History Main / SustainedMisunderstanding

* 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, she turns to think he may be the Angel of Death.

** 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=20180514 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?"

'''Goofy:''' ''...G-G-Ghost?!'' ''(runs away screaming through the walls of the building)''\\

* Happened one time in ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' with Mickey asking bystanders about Donald.
-->'''Mickey:''' I'll give you a hint: "sailor shirt".\\
'''Goofy:''' Uh, Do-Do-Do...Mickey Mouse?\\

-->'''Butters:''' And so then...And so then, it turns out that Terminator secretly had a kid ten years ago, meaning Terminator could be his own father, and then [[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 Skeletor]] gets angry and wants to fight him.\\

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In the episode "How the Griffin Stole Christmas", when Santa Claus confronts Peter for abusing his role as a MallSanta and soiling his image.

** In "Dog Gone", the wordplay with Peter and PETA produces some hilarious results:
--->'''Brian''': See, I thought I'd start locally, and then maybe try to merge with one of the larger groups.\\
'''Lois''': That's a great idea, Brian! Maybe you could join PETA!\\
'''Peter''': Join me for what?\\
'''Lois''': No, PETA, the organization.\\
'''Peter''': What organization?\\
'''Lois''': PETA.\\
'''Peter''': What?\\
'''Lois''': "PETA" is an acronym, Peter.\\
'''Peter''': No, I'm not, I'm Catholic!\\
'''Stewie''': Are we really doing this?\\
'''Lois''': No, Peter, I'm just saying, maybe if this meeting goes well, Brian could be part of a PETA rally.\\
'''Peter''': Somebody is having a rally for me now?\\
'''Lois''': No, for PETA!\\
'''Peter''': That's me! I'm Peter!\\
'''Lois''': I'm not talking about you, Peter, I'm talking about PETA!\\
'''Peter''': Somebody better have something to say to me pretty damn soon, or I'm gonna have something to say to them! I'm very busy!\\
'''Chris''': I think Betty White is in PETA.\\
'''Peter''': '''That doesn't even make any sense!'''

'''Stimpy:''' A memorial? ''(gasp)'' I didn't know Santy Claus was...''dead''. ''(cries hysterically)''

* The song "Space Invaders" by "Hit'n'Hide" is about a GenkiGirl who somehow encounters an alien and starts pestering him with stuff like cheerfully asking him about his spaceship. At first the alien just tries to casually brush her off by dull and passively aggressive confirmation of everything she rants about. But she keeps on nagging on him and he breaks it to her that in fact he and the other aliens downright hate humans and are going to enslave them.

* This happens in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', when Donkey first sees Princess Fiona [[spoiler: in her ogre form.]]

'''Nala:''' I can't believe it...he's gone back!\\
'''Timon:''' Gone back? Whaddaya mean? Hey...what's goin' on here? Who's the monkey!?\\

* In ''WesternAnimation/MickeysTwiceUponAChristmas'', when Santa tells his reindeer that the dog "Murray" that they adopted is really Pluto.

'''Donkey:''' Oh my God, you ''ate the Princess!'' (to her stomach) CAN YOU HEAR ME?! LISTEN, KEEP BREATHING! I'LL GET 'CHA OUTTA THERE!

** In "Marge vs. the Minorail", Marge speaks to Homer, who is on a runaway monorail, and brings a scientist from North Haverbrook up to help him shut it down.

* ''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;

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

'''Sideshow Bob:''' ''[[ActuallyIAmHim

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

'''Sideshow Bob:''' ''I'm'' Wes Doobner!\\

* ''Machinima/MeleesEnd'' uses this when a CloudcuckooLander tries to have a conversation with a [[TheDitz Ditz]], and two (relatively) normal guys get caught in the wake:

* ''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.]]
* ''Manga/IBelongToTheBaddestGirlAtSchool'': The whole series runs on this. [[JapaneseDelinquents Toramaru]] thinks that she asked Unoki to be her boyfriend near the beginning of the year, and that they've been a couple for a while. Unoki, who has been bullied for all his life and has literally never had a positive relationship with anyone outside of his family, thinks she asked him to be her personal errand boy, not helped by the fact that a lot of what she says can be misinterpreted[[note]]Asking him to be her boyfriend by simply saying "Be mine", referring to him as her "thing" and her "property" when she means boyfriend[[/note]] or is an extremely odd thing to say[[note]]Asking him what type of grave he would like (for the two of them), telling him that the reason she made him a lunch box is because she can't let him die yet[[/note]]. Toramaru's self-proclaimed second-in-command, [[PsychoLesbian Matsuri,]] thinks Toramaru wants Unoki to replace her despite him being a wimp. And then there's [[OnlySaneMan Yutaka,]] Matsuri's best friend, who is the only one who realises what's going on.
* This is the premise of ''LightNovel/TheEminenceInShadow''. The rest of Shadow Garden thinks that Cid is their all-knowing and 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 are just his former playmates humoring him.

->'''Mr. Dondelinger''': All right, here are your exams. 50 questions, true or false.\\
'''Homer''': True.\\
'''Dondelinger''': Homer, I was just describing the test.\\
'''Homer''': True.\\
'''Teacher''': Look, Homer, just take the test. You'll do fine.\\
'''Homer''': False.
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "The Front"

--->'''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)\\
'''Prince George''': I must say I'm getting a bit confused myself. Which one of us is Wellington?\\
'''Blackadder''': No sir, Wellington is the man at the door.\\
'''Prince George''': And the porpoise?\\
'''Blackadder''': [[ServileSnarker Hasn't turned up yet. We'll just have to manage the best we can without him.]]

--->'''Blackadder''' (The day after he executed Lord Farrow): Perhaps you'd like to slip into something more comfortable?\\
'''Lady Farrow''': No, for there is a great pain in my heart.\\
'''Blackadder''': It's probably indigestion, I'll soon take your mind off that.\\
'''Lady Farrow''': No, it is my husband.\\
'''Blackadder''': Your husband's got indigestion? Well, he won't be bothering us then!\\
'''Lady Farrow''': No, he dies tomorrow.\\
'''Blackadder''': Come now, you can't die of indigestion, you're overdramatising.\\
'''Lady Farrow''': He is to be executed at your order. I am Lady Farrow.\\
'''Blackadder''': ''[Silent OhCrap]''
** And another example from the second series, where Blackadder decides to make his letters more threatening by [[CouldntFindAPen writing them in blood]] - Baldrick's blood.

'''Baldrick:''' Oh well my lord, I am your bondsman and must obey. ''(Gets his knife, [[GroinAttack holds the waistband of his trousers open]])''\\
'''Blackadder:''' Oh for God's sake, Baldrick, I meant a little prick on your finger!\\
'''Baldrick:''' ''(looking at his finger, sounding worried)'' I haven't got one there!

-->'''Emily''': You were on the phone?\\
'''Richard''': Long distance.\\
'''Lorelai''': God?\\
'''Richard''': London.\\
'''Lorelai''': God lives in London?\\
'''Richard''': My mother lives in London.\\
'''Lorelai''': Your mother is God?\\
'''Richard''': Lorelai...\\
'''Lorelai''': So God ''is'' a woman.\\
'''Richard''': Lorelai.\\
'''Lorelai''': ''And'' a relative. That's so cool. I'm gonna totally ask for favors.\\
'''Richard''': Make her stop.\\
'''Rory''': Oh, that I could.
* The opening skit of the 2006 Emmys found host Conan O'Brien 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 "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 conebone69, was by far the creepiest.\\
'''Conan O'Brien''': Look ... (''chuckles nervously'') ... you think ... this is very easy to explain.\\
'''Chris Hansen''': Explain it then.\\
''Conan dashes out of the house.''
* On ''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K]]'', 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]].

-->'''First, there is a huge table.''' (Chavo imagines [[LiteralMinded a real table with tablecloth included.]])\\
'''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]]\\
'''The goal of the game is to take down the most pins possible.''' (Imagines Don Ramón bludgeoning the pines into submission.)
* The ''Series/{{MASH}}'' episode "Bug Out" has a scene where Col. Potter and B.J. attempt to commandeer a hut for a new M*A*S*H site, only to discover that it's already being used as a brothel. Then Frank Burns shows up:
-->'''Frank:''' (''seeing the women'') Who are they? Are there people living here?\\

'''Potter:''' (''irritatedly'') Tarts!\\
'''Frank:''' (''excitedly'') Tarts?!! Peach? Raspberry?

-->'''Wiley''': You can call me The Coyote.\\
'''Cho''': No.\\
'''Wiley''': That's what they called me downstairs. I'm not sure why.\\
'''Cho''': Your name's Wiley.\\
'''Wiley''': Yeah.\\
'''Cho''': Wile E. Coyote? Roadrunner? The cartoon?\\
'''Wiley''': No, I think it's German. (''to passing agent'') Hey, do you know Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner?\\
'''Agent''': Sure. Two sex traffickers in the Southwest.\\
'''Wiley''': They made a ''cartoon'' about ''sex traffickers?''

-->'''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.

-->'''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.

* After they discovered Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH's roster would be available for ''[[Wrestling/RingOfHonor Super Card Of Honor VII]]'', QT Marshall sent [[Wrestling/ArchibaldPeck RD Evans]] to get him a TagTeam partner against Ta'Darius Thomas and ACH. Problem was, Marshall didn't start making requests until after Evans had arrived and everyone he requested, over the phone, was on the Wrestling/{{New Japan|ProWrestling}} roster, and thus unavailable. Ironically [[Wrestling/KarlAnderson the only wrestler who ended up making it to the event]] was a New Japan guy.

[[folder: Puppet Shows]]

-->'''Sam''': Look, there's a passenger on board he mustn't bump into.\\
'''Dev''': Oh, right. It's a woman, yeah?\\
'''Sam''': It is, but...\\
'''Dev''': Sordid one night stand, he didn't realise she'd be on the same train in the morning?\\
'''Sam''': Absolutely not that.\\
'''Dev''': The dirty old dog. How could I refuse?\\
'''Sam''': Dev, Dev! It's his stepsister.\\
'''Dev''': He had a one night stand with his ''stepsister''? Are you serious?\\
'''Sam''': No, Dev! It's just some kind of family issue.\\
'''Dev''': You can say that again!

-->'''Player''': The old man thinks he's in love with his daughter.\\
'''Ros''': [[ParentalIncest Good God! We're out of our depth here!]]\\
'''Player''': No, ''he'' hasn't got a daughter; the old man thinks he's in love with ''his'' daughter!\\
'''Ros''': The old man is?\\
'''Player''': Hamlet ... in love ... with the old man's daughter ... the old man thinks.
* ''{{Theatre/Twisted}}'': Prince Achmed's army is unable to process that Prince Achmed did ''not'' have sex with a tiger, and continuously refer to him as Tigerfucker... [[MemeticBadass as a badge of honor]], to Achmed's chagrin.

* 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, she turns to thing 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 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.

Related to BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine, ChainOfCorrections, ComicallyMissingThePoint, TheoryTunnelvision, TheyJustDontGetIt and WhosOnFirst.

-->'''Kay: What do you think?

-->(''[[DopeSlap Wadsworth and Col. Mustard smack him]]'')

* ''[[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 [[BiggusDickus 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.

** And another example from the second series, where Blackadder decides to make his letters more threatening by [[CouldntFindAPen writing them in blood]] - Baldric's blood.
--->'''Baldric:''' Will you be wanting me to cut anything off? An arm or a leg?\\

'''Baldric:''' Oh well my lord, I am your bondsman and must obey. ''(Gets his knife, [[GroinAttack holds the waistband of his trousers open]])''\\
'''Blackadder:''' Oh for God's sake, Baldric, I meant a little prick on your finger!\\
'''Baldric:''' ''(looking at his finger, sounding worried)'' I haven't got one there!

'''Dav''': You can say that again!

'''Sam''': It is, but...\