!\\
'''Gary''': Is it?\\
'''Andrew''': Christ!

* ''Film/{{Airheads}}'': Chazz, Rex, and Pip are at a Rebel Radio-sponsored show where the main act, the Sons of Thunder, thanks Rebel Radio for playing their song on-air, which led to them getting signed to a record deal.
-->'''Rex:''' Look at them stupid pantaloons.
-->'''Chazz:''' That's what we gotta do.
-->'''Pip:''' Looks like they got a load in them pants.
-->'''Chazz:''' No, they played this song on the radio, and they got an album. That's what we gotta do.
* ''Film/{{Clue}}'': Happens during the second ending, as Mrs. Peacock is arrested as a murderer by Wadsworth, who's an undercover police officer.
-->'''Wadsworth:''' You see? Like the Mounties, we always get our man!
-->'''Mr. Green:''' Mrs. Peacock was a man?!
-->(''[[DopeSlap Wadsworth and Col. Mustard slap him]]'')
* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Agents Jay and Kay are at a morgue supervised by Dr. Laurel Weaver, [[BavarianFireDrill masquerading as public health officials in order to examine two recently-murdered aliens]].
-->'''Kay:''' What do you think?
-->'''Jay:''' Very interesting. She got a whole "queen of the undead" thing going on...
-->'''Kay:''' What about the body?
-->'''Jay:''' Great body...
-->'''Kay:''' The ''dead'' body.
-->'''Jay:''' Man, you have to look at that thing...

* In the episode ''[[Recap/ArrestedDevelopmentS1E12MartaComplex Marta Complex]]'' of ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'''s first season, the crux of the plot revolves around neither protagonist Michael nor his brother Gob knowing that "hermano" means "brother" in Spanish. They're dating the same girl , the titular Marta, and don't understand that they're looking for each other. They both think it's someone's name and keep getting pointed to random people's brothers.

* ''Series/RedDwarf'':
** From episode "Pete 1":
--->'''Lister:''' Nah, Kill Crazy's probably right. That's why houses under the flightpath are always so cheap.\\
'''Rimmer:''' Cos of all the flushing planes?\\
'''Lister:''' Yeah, well, think about it: you can't sunbathe, you can't have a barbecue, and every time you go out you've got to wear a washable hat and leg it to your car.\\
'''Rimmer:''' It's the noise. That's why houses under the flightpath are so cheap; because of the noise.\\
'''Lister:''' The noise?\\
'''Rimmer:''' Yeah.\\
'''Lister:''' They're half a mile up. You'd never be able to hear people on the loo from that distance. Not unless they were like my Uncle Dan.
** From the episode "Trojan":
--->'''Lister:''' Did you know, in the 1970s, in Sweden, twenty percent of all traffic accidents involved a moose?\\
'''Cat:''' A moose? Well, if they're stupid enough to let 'em drive, what the hell do they expect?\\
'''Lister:''' No... the moose aren't ''driving''...\\
'''Cat:''' You just said they were.\\
'''Lister:''' No, they're not driving, they're just causing the accidents.\\
'''Cat:''' You mean they're in the back, fooling around, distracting the driver? That's insane! Why're they giving them a lift in the first place? Let 'em walk, they've got legs!\\
'''Lister:''' No! The moose aren't in the car, with their antlers out the sun roof! They're on the roads, moosing around, crossing roads, and causing accidents.\\
'''Cat:''' You mean they're not looking left and right?\\
'''Lister:''' Exactly.\\
'''Cat:''' Not using the pedestrian crossing? Not paying attention to whether it's the little red man or the little green man? Of course they're not, ''they're mooses!'' Sheesh! These Swedes, they expect too much.

''[later]''\\

--->'''Blackadder:''' ''[the day after he executed Lord Farrow]'' Perhaps you'd like to slip into something more comfortable?\\

'''Blackadder:''' ''[silent OhCrap]''

'''Baldrick:''' Oh well my lord, I am your bondsman and must obey. ''[gets his knife, [[GroinAttack holds the waistband of his trousers open]]]''\\

'''Baldrick:''' ''[looking at his finger, sounding worried]'' I haven't got one there!
* In an episode of ''Series/MostExtremeEliminationChallenge'', Vic spends an entire contestant's run on the Dash to Death obstacle course trying to explain to Kenny that said contestant was on the Home Improvement team instead of the Adult Entertainment team.
-->'''Kenny:''' Am I missing something here?!\\
'''Vic:''' [[DistractingDisambiguation Well, thanks to you, Kenny, we pretty much missed the entire run!]]
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' had one moment where The Janitor accuses J.D. of taking 'it' after J.D. asked if he had lost something. As J.D. continues to deny taking anything, The Janitor tells him he'll leave his cart unattended and if 'it' should reappear on the cart, no further questions will be asked. J.D. tells him he doesn't even know what 'it' is, to which The Janitor replies, "Then why take it?"

* The opening skit of the 2006 Emmys found host Creator/ConanOBrien wandering into several TV shows. Towards the end, he walked into an empty house, only to find himself in the middle of an episode of ''[[Series/{{Dateline}} To Catch a Predator]]'', with every [[CassandraTruth (truthful)]] explanation that he gave sounding exactly like the lame excuses given by real predators and therefore only serving to make him look more guilty:
-->'''Chris Hansen:''' I'm Chris Hansen with ''Dateline NBC''.\\
'''Conan O'Brien:''' Oh, God. Okay, it's not what you think. I'm looking for the Emmys. I'm hosting.\\
'''Chris Hansen:''' Hosting? That's what you call this?\\
'''Conan O'Brien:''' Yes, it's my second time. ''[Conan had previously hosted the Emmys in 2002]''\\
'''Chris Hansen:''' So you've done this before?\\
'''Conan O'Brien:''' Yeah, I did it one time and I liked it and I thought maybe I should do it again.\\
'''Chris Hansen:''' ''[voiceover]'' Of all the predators I've met, this guy, screen name conebone[[Lol69 69]], was by far the creepiest.\\
'''Conan O'Brien:''' Look... ''[chuckles nervously]'' You think... This is very easy to explain.\\
'''Chris Hansen:''' Explain it, then.\\
''[[[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Conan dashes out of the house]]]''
* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'': In "[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E19InvasionOfTheNeptuneMen Invasion of the Neptune Men]]", Mike tells the 'bots, who are performing a kabuki play, how he prefers ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noh Noh]]'' theater. WhosOnFirst and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQp8LqxnLd4 hilarity ensues]].
* The entire plot of the Japanese drama ''Anna-san no Omame'' (a.k.a. ''The Best Friend of Beautiful Anna'') is based on this trope.
* In ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'', when Don Ramón tries to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTWvAuVTKs explain to El Chavo what bowling is]], and we see Chavo's ImagineSpot:
-->'''Don Ramón:''' First, there is a huge table.\\
''[Chavo imagines [[LiteralMinded a real table with tablecloth included]]]''\\
'''Don Ramón:''' At the end of this table, there are 10 pins.\\
''[Chavo imagines 10 trees at the end of the table]'' [[note]]The Spanish words for bowling pins and for pine trees are exactly the same, "pino".[[/note]]\\
'''Don Ramón:''' The goal of the game is to take down the most pins possible.\\
''[Chavo imagines Don Ramón bludgeoning the pines into submission]''

-->'''Frank:''' ''[seeing the women]'' Who are they? Are there people living here?\\

'''Potter:''' ''[irritated]'' Tarts!\\
'''Frank:''' ''[excitedly]'' Tarts?! Peach? Raspberry?
* A staple of the comedy on ''Series/GreenAcres'' is Oliver's constant inability to get his point across to virtually everyone he speaks to, including his own wife. ''{{Especially|Zoidberg}}'' his own wife.

'''Wiley:''' No, I think it's German. ''[to passing agent]'' Hey, do you know Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner?\\

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', [[TheStoic Robin Wood]] tends to [[RunningGag mix up details more than often]] This may have also been an attempt to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] Spike's increasingly convoluted backstory.
-->'''Buffy:''' The military put a chip in Spike's head so he couldn't hurt anyone.\\
'''Giles:''' And that would be the abridged version.\\
'''Buffy:''' But he wouldn't hurt anyone anymore because he has a soul now.\\
'''Giles:''' Unless the First triggers him again.\\
'''Robin:''' Triggers the chip?\\
'''Buffy''': No, the trigger's a post-hypnotic thing. The First put it in his head. It was... made him... He was killing again.\\
'''Robin:''' So, he has a trigger, a soul, and a chip?\\
'''Giles:''' Not anymore!\\
'''Buffy:''' It was killing him, Giles!\\
'''Robin:''' The trigger?\\
'''Buffy:''' No, the chip. The trigger's not active anymore.\\
'''Robin:''' Because the military gave him a soul? ''[{{Beat}}]'' Uh... sorry.
* In ''Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook''

* ''Fanfic/HowDoYouShootAGunWithHooves'': A RunningGag. Pinkie keeps calling [[Series/{{Castle}} Kate Beckett]] "Bucket", and misinterprets Kate every time she tries to correct her.

** Another has a man who finally has it explained to him that the man he thought was in love with him for the past forty years is in fact his butler, and the woman he thought was an incompetent maid is his wife.

** Another has a man who's quite upset to learn on his deathbed that the man he thought was his devoted husband for the past forty years is in fact his butler, and the woman he thought was an incompetent maid is his wife.

* ''Literature/TheEminenceInShadow'': The premise of the series. The rest of Shadow Garden thinks that Cid is their all-knowing, all-powerful leader who has everything in the palm of his hand. Cid thinks he's just engaging in his chuuni fantasies and the rest of Shadow Garden is just his former playmates humoring him.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* In one ''ComicStrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' anthology, Stephan Pastis wrote that Pig "is rather easy to write for. He just needs to misunderstand everything said to him, and then when it's explained to him, he needs to misunderstand that too." And indeed, it's one of Pig's most common gags. The strip he referenced had this exchange:
-->'''Pig:''' If this player can win a World Series, he'll finally get the donkey off his back.\\
'''Rat:''' Monkey.\\
'''Pig:''' Get the donkey off his monkey... That's one strong monkey.
* In ''ComicStrip/ShermansLagoon'', Sherman asks Ernest to explain ocean acidification:
-->'''Ernest:''' It affects shell-forming animals the worst.\\
'''Sherman:''' Like...?\\
'''Ernest:''' Like pteropods, for example.\\
'''Sherman:''' '''''The flying dinosaurs?'''''\\
'''Ernest:''' Snails.\\
'''Sherman:''' '''''It's causing snails to fly?'''''\\
'''Ernest:''' We're done here.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': In one comic, Lucy finds what appears to be a big yellow butterfly on the sidewalk. She tells Linus it must have flown all the way from Brazil.
-->'''Linus:''' This is no butterfly! This is a potato chip!\\
'''Lucy:''' Well, I'll be! So it is! I wonder how a potato chip got all the way up here from Brazil?
[[/folder]]

'''Star Fox:''' [[CatchPhrase I'm Star Fox.]]\\

* ''Literature/TheEminenceInShadow]]: The premise of the series. The rest of Shadow Garden thinks that Cid is their all-knowing, all-powerful leader who has everything in the palm of his hand. Cid thinks he's just engaging in his chuuni fantasies and the rest of Shadow Garden is just his former playmates humoring him.

* ''Literacture/TheEminenceInShadow]]: The premise of the series. The rest of Shadow Garden thinks that Cid is their all-knowing, all-powerful leader who has everything in the palm of his hand. Cid thinks he's just engaging in his chuuni fantasies and the rest of Shadow Garden is just his former playmates humoring him.