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1%% We know the difference between acronyms, acrostics, and initialisms.
2%% But it's the same basic trope, regardless of which of those things it is.
3%% So don't nitpick. It's not helpful.
4%%
5%% Image and caption selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1368741231095780100
6%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread
7%%
8[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fathers_against_rude_television.png]]]]
9[[caption-width-right:350:This image is brought to you by the \
10[[SelfDemonstratingArticle Center for Really Awesome Pictures]].]]
11
12->'''Maria Hill:''' What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?\
13'''Grant Ward:''' '''''S'''''trategic '''''H'''''omeland '''''I'''''ntervention, '''''E'''''nforcement and '''''L'''''ogistics '''''D'''''ivision.\
14'''Maria Hill:''' And what does that mean to you?\
15'''Grant Ward:''' It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out "shield".
16-->-- ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' pilot episode
17
18[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere D.E.S.C.R.I.B.E.:]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere D]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere escriptions are]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere E]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere very]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere S]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere ustainably]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere C]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere ool and]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere R]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere ad Trope that begin every said Trope even]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere I']]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere ve]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere B]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere een]] '''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere E]]'''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere verywhere to find it.]]
19
20In fictional (and sometimes [[TruthInTelevision not so fictional]]) acronyms, priorities are reversed. It's not so important that the full name be clear, memorable and to the point; it matters much more that the actual acronym spell out a word or phrase, preferably a {{meaningful|Name}}, [[RuleOfCool impressive]] (or just plain [[RuleOfFunny funny]]) one. This results in "backronyms", acronyms created before the names they allegedly stand for -- if the acronym even stands for anything at all. In other words, fiction tends to go for [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Appellations Creatively Relevant, Occasionally Nonsensical, Yet Meaningful]]. [[PrecisionFStrike Shit.]]
21
22For instance, no writer would have allowed New York's police force to come up with the abbreviation "NYPD". That can't even be properly pronounced. No, they'd have named it, ehm... something like the [[WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries Central Organization of Police Specialists]]. It doesn't matter so much that the full title is [[WordSalad essentially meaningless]] -- we got it to spell out COPS![[note]]COPS actually stands for Community Oriented Policing Services in the U.S. Justice Department.[[/note]] Heck, we can even sell some toys now! Or, you know what would be better than COPS, would be JUSTICE! So what does JUSTICE stand for? Nothing. That's right, we don't even ''need'' it to stand for anything if we don't want it to!
23
24This isn't just for names that are cool, of course. It's also for names which ''accidentally'' hint at the true nature of an organization (e.g., a pro-tobacco council with the name CHOKE), or just as "accidentally" spell out something naughty or undignified.
25
26Of course, sometimes a neat acronym can be derived from a sensible name. This is what we call the best of both worlds. (Or should that be the best of both [[{{Pun}} words]]?) For even more fun, make it a RecursiveAcronym, or add AcronymConfusion.
27
28In government, military, and engineering contexts, this is absolutely TruthInTelevision, probably because there are so many acronyms in those fields that nobody can remember them if they don't have a nice mnemonic. Website/ThatOtherWiki calls it a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym backronym.]]
29
30Technically it's only an acronym if you pronounce it as one word (like "laser" or "scuba"), and if you spell out the letters, it's an ''initialism''. In practice, most people just use "acronym" for them all, so feel free to add them as examples.
31
32[[ShapedLikeItself In case it's still unclear]], an ACRONYM is '''''A''''' '''''C'''''oncise '''''R'''''epresentation '''''O'''''f '''''N'''''omenclature '''''Y'''''ielding '''''M'''''eaning.
33
34See also InitialismTitle, AcronymAndAbbreviationOverload, and AcronymsAreEasyAsAybeecee. Many examples involve a ShoehornedFirstLetter.
35
36SuperTrope of AICronym and ShoehornedAcronym and sister trope to EmbarrassingInitials.
37----
38!!Example subpages:
39
40[[index]]
41* '''A'''nnoying '''D'''irected '''S'''ales or FunWithAcronyms/{{Advertisement}}
42* '''J'''ust '''A'''nother '''P'''erfectly '''A'''rtistic '''N'''ovelty or FunWithAcronyms/AnimeAndManga
43* '''M'''aybe '''A'''nother '''G'''ame '''I'''s '''C'''ommon or FunWithAcronyms/CardGames
44* '''C'''hronicles '''O'''verusing '''M'''any '''I'''llustrations '''C'''reatively, or FunWithAcronyms/ComicBooks
45* '''S'''hort '''T'''errific '''R'''adical '''I'''mages in '''P'''roceeding Order, or FunWithAcronyms/ComicStrips
46* '''F'''anatics '''A'''nd '''N'''ovices' '''F'''iction-'''I'''nspired '''C'''reations, or FunWithAcronyms/FanWorks
47* '''F'''igures '''I'''n '''L'''ifelike '''M'''otion, or FunWithAcronyms/{{Film}}
48* '''B'''ig '''O'''cean '''O'''f '''K'''nowledge, or FunWithAcronyms/{{Literature}}
49* '''T'''imely '''E'''xhibitions '''L'''ikely '''E'''ntertainment '''V'''irtually '''I'''nside '''S'''ets '''I'''nterconnected '''O'''ver '''N'''etworks, or FunWithAcronyms/LiveActionTV
50* '''M'''elodies '''U'''tilizing '''S'''inging, '''I'''nstruments, and '''C'''hords, or FunWithAcronyms/{{Music}}
51* '''P'''eople '''R'''ead '''I'''nteresting '''N'''ews '''T'''oday, or FunWithAcronyms/PrintMedia
52* '''R'''oughhousing '''I'''n '''N'''o-nonsense '''G'''ear, or FunWithAcronyms/ProfessionalWrestling
53* '''C'''racking '''O'''n '''M'''indless '''E'''pitomes of '''D'''eliverable '''Y'''ahoos, or FunWithAcronyms/StandUpComedy
54* '''D'''udes '''I'''n '''C'''alculated '''E'''nthusiasm, or FunWithAcronyms/TabletopGames
55* '''G'''rappling '''A'''gainst '''M'''ultiple '''E'''nemies, or FunWithAcronyms/VideoGames
56* '''F'''rames '''L'''ayering '''A'''rtistic '''S'''uper '''H'''ighway, or FunWithAcronyms/WebAnimation
57* '''D'''rawn '''I'''n '''G'''raphical '''I'''nterfaces '''T'''o '''A'''stound '''L'''urkers, or FunWithAcronyms/{{Webcomics}}
58* '''S'''ublime '''U'''nlimited '''R'''eadable '''F'''un, or FunWithAcronyms/WebOriginal
59* '''C'''reative '''A'''nimated '''R'''eels from the '''T'''ranscontinental '''O'''rganisations for '''O'''ccidental '''N'''eologism, or FunWithAcronyms/WesternAnimation
60* '''R'''elative '''E'''pitome of '''A'''ll '''L'''ife, or FunWithAcronyms/RealLife
61* '''M'''ismatching '''I'''n '''S'''pecific '''C'''ategories or FunWithAcronyms/{{Other}}
62[[/index]]
63
64!!Other examples:
65
66[[foldercontrol]]
67
68[[folder:'''J'''apes '''O'''f '''K'''eenly '''E'''xcruciating '''S'''illiness, or Jokes]]
69* In the US military's InterserviceRivalry, one of the common jokes told about the U.S. Marine Corps is that "Marine" is short for "'''M'''uscles '''A'''re '''R'''equired, '''I'''ntelligence '''N'''ot '''E'''ssential."
70* Mechanics and auto enthusiasts commonly tell jokes about car brands they don't like being derived from unflattering acronyms:
71** "BMW" is short for "'''B'''ig '''M'''oney '''W'''aste" or "'''B'''reak '''M'''y '''W'''allet."
72** "Fiat" is short for "'''F'''ailed '''I'''talian '''A'''utomotive '''T'''echnology" or "'''F'''ix '''I'''t '''A'''gain, '''T'''ony."
73** "Ford" is short for "'''F'''ound '''O'''n '''R'''oad '''D'''ead, " "'''F'''ixed '''O'''r '''R'''epaired '''D'''aily," "'''F'''ucked-'''O'''ver '''R'''ebuilt '''D'''odge," or "'''F'''ast '''O'''nly '''R'''olling '''D'''ownhill."
74** "GM" is short for "'''G'''arbage '''M'''otors" or "'''G'''eneral '''M'''ismanagement."
75** "GMC" is short for "'''G'''od's '''M'''echanical '''C'''urse," "'''GM''''s '''C'''rap," or "'''G'''ot a '''M'''echanic '''C'''oming?"
76** "Hyundai" is short for "'''H'''ere's '''[[OneLetterPun Y U]]''' '''N'''ever '''D'''rive '''A'''n '''I'''mport."
77** "Kia" is short for "'''K'''eep '''I'''nside '''A'''sia" or "'''K'''orean '''I'''mitation '''A'''ccord."
78** "Porsche" is short for "'''P'''roof '''O'''f '''R'''ich '''S'''poiled '''C'''hildren '''H'''aving '''E'''verything."
79** "Saab" is short for "'''S'''end '''A'''nother '''A'''utomobile '''B'''ack."
80** "Subaru" is short for "'''S'''tupid '''U'''rbanites '''B'''umbling '''A'''round '''R'''ural '''A'''reas."
81** "Toyota" is short for "'''T'''he '''O'''ne '''Y'''ou '''O'''ught '''T'''o '''A'''void" or "'''T'''oo '''O'''ften '''Y'''ankees '''O'''verprice '''T'''his '''A'''uto."
82** "VW" is short for "'''V'''irtually '''W'''orthless."
83** "Honda" is short for "'''H'''ad '''O'''ne '''N'''ever '''D'''id '''A'''gain."
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:'''P'''laying '''I'''n '''N'''ostalgic '''B'''alls '''A'''longside '''L'''eisurely '''L'''ounges, or Pinball]]
87* In Creator/ZenStudios' ''[[VideoGame/SpiderManZenStudios Spider-Man]]'' pinball, the SPIDEY SpellingBonus stands for "'''S'''pectacular Score", "'''P'''erfect Ball Saver", "'''I'''ncredible Jumps", "'''D'''eluxe Web Shooters", "'''E'''nhanced Strength", and "'''Y'''eah! Extra Ball!"
88* The tube transport system in ''Pinball/{{Xenon}}'' is the '''K'''inetic '''M'''olecular '''I'''ntegrated '''E'''volution '''C'''ylinder, a tribute to designer Greg Kmiec.
89* The BigBad of ''Pinball/DialedIn'' is '''D'''ialed '''I'''n '''E'''lectronics.
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:'''P'''eople '''O'''n '''D'''igital '''C'''ommunications '''A'''damantly '''S'''haring '''T'''oo-Good-To-Be-True '''S'''tories, or Podcasts]]
93* The crew of ''Podcast/MissionToZyxx'' is coordinated by a Missions Operations Manager, Nermut Bundaloy. He takes a lot of flack when he is promoted to '''T'''emporary '''E'''mergency '''E'''missarial '''N'''egotiations '''M'''issions '''O'''perations '''M'''anager.
94* The PlayerCharacters in ''Podcast/TrialsAndTrebuchets'' are named '''S'''erinepth, '''W'''insler, '''I'''ntegrity, and '''M'''ira, giving their team the nickname "SWIM". Later, SWIM learn that their mentor Artis's team when he was a student was '''D'''ain, '''A'''rtis, '''F'''idan, and '''T'''eb, or "DAFT".
95[[/folder]]
96
97[[folder:'''S'''hows '''O'''f by '''C'''haracters in '''K'''nitcraft, or Puppet Shows]]
98* ''Series/CaptainScarletAndTheMysterons'': the security & intelligence agency of the World Government is called SPECTRUM: it is never explained what this is an acronym of, or even if it is one, at all.
99* In the ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' two parter, [[Recap/DinosaursS02NutsToWar "Nuts to War"]], when the four legged dinosaurs have disagreements to trade pistachios to two legged dinosaurs, The Council of Elders starts a campaign they call, '''W'''e '''A'''re '''R'''ight, which of course means starting a war. Much later when Earl finally disagrees with the war, he protests with a picket sign that reads on one side '''W'''e '''A'''re '''R'''ong and on the other, '''P'''istachio '''E'''aters '''A'''gainst '''C'''hief '''E'''lders.
100* In ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', Dudley Moore brings in the M.A.M.M.A., the '''M'''usic '''A'''nd '''M'''ood '''M'''anagement '''A'''pparatus, a machine that plays any kind of music the scene requires. It isquickly resented by the Electric Mayhem for being a JobStealingRobot, and spends the episode annoying everyone until it is destroyed by Gonzo's bomb-defusing act.
101* S.A.M. from ''Series/SesameStreet'', which stands for '''S'''uper '''A'''utomatic '''M'''achine. Those who were severely freaked out by him as children would argue '''S'''atan's '''A'''utomaton of '''M'''alice would be more accurate.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:'''R'''emote '''A'''udio '''D'''istribution '''I'''n '''O'''peration, or Radio]]
105* ''Radio/{{Nebulous}}'' features both the '''K'''ey '''E'''nvironmental '''N'''on-Judgemental '''T'''askforce, and the '''L'''egitimate '''O'''rganisation '''U'''ndertaking '''G'''eneral '''H'''umanitarian '''B'''usiness '''O'''perations '''R'''equiring '''O'''ptimum '''U'''nconditional '''G'''lobal '''H'''armony. But then, people from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent K.E.N.T.]] have always hated people from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loughborough L.O.U.G.H.B.O.R.O.U.G.H.]].
106* In an episode of ''Radio/TheGoonShow'', Neddy Seagoon was appointed to be Britain's '''F'''og '''A'''nd '''T'''hick '''S'''moke '''O'''fficer.
107** In another episode, Major Bloodnok has a washcloth stuffed into his mouth by thieves who stole 10 Downing Street. Ned says, "These initials must mean Winston Churchill!" Bloodnok answers, "I hope so!"
108* One episode of ''Radio/AdventuresInOdyssey'' features the '''S'''ociety for '''M'''ental '''I'''mprovement and '''L'''iving '''E'''nthusiastically, a nationwide organization bursting with {{Stepford SMILEr}}s.
109* In one episode of ''Radio/AbsolutePowerBBC'', Charles is tasked with creating a name for a male pressure group. His efforts include '''B'''ritish '''A'''ssociation of '''L'''ovable '''L'''ad'''S''' and '''G'''enera'''L''' '''A'''sssociatio'''N''' for the '''S'''upport of the '''P'''riapically '''EN'''dowed '''I'''n '''S'''ociety.
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:'''T'''ools '''O'''f '''Y'''oung '''S'''atisfaction, or Toys]]
113* The Cyber Forest [Fantasy Girls] series of mecha musume kits by Nuke Matrix make use of this trope for their naming conventions, being highly mechanical in design and following an animal theme. Of those released as of this writing there are:
114** F.O.X. Long Range Striker Unit, the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first and the only one not to play by the trope]].
115** '''R'''emote '''A'''ttack '''B'''attle '''B'''ase '''I'''nfo '''T'''actician Lirly Bell.
116** '''H'''urricane '''A'''ssault '''R'''evenger: '''P'''rototype '''Y'''aeger Amelia Hartmann.
117** '''S'''torm '''I'''nterceptor: '''R'''oyal '''EN'''forcer Tanya Charybdis.
118* ''Franchise/GIJoe:''
119** There's M.A.R.S. ('''M'''ilitary '''A'''rmaments '''R'''esearch '''S'''yndicate), Destro's weapons dealing organization.
120** The short-lived spinoff ''Sgt. Savage and his Screaming Eagles'' has the I.R.O.N. ('''I'''nvasion '''R'''econnaisance '''O'''ccupation and '''N'''eutralization) Army. The following spinoff, ''G.I. Joe Extreme'' had S.K.A.R., '''S'''oldiers for '''K'''haos, '''A'''narchy and '''R'''uin.
121* In ''Toys/PinkieCooperAndTheJetSetPets'', Pinkie attends the World of Original Fashion academy--or W.O.O.F.
122* In the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' audio story "Espionage!!!!!", Starscream pretends to defect to the Autobots. Not trusting him, the Autobots decide to FeedTheMole and claim to have developed a new Decepticon tracking weapon called the '''D'''euterium '''O'''rbital '''L'''aser '''T'''racing '''S'''ystem. The Decipticons take the bait and [[NotSoAboveItAll Optimus Prime]] can't help but mock them for not noticing the acronym sooner.
123[[/folder]]
124
125[[folder:'''W'''ide '''E'''ntertainment '''B'''y '''V'''ery '''I'''nteresting '''D'''igital '''E'''mbedded '''O'''nline '''S'''teams, or Web Videos]]
126* ''WebVideo/ActPromptly'': The Ache-ronyms miniact revolves around the contestants having to make up meanings for acronyms and use them in a sentence.
127* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'':
128** Krillin says Frieza looks like a total "F.A.G.", and when [[WhatTheHellHero Gohan is shocked]], he clarifies that he meant "'''F'''reaky '''A'''lien '''G'''enotype".
129** In the second Bardock special, the [[spoiler:prehistoric Saiyans]] heal Bardock with their '''S'''uper '''P'''olymorphic '''U'''nleashing '''Ge'''l, the acronym for which is pronounced "spooge".
130* ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'':
131** WAP stands for "'''W'''orship '''A'''nd '''P'''rayer" by the founders of Church Prime, most commonly Tommy. This has led to a conversation involving AcronymConfusion over said acronym's more infamous meaning, Jschlatt (before his {{President|Evil}}ial run), and a very disturbed [=TommyInnit=].
132** The '''L'''[='=]'''M'''anberg '''F'''light and '''A'''eronautical '''O'''rganization building should tell you exactly what kind of attitude L'Manberg, or at least its members, had.
133* ''WebVideo/FrenchBaguetteIntelligence'' abbreviates to 'FBI', which is a reference to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's founder Charles Joseph Bonaparte, a descendant of UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte.
134* {{Subverted|Trope}} with [=TCNick3=] of the LetsPlay/PartyCrashers, as he's admitted that the "T" and "C" in his username don't actually stand for anything, he just thought that those two letters [[RuleOfCool sounded cool together]]. That doesn't stop the others from poking fun at what the letters could mean though, such as T being "The" or "Toxic" and C being "Carried" or "Cringe".
135* The old [=YouTube=] comedy sketch channel POYKPAC stood for "'''P'''ictures '''O'''f '''Y'''our '''K'''ids '''P'''ooping '''A'''nd '''C'''rying"
136* ''WebVideo/RadicalSoda'' during his Pokemon Sword and Shield review decides to add a new segment. It doesn't go well.
137-->'''Radical Soda:''' It's ''Radicalsoda's Awesome Pokemon Evaluation!'' Or if we shorten that to an acronym- ''[[OhCrap OH NO!!!]]''
138* ''WebVideo/SchaffrillasProductions'': In "Why [[WesternAnimation/{{Moana}} Tamatoa]] is My Favorite Character Ever", the group protecting the pieces of Te Fiti's heart is called "The Guardians Of The Heart Pieces And Top Tier Youtubers". Pappy G quicky puts together that it spells "Gothpatty".
139* ''WebVideo/{{Smosh}}'' has done this more than once. Three examples:
140** From "How To Survive a Burglary", there's '''A'''lways '''S'''ilently '''S'''hut '''D'''oors '''I'''n '''C'''ase of '''K'''leptomaniacs, or '''ASSDICK''' for short.
141** In "Stop Miley", there's '''S'''topping '''M'''iley '''F'''rom '''T'''werking '''A'''nd '''A'''cting '''L'''ike '''A'''n '''A'''ll '''A'''round '''T'''ool '''B'''ag, or '''SMFTAALAAATB''' for short.
142** From "F**k Spoilers!" (later retitled "No Spoilers!"), there's '''D'''ouches '''I'''n-'''C'''apable of '''K'''eeping '''S'''ecrets, or '''DICKS''' for short. ''("Don't talk to DICKS. Don't listen to DICKS. Don't touch DICKS. And whatever you do, don't let DICKS get near your mouth.")''
143* ''WebVideo/StampysLovelyWorld'': In Episode 748, "Splendid Shipyard", Stampy names the yacht he spent the two previous episodes constructing the 'Yacht of Amazing Courage and Historic Triumphs', officially shortened as "Y.A.C.H.T".
144-->'''Stampy:''' So there we go, my yacht is called... "YACHT". ''(laughs)''
145* ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' has a semi-running gag in the early seasons that takes a paragraph-long concept and turns it into an initialism that is still a WallOfText, only now it's an impossible to remember, contextless screed of letters and periods.
146[[/folder]]
147
148----
149-->"[[TheStinger Brought to you by the]] [[Website/TVTropes Total Vernacular of Television, Radio and Organized Presentations, Electronically Supplied]]."

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