History Main / YouJustToldMe

* In [[https://web.archive.org/web/20161201230445/http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/2122072/nighthawks/ this]] ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'' episode, Mr. Mighty finds out about a planned crime. It works so well, he tries it again on the [[https://web.archive.org/web/20161219220719/http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/2122073/oops-i-did-it-again/ next page.]]

** All Aes Sedai are required to swear a magically binding oath to not speak any word that is not true. They literally choke up any time they are about to actually lie. (Though they are masters of [[FromACertainPointOfView distorting and twisting meanings]]).

* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', when Arcee has Starscream in her custody, she mentions how Airachnid offlined her partner. Starscream loudly complains about Airachnid "taking credit for that, too". When Arcee mentions she's talking about Tailgate, Starscream asks "who's Tailgate", tipping her off that it was he who terminated [[spoiler:Cliffjumper]]. Unusual for this trope, Arcee didn't have any suspicions toward Starscream until he said he didn't know who Tailgate was: she'd thought that [[spoiler: Cliffjumper]] was killed by some random Vehicons.
* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', Jasmine, suspecting "Prince Ali" to be Aladdin, idly mentions Aladdin's friend/pet Abu (whom "Ali" would not know about); Aladdin responds without thinking.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'': Annie Hughes is talking to junkyard owner Dean [=McCoppin=]. She mentions Hogarth (her son) sneaking out to the junkyard, and he asks if she knew about it, and she says "I do now."
* In ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures'', Pepper has a hunch that Tony Stark is Iron Man, so she confronts him about it and he casually asks how she figured it out. You just told me. Though in his defense she did give him some good reasons that he believed she already knew, she was practically just confirming it by this point.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'': In "Doug Gets His Wish", a [[{{Jerkass}} douchebag]] student named Willy claims his teacher is incompetent and tries to get her fired. In front of an assembly, Doug asks Willy questions about classic novels, [[ObfuscatingStupidity mangling the details along the way]]. Willy smugly corrects Doug at every turn... but Doug points out that he and Willy learned all of that stuff in the teacher's class, so she has to be decent at her job. Willy has no choice but to drop his suit.

The ploy used to force TheReveal can be an outright declaration that they know, a specific word/phrase, or (if the character is hiding their identity) a name or something spoken in the other character's native language. It can even be a non-verbal prompt, such as a familiar face, location, scent, etc. The point of the trope is that the mark is hiding something, and deceived tricks them into revealing it by acting as if he already knows the truth.

* In a tv promo for the ''Literature/HarrietTheSpy'' movie, Harriet talks about the importance of keeping a notebook and listing info about everything and everyone. Sport claims she doesn't have anything about him, only for Harriet to reveal that she knows how he's worn the same smelly socks for over a week. Sport then says, "I suppose you know about the underwear too." To which a stunned Harriet replies, "I do NOW!" And proceeds to start writing it down.

* In an episode of ''[[Anime/YuGiOhFirstAnimeSeries Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' series 0, a cop announces that a criminal has been tracked to the joint where Yugi and Jonouchi have gone for a burger, and their friends are working. The police sergeant says it might help that the crook is allergic to eggs; Anzu says (falsely) that he will be easy to catch, because the burger buns have lots of egg in them. At that, the crook freaks out and tries to bolt, despite having suffered no ill effects when he ate there the day before. It's PlayedWith in that the allergic crook is the one the police are searching for, but he isn't the actual culprit behind the crimes they think were his.

* Even Lelouch, TheChessmaster of ''Anime/CodeGeass'', is not immune to these.
-->'''Rivalz:''' [Lelouch]'s even holding a household account book...\\
'''Lelouch:''' How do you know about that?\\
'''Rivalz:''' Huh, you really do?
* ''Manga/CaseClosed'' used this early on, when Ran suspects (correctly) that Conan is really Shinichi, so she tests it by seeing how he responds when called by his real name. It works, and he falls for it again when she mentions one of their teachers, [[StatusQuoIsGod but he manages to throw her off anyway]].
* The Novelization adds one of these to ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED''. In the original series, when watching Kira fight, Andy quickly deduces that the Strike Gundam's pilot is a Coordinator. He later figures out that Kira is the pilot, most likely by watching his actions during a Blue Cosmos terrorist attack both are caught in. Realizing Kira is a both a Coordinator and not a native, and puts two and two together. He then confronts Kira in a scene which is played like he flat out ''knows'' what he is saying is true. In the novel, he suspects it (bases on his observations), but isn't quite sure, and uses one of these to confirm it.

* Used ''heroically'' in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''. The WildCard Kurt just finished a HannibalLecture, and made a sort of WeCanRuleTogether speech about saving "everyone," all 92 million of them--Negi then makes an educated, but still wild guess about what the disaster is, and Kurt, shocked, accidentally confirms it--and Negi points out that this confirmation has let loose the minor detail that Kurt's great plan for salvation is planning on abandoning 17/18ths of the planet.
* In ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'', Shizuka deduces from Akira's reaction to Sara and Elena that he's the one who saved them. She confirms her suspicions by bluffing to him about the bullet he left behind, exaggerating its effectiveness as an identification tool until he confesses to her. She then advises him to allow himself to trust good people like Sara and Elena, as a hunter needs friends to survive.
* Used by Maru in ''Manga/OtonaKeikenchi'' towards Seiji so he can learn more about his relationship with Yumeji and tease him relentlessly about it.

* In ''VisualNovel/OtobokuMaidensAreFallingForMe'', Sion started suspecting that Mizuho might be WholesomeCrossdresser pretty quickly, but she only confirmed it when - while passing Mizuho in the bathroom - she casually said "Your fly's undone." In Mizuho's defense, 'she' had only been acting like a girl for a few days by then. Later on, she gets so good at it that Sion actually forgets that 'she' is a boy sometimes.

* In ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'', while the Governor already [[spoiler: suspected Rick's group was in a prison,]] he could not confirm it. Instead, he informed Rick that he had [[spoiler: released Glenn (he hadn't) after he admitted (he didn't) they were indeed seeking shelter in the prison.]] It was the look on Rick's face that confirmed his suspicions.
* A complex variant in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Doctor Manhattan can "remember" events happening in his future. It's immensely confusing for others to be told by him that "we will go to X, and there you will tell me about Y", and later, when the other casually mentions Y, Manhattan is startled, because they've just reached the point in time when he learns about this. You Just Told Me indeed.

* ''ComicBook/GothamCitySirens'': Harley's Dad almost tricks her into telling him where the money is using this trick. "Oh, the money's not ''in'' Switzerland, it's... Damn it, Pop, you were going to do it to ''me'', weren't you?!"

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11191235/25/Harry-Potter-and-the-Prince-of-Slytherin Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin]]'':
-->'''Harry:''' So, Hagrid's breeding dragons, I take it?\\
'''Hermione:''' How did ''you'' know that?\\
'''Harry:''' I didn't. I guessed and you just confirmed it.
* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'': When [[spoiler:Kaworu]] shows up, he gives away [[HumanoidAbomination his true nature]] to Shinji by [[spoiler:referring to humanity as "Lilim"]].

* ''Fanfic/CommonSense'' has [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Ash]] tell the bearded man outside of Saffron Gym that he'll save "[his] daughter", he lurches away and asks how he knew. Ash calmly replies, "You told me, just now." He then adds that he always figured the man was close to Sabrina from how closely he guarded her.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2938888/18/Legacy-of-the-Rasengan-I-Naruto Legacy of the Rasengan]]'': Jiraiya tries to talk to Naruto about training. Naruto retorts that he could have done that without spying on him for "days on end". Jiraiya praises Naruto for noticing how long Jiraiya was shadowing him. Naruto retorts he was bluffing. He only noticed two days ago. Jiraiya is both amused and embarrassed at Naruto playing him.
* A variation happens in ''Fanfic/TheBlackSheepDogSeries'' when Lucretia invites herself into Sirius's home and demands to see Regulus (who is in hiding/witness protection after defecting from Voldemort). Sirius tries to deny that Regulus is in his house, but Lucretia claims that Remus has told her about Regulus. Sirius demands why Remus told her the secret (he actually hasn't), which immediately confirms to Lucretia that Regulus really is in the house.

* Attempted in ''Film/NeverTooYoungToDie''. In a subversion, the intended "victim" manages to bluff his way out of the situation, though not convincingly:
-->'''Ragnar:''' Stargrove!\\
'''Lance:''' Is that name supposed to mean something?\\
'''Ragnar:''' My mistake.

* In the Bond-wannabe film ''Film/AgentForHARM'', the lead character exposes the ersatz Bond girl as a villainous double agent by using her real name. The "even though they are alone in the room" clause, as stated above, applies here.
* In ''Film/SupermanII'', Lois tries this to reveal Clark's secret identity, first by calling him "Superman" and then by jumping into Niagara Falls. Naturally, Clark manages to rescue her without being obvious. In the restored cut, she tries jumping out a window, with the same result. Then she tries shooting him with a blank. Clark doesn't know that it's a blank, however, so he fesses up to being Superman.
* Straightforward example in ''Film/WhoIsCletisTout'' Sloppy work on Finch's part to respond to his name, considering he was a fugitive in the middle of a room of cops.
* In the ''Film/SgtBilko'' movie, Bilko's soldiers [[FeedTheMole give Thorn's goons false information]], making him remove a 'key component' of the Hover Tank so it wouldn't work at the demonstration the next day. After Bilko and his troops make it so the tank appears to work, Thorn confronts the General overseeing the demonstration, insisting that Bilko is incompetent and that they faked the whole thing. When asked for proof, he reveals the component he removed... showing the four star General and the crowd of witnesses that he deliberately sabotaged the project out of spite towards Bilko.
* In the 1993 adaptation of ''Film/TheFugitive'', U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Creator/TommyLeeJones) tricks fugitive surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble (Creator/HarrisonFord) into revealing himself when Gerard calls [[StairwellChase down a stairwell to a retreating figure]], "RICHARD!" Kimble involuntarily looks up, giving himself away.
** In the original script, Kimble ''doesn't'' look up when Gerard calls to him, even though other people in the stairway do. However, he does freeze in place for a moment (no doubt stopping himself from [[ReflexiveResponse reacting]] to the sound of his name), before continuing down the stairs at a visibly faster pace than before. The misstep and deliberate lack of response tips Gerard off just the same.
* Exaggerated in ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'' when Austin Millbarge suspects that a pair of agents supposedly sent to help him and his partner are actually KGB agents. He tells them something funny in Russian ([[BilingualBonus Which translates as "The less you know, the better."]]), causing them both to explode in laughter, saying "Da! Da!"
* ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'': In this case, Austin is aware of the fact ahead of time and is invoking this trope purely to look classy.
-->'''Austin Powers:''' Your boss, Number 2. I understand that cat's involved in big underground drills.\\
'''Alotta Fagina:''' How did you know?\\
'''Austin Powers:''' I didn't, baby. You just told me.

* As with the above example, ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' also uses this tactic. Shu Lien suspects Jen is the thief who stole the Green Destiny sword, and confirms it by purposefully dropping a full cup of tea, which Jen catches effortlessly without spilling a drop.
* In ''Film/BillyJack'', Billy uses this ruse to trick Jean Roberts into revealing that she was raped by Bernard Posner.
* ''Film/FatalInstinct''. Ned Ravine's secretary Laura Lincolnberry tells him that he has lipstick on his collar. He looks at his collar and says he doesn't. She says "You just told me" (if he hadn't been fooling around, he wouldn't have had to look at his collar).
* Used in ''Film/MenInBlack'', where Agent K finds out which of a number of illegal Mexican immigrants is actually an alien because he cannot speak a word of Spanish. K determines this by insulting the "man" more and more outrageously in Spanish without getting any reaction other than chuckling and agreeable nodding.
* In ''Film/AllThePresidentsMen'', Woodward and Bernstein have a document identifying certain individuals only by the first initial of their surname. They believe "P" is a man named Porter, so while questioning a woman who may know, they casually intimate in a brief throwaway aside that they ''know'' "P" to be Porter. Her last words as they leave is an incredulous "How did you know about Porter?"
** The two discuss the plan before they go and do it. Rarely, they discuss what happens if they're wrong. After a beat, they admit if that's the case, "We're screwed."
* In ''Film/WhereEaglesDare'', Nazi General Kramer is eventually convinced Schmidt is an ally and hands over a list of names of spies working in Britain, as well as confirming the identity of TheMole. Smith immediately reveals he had no evidence for this and the purpose of his mission was to extract the information from the Germans.

* A variation in ''Film/KissOfTheDragon''. The climax involves Creator/JetLi's character storming the French police station full of {{Corrupt Cop}}s. He calls the BigBad (the police chief) and asks him to look out the window. When he does, Jet Li's character tells him that, now that he knows where he is in the building, he's coming up.

* Inverted in the climax of ''Film/{{Se7en}}''. When Det. Somerset leaves serial killer John Doe in the custody of Det. Mills to open a suspicious package, he realizes that it contains ''[[spoiler:the head of Mills' wife]]''. All of this happens a considerable distance away from Mills, who is holding Doe at gunpoint to make sure he doesn't run, but Doe blatantly tells Mills what's in the box; for a moment, Mills is too stunned to believe what Doe has said, until Somerset returns begging him to drop the gun. As Mills repeatedly begs Somerset to just tell him what's in the box, Doe simply says, "He just told you," since Somerset's refusal to admit it is proof that Doe is telling the truth.
* ''Film/NightSchool1981'': Following a loaded question from Lt. Austin, Eleanor explains the ritual significance of a headhunter placing their victim's head in water. She then asks him how he knew about it, and he replies that she just told him.
* ''Film/TheRock'': When [[CulturedBadass John Mason]] meets [[{{Bookworm}} Stanley Goodspeed]], he quotes [[GratuitousLatin the Latin saying "Timeo danaos et dona ferentis."]] ("I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts."). When Goodspeed identifies it, Mason immediately figures out that Goodspeed isn't an ordinary FBI agent.
* In ''Film/AlongCameASpider'', it's what the kidnapper Soneji ''doesn't'' say that gives Alex Cross crucial information. Cross suspects that Soneji is an unwitting pawn in a bigger conspiracy. He says something that Soneji would have known was incorrect if he had all the facts, and his non-reaction gives him away.
* In ''Film/{{Quicksand}}'', the police arrive to question Vera just after Dan has left her room. As Dan has just told her that he thinks he has killed Mackey, she assumes that is why they are and immediately tells them "I didn't have anything to do with him!" The police, who are actually there to question her about the break-in at Nick's and don't know about the attack on Mackey yet, get suspicious and the detective starts asking her series of leading questions. Vera's guilty conscience fills in the blanks and she makes a series of denials that dig her in deeper, as she keeps denying involvement in crimes she shouldn't even be aware of. When she realises what is happening, she flips and starts blaming Dan for everything.

* In ''VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception'', [[BigBad Marlowe]] tells Nate Drake that she knows where Ubar is because 'you told us, Nathan' while he was under the influence of a TruthSerum.
* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Dr. Eggman uses this ploy to confirm his guess that one of the two identical-looking Chaos Emeralds was a fake, having looked at readings from the 2 separate Emeralds at his pyramid base earlier. (Not that it's very likely Tails would knowingly give Eggman the real one if he had a fake one as well.) Tails' facial expression after it seals the deal; it's a mixture of OhCrap and NotBad.
-->'''Eggman:''' You thought you [[BluffTheImposter could trick me with that fake Emerald]], didn't you?\\
'''Tails:''' So... how did you know it wasn't the real one?\\
'''Sonic:''' ''[cutting him off]'' ''TAILS!''\\
'''Eggman:''' Hah! Because you just TOLD me, fox-boy!\\
'''Tails:''' ''[[[OhCrap eyes widen in realization]]]''
* In the third case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney – Trials and Tribulations'', [[spoiler:Phoenix gets the real killer to incriminate himself by presenting a bottle of the victim's ear medicine, and claiming that it contained the poison used to kill the victim. This is a {{Blatant Lie|s}} to anyone who had been watching the trial, as the real poison bottle had already been presented. The killer had ''not'' been watching the trial, nevertheless he proceeds to call Phoenix an idiot and gives an accurate description of the real poison bottle, proving that he is the killer]].

* On the final day of Golden Playhouse mode in ''VideoGame/{{Catherine}}'', [[spoiler: Vincent confronts Boss, the barkeep at the Stray Sheep, about the fact that he was the only other person able to see Catherine, and accidentally gets Boss to blab about his involvement in the reoccurring nightmares Vincent and the other patrons have been having.]]
* Piros the 3rd of ''VideoGame/DotHackGU'' claims that Haseo doesn't deserve to know his name... then introduces himself in an over-the-top manner. This trope's name is Haseo's exact response to this.
* In ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'', Fayt tricks Cliff into revealing that he has been in contact with Mirage and even gets Cliff to tell him what their conversation was about by simply asking "So what did Mirage say?" Cliff is pretty impressed by his craftiness.

* A creative application of the trope occurred in ''Webcomic/RipAndTeri''. Agent XI knows Rip has infiltrated a TV studio in disguise. A few days earlier, Rip had encountered XI in a janitor uniform, so XI stations himself inside the studio in the same uniform. Rip's startled reaction to seeing the same "janitor" he fought earlier gives him away.
* ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'':
** [[http://narbonic.com/comic/april-1-6-2002/ During the D-Con]] StoryArc:
--->'''Helen:''' You know I'm not "Dave Pretorius." There's no such man. You know I'm really your own daughter in disguise. You know I infiltrated D-Con to crack the Dave Conspiracy, having no idea you'd already done it! ...And you didn't actually know any of this until I voluntarily told you, did you?\\
'''Dr. Narbon:''' I'm '''such''' a great mother.
** In a later strip, Helen tells Dave that they need to talk:
--->'''Dave:''' Uh oh. Is this about the sentient meme that took over the net in Blue Sector and keeps threatening to vaporize us via spy satellite?\\
'''Helen:''' No! This isn't about the sentient meme! I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient meme!\\
'''Dave:''' Oh... good.\\
'''Helen:''' On second thought, let's make this about the sentient meme.\\
'''Dave:''' It was supposed to be a ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' personality quiz! I meant no harm!
* Cleverly done in ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'':
-->'''Bigs:''' (thinks) If you are trying to read my mind I swear I will deck you.\\
'''Dan:''' Huh? How would you know that I--\\
Pow!

* In [[http://www.krakowstudios.com/krakow/archive.php?date=20021227 this]] ''WebComic/{{Krakow}}'' comic, Canadian rap sensation Snow tricks one of the characters into admitting that he altered the lyrics while singing one of Snow's songs.
-->'''Case:''' But...but...How did you know that?\\
'''Snow:''' I only had suspicions, but you just confirmed them!
* In ''Webcomic/TwoEvilScientists'', Eggman Nega invokes it [[https://web.archive.org/web/20190526044337/http://twoevilscientists.smackjeeves.com/comics/564463/fox-hunt-pt-14/ here]] when he's confronting his ancestor

* A priest in ''Webcomic/{{Nukees}}'' confirms Gav is a lapsed Catholic by saying "peace be with you" as he leaves, getting an automatic "and also with you."

* Jake, the usual dumb friend, from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'', pulls this one on [[DeadpanSnarker Rhea]] [[AwesomeMcCoolName Snaketail]] to get her to admit to having been [[DeathIsCheap previously]] [[https://www.sdamned.com/comic/541 murdered.]]
** Over [[{{Doorstopper}} 400 pages later]] Rhea get's her own back with a [[https://www.sdamned.com/comic/1010 similar trick]]:
--> '''Rhea:''' Don't be upset. Ramirez is still out there for you, right?\\
'''Jake:''' WHO TOLD YOU I HAD A CRUSH ON RAMIREZ?!?\\
'''Rhea:''' (Incredibly smug face) You did. Just now.
* ''Webcomic/ServantsOfTheImperium'': Used by Aki in [[http://www.servantsoftheimperium.com/comic.php?comicid=186 strip #181: "Intelligence"]].
* ''Webcomic/DumbingOfAge'' has Mike [[http://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/02-i-was-a-teenage-churchmouse/lures/ use it successfully]] on Sal:
-->'''Sal:''' ''[after Mike suggests she seduced a teacher]'' Mike, you been Tailin' me? What do you know?\\
'''Mike:''' Nothing. But cast enough lures, you eventually land a fish.
* How Cohen in ''Webcomic/ButImACatPerson'' confirms the identity of Cybele's Master.

* How Cake Girl in ''Webcomic/{{Gloomverse}}'' [[http://gloomverse.smackjeeves.com/comics/1804848/the-magic-show-part-2-page-5/ figures out the origin of Harold's partial-invisibility]].

** In one episode of ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'', Goren and Eames are trying to find the missing daughter of a [[PaterFamilicide family annihilator]]. They suspect she's alive (because she had apparently been tied up and transported elsewhere, while this killer tended to kill his victims wherever they happened to be), but they can't be sure, so Goren asks the killer why he spared his daughter's life. The killer tries to give an ambiguous response ("you don't know that she's alive"), but Goren knows that if he ''had'' killed her, he would have just said outright that she was dead; the fact that he's hedging could only mean that the daughter is in fact still alive.

* Subverted in the climax of ''Film/{{Se7en}}''. When Det. Somerset leaves serial killer John Doe in the custody of Det. Mills to open a suspicious package, he realizes that it contains ''[[spoiler:the head of Mills' wife]]''. All of this happens a considerable distance away from Mills, who is holding Doe at gunpoint to make sure he doesn't run, but Doe blatantly tells Mills what's in the box; for a moment, Mills is too stunned to believe what Doe has said, until Somerset returns begging him to drop the gun. As Mills repeatedly begs Somerset to just tell him what's in the box, Doe simply says, "He just told you," since Somerset's refusal to admit it is proof that Doe is telling the truth.

* ''Fanfic/CommonSense'' has [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Ash]] tell the bearded man outside of Saffron Gym that he'll save "[his] daughter", he lurches away and asks how he knew. Ash calmly replies, "You told me, just now." He then adds that he always figured the man was close to Sabrina from how closely he guarded her.

'''Holmes'': Suppose I tell you that it was Barney Stockdale to whom you spoke?\\

** In ''The Three Gables'', where to get the whole story he sends the villainness a note reading simply, "Shall it be the police, then?" He only has hunches, but by story's end she's told him enough to prosecute (if he wished).

* Jake, the usual dumb friend, from ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'', pulls this one on [[DeadpanSnarker Rhea]] [[AwesomeMcCoolName Snaketail]] to get her to admit to having been [[DeathIsCheap previously]] [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120919043345/http://www.sdamned.com/2012/09/09152012 murdered.]]

Subtrope of ReflexiveResponse and BatmanGambit. See also PullTheThread, OutOfCharacterAlert, BluffingTheMurderer. If one pretends to be wrong about something to goad another into correcting them when they otherwise wouldn't, see CorrectionBait. If deceived wasn't suspicious until the infiltrator responded the way they did, it's SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay. If the deceived says something that only an impostor wouldn't be suspicious of, it's BluffTheImpostor. INeverSaidItWasPoison may occur if the infiltrator mentions some facts about the case that deceived hadn't revealed. SuspiciouslySpecificDenial is ''totally not'' a related way of letting information slip. This also gives Ben a case of ImplausibleDeniability.

Subtrope of ReflexiveResponse and BatmanGambit. See also PullTheThread, OutOfCharacterAlert, BluffingTheMurderer. If deceived wasn't suspicious until the infiltrator responded the way they did, it's SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay. If the deceived says something that only an impostor wouldn't be suspicious of, it's BluffTheImpostor. INeverSaidItWasPoison may occur if the infiltrator mentions some facts about the case that deceived hadn't revealed. SuspiciouslySpecificDenial is ''totally not'' a related way of letting information slip. This also gives Ben a case of ImplausibleDeniability.

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' used this early on, when Ran suspects (correctly) that Conan is really Shinichi, so she tests it by seeing how he responds when called by his real name. It works, and he falls for it again when she mentions one of their teachers, [[StatusQuoIsGod but he manages to throw her off anyway]].

* ''Manga/DeathNote'';

'''Josuke:''' ''"Hurry",'' huh? That's weird...last time I checked, I looked like I was just an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, yet you believed I could treat your wounds. I still have trouble getting people to let me into pachinko parlors, yet somehow I strike you as a med-school graduate ready and willing to fix your little boo-boos? ''Huh?'' You totally took the bait - which means ''you have the ability to see my Shining Diamond.''[[note]]Originally Crazy Diamond, but [[WritingAroundTrademarks the name was changed in the dub]][[/note]]\\

''Bob:''' I did?\\

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/SlightlyDamned https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/09152012_c.png]]]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Act(ion]]

** Wiki/TheOtherWiki gives us [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shibboleths a list]].

* To tell if someone speaks a language or not, police often ask them to say what color different words are (like the word "[[color:green:red]]" written in green ink). People who speak the language will [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect take far longer]]. This is because this is the Stroop Test, a psychology tool in which taking longer is ''normal'', under normal conditions.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}}'' for [[http://assets.amuniversal.com/88e046c00b560130fb37001dd8b71c47 November 17th, 2012]]. Zipper starts a rumor that Walden College was going private. He approaches the president of the college and tells him that he started the rumor, and the president asks him how he knew that they were planning to do just that. Zipper says "I didn't until just now. I can't believe that worked, I saw it on some cop show".
* Subverted in ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'': Brian's opponent in a naval wargame tries this, prompting Brian to "confirm" it by bursting out "How did you know that was my plan?." At the climax of the game, it is revealed that Brian had a different plan all along, and ''deliberately'' did this to mislead his opponent.

Subtrope of ReflexiveResponse and BatmanGambit. See also PullTheThread, OutOfCharacterAlert, BluffingTheMurderer. If deceived wasn't suspicious until infiltrator responded the way they did, it's SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay. If the deceived says something that only an impostor wouldn't be suspicious of, it's BluffTheImpostor. INeverSaidItWasPoison may occur if the infiltrator mentions some facts about the case that deceived hadn't revealed. SuspiciouslySpecificDenial is ''totally not'' a related way of letting information slip. This also gives Ben a case of ImplausibleDeniability.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', Light Yagami of all people is once tripped up by this ploy, when Namikawa tells him that he already knows that [[spoiler: Higuchi is the Yotsuba Kira]] - it's only a very strong hypothesis at this point, but Light's surprised reaction is all the confirmation he needs. Of course, Light is [[spoiler:an amnesiac at the time]].
-->'''Misa''': Wow, that Namikawa guy is pretty smart!\\
'''L''': No, Light just messed up.

-->'''Rivalz''': [Lelouch]'s even holding a household account book...\\
'''Lelouch''': How do you know about that?\\
'''Rivalz''': Huh, you really do?

-->'''Harry''': Look, Hermione's just a friend...\\
'''Fred''': Whose bed you sleep in?\\
'''Harry''': How did you know that?\\
'''Fred''': I didn't, but I do now.

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery''
-->'''Austin Powers''': Your boss, Number 2. I understand that cat's involved in big underground drills.\\
'''Alotta Fagina''': How did you know?\\
'''Austin Powers''': I didn't, baby. You just told me.
** In this case Austin was aware of the fact ahead of time and was invoking this trope purely to look classy.

-->'''The maid''': How did you guess?\\
'''Volha''': I didn't. You are the sixth one I told this. Others just thought me crazy.

-->'''Anduin''': I don't mind. But then again, I don't have secret meetings with orcs in the middle of nowhere.\\
'''Jaina''': How did--\\
'''Anduin''': Yes! I was right! You were out meeting Thrall!

-->'''Salter''': Why all the attention? Is it because of his criminal record?\\
'''Greig''': You know about that?\\
'''Salter''': I do now.

-->'''[[ScaryBlackMan Doakes]]''': That's all you care about, is your job. Even if it meant doin' Pascal's man to get it back.\\
'''[[PointyHairedBoss LaGuerta]]''': How did you know about Bertrand?\\
'''[[ScaryBlackMan Doakes]]''': I didn't for sure until just now.

-->'''Smith''': His daughter saw you.\\
'''Suspect''': She can't have. [[TooDumbToLive The lights were out]].
* Used by [[strike: Sheriff]] Deputy Andy the robot in ''Series/{{Eureka}}'' to confirm that Sheriff Carter and the others had, in fact, [[spoiler: traveled through time and changed the timeline.]]

* In one episode of ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'', the team had caught a member in a gang gunning for another girl. They knew there were at least two others and wanted the captured member to identify their pictures. The gang member had no intention of helping them but when her eyes lingered a little longer on one of her friends, Parker picked up the picture and she immediately blurted out "But I didn't say anything!"

-->'''Mr. Schue''': Wait, who gave you these questions to ask me?\\
'''[[TheDitz Brittany]]''': Coach Sylvester says I'm not at liberty to say.

-->'''Linden''': Oh, and councilman, you might want to call off your dog at the school. He won't find anything.\\
'''Richmond''': And how did you know about him?\\
'''Linden''': I was guessing.\\
'''Richmond''': And I just confirmed it.

-->'''Kensi''': How did you know that I...\\
'''Deeks''': I do now!

* In ''Series/{{Rome}}'', this happens in a manhunt for Cleopatra's son.
-->'''Officer''': [Latin] Right, be off with you. (turns away) [Egyptian] Please bless us with your forgiveness, sacred majesty.\\
'''"Greek slave"''': [Egyptian] Granted, mortal.\\
''(beat)''\\
''(fight scene)''

'''George:''' ''(Turning to Jerry)'' You told her?! How could you tell her? What kind of friend are you?\\

'''Elaine:''' ''(bluffing)'' Really? Because George said that you did.\\

-->'''Red''': You lied when you said you weren't taking the car out of town.\\
'''Eric''': Wait, you knew about that?\\
'''Red''': I do now.

-->'''Elena''': I'm asking you.\\
'''John''': That doesn't mean anything to me.\\
'''Elena''': [[spoiler:As my father, it should.]]\\
'''John''': How did you know?\\
'''Elena''': I wasn't sure, until now.

[[folder:Other]]
* Used in [[Film/NintendoPowerPromoVideos a promo video]] given out by ''Magazine/NintendoPower'' promoting ''VideoGame/StarFox64''; the two bad guys, apparently representing rival companies Sega and Sony, kidnap a tester (Peter) and lab guy (Bob) to find out the game's secrets.
-->'''Bob:''' Peter, you didn't mention the ''Rumble Pack'', did you?!
-->'''Peter:''' ''(FacePalm)''
-->'''Sony Guy:''' No... 'Bob'...you just did.
-->'''Bob:''' I did?
-->'''Peter:''' You did.
[[/folder]]

'''Sonic:''' ''(cutting him off)'' ''TAILS!''\\

'''Tails:''' ''([[OhCrap eyes widen in realization]])''

* Used in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn''. Heather, a small time thief, confronts Yeardley, a general working on Duke Ludveck's orders, about his attempts to get the townspeople of Crimea to revolt against Elincia.
-->'''Heather:''' So! You're the ones sent by Ludveck of Felirae?! You've been stirring up these little revolts all over the place!
-->'''Yeardley:''' What?! How did you know?!\\

-->'''Marcia:''' ...I think I see. You owe them money, don't you? Isn't that the real reason why you don't want to see them, cheese breath?\\

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* From ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'', [[http://narbonic.com/comic/april-1-6-2002/ during the D-Con]] StoryArc:
--> '''Helen''': You know I'm not "Dave Pretorius." There's no such man. You know I'm really your own daughter in disguise. You know I infiltrated D-Con to crack the Dave Conspiracy, having no idea you'd already done it! ...And you didn't actually know any of this until I voluntarily told you, did you?
--> '''Dr. Narbon''': I'm '''such''' a great mother.

--->'''Dave:''' Uh oh. Is this about the sentient meme that took over the net in Blue Sector and keeps threatening to vaporize us via spy satellite?
--->'''Helen:''' No! This isn't about the sentient meme! I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient meme!
--->'''Dave:''' Oh...good.
--->'''Helen:''' On second thought, let's make this about the sentient meme.
--->'''Dave:''' It was supposed to be a ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' personality quiz! I meant no harm!
* Cleverly done in Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures:

* Used in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/01/06/episode-1079-verbal-flanking/ by Thief]] figuring out he doesn't owe his life to anyone after all.
-->'''Crow:''' How did you find out?\\

-->'''Red Mage:''' Wait, we figured that out?\\

-->'''Sal:''' ''(After Mike suggests she seduced a teacher)'' Mike, you been Tailin' me? What do you know?\\

--> '''Sam Greely, Crab Detective''': You were running a variant of the Benton Murder Scam, murdering crabs for cheap construction materials. Lucy put two and two together. She was a bright dame. She blackmailed you for a million smackers and the legendary black pearl of Bahbs'ye Runkul, which you wear on a chain under your shirt. But you didn't take orders from no dame, so you hired a hitman to dress as a clown and take her out. She never would have suspected a clown.
-->'''Perp''': How... how did you know.\\
'''Sam''': I didn't. Until you confirmed it for me just now.

-->'''Sandra:''' I could believe this stupid shit from Mike, but I never thought I'd catch you [[spoiler:thinking with your dick!]]
-->'''Simon:''' ...What?\\

'''Sandra:''' Known for sure? For about-- ''(checks watch)'' --ten seconds.\\

* In the new season of ''WebVideo/TheGuild'', this is how Codex admits to [[spoiler: sleeping with Fawkes]].
* From the first ''[[WebAnimation/AwesomeSeries Metal Gear Awesome]]'':
-->'''Psycho Mantis:''' You like men!\\
'''Snake:''' ''You can see into my mind?''\\
'''Psycho Mantis:''' No.\\
'''Snake:''' Fuck.

* This is how the Engineer was outed as the killer by the Demoman in the ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' machinima ''Machinima/HeavyIsDead''. Of course, Demoman's accusation was, according to him, [[JustJokingJustification just a joke]].

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' episode "Mortos der Soulstealer"

'''Zim:''' ''(beat)'' You're LYING!

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Revenge Of The Island'': Scott uses this to trick Cameron into revealing Mike's [[SplitPersonality multiple personalities]].
-->'''Scott''': Mike wanted me to let you know that he's thankful you're helping him out with his "problem".\\
'''Cameron''': He told you about his Multiple Personality Disorder?\\
'''Scott''': No. But you just did.

* In ''VisualNovel/OtobokuMaidensAreFallingForMe'', Sion started suspecting that Mizuho might be WholesomeCrossdresser pretty quickly, but she only confirmed it when - while passing Mizuho in the bathroom - she casually said "Your fly's undone." In Mizuho's defense, 'she' had only been acting like a girl for a few days by then. Later on, she gets so good at it that Sion actually forgets that 'she' is a boy sometimes...
* When trying to determine if a cruise ship stowaway is actually one of Dio's lackeys in part III of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders,]]'' Jotaro claims that he can tell the difference between Stand users and normal people by the fact that the blood vessels on their nose pop when they smell smoke. All of Jotaro's comrades instinctively move to touch their nose - as does the supposedly {{Muggle}} ship captain, exposing him as the Stand user and TheMole.

'''Kira:''' ''[thinking]'' [[OhCrap Crap..I got too excited...!]]

** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable,]]'' Josuke and Okuyasu head to a shoe store, where Koichi and Jotaro got injured fighting Kira, the latter attempting to crawl away, and [[FalseInnocenceTrick pretending to be a victim of an explosion in the store]] when that fails. When Josuke tells Kira he can heal him, Kira confirms Josuke's suspicions by telling him to ''hurry up'' and do so, whereas anyone else would have doubted him, due to [[InvisibleToNormals the nature]] of Stands.

** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable,]]'' Josuke and Okuyasu head to a shoe store, where Koichi and Jotaro got injured fighting Kira, the latter attempting to crawl away, and [[FalseInnocenceTrick pretending to be a victim of an explosion in the store]] when that fails. When Josuke tells Kira he can heal him, Kira confirms Josuke's suspicions by telling him to ''hurry up'' and do so, whearas anyone else would have doubted him, due to [[InvisibleToNormals the nature]] of Stands.