Line #80 Main/PromptingNudge


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3	%% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end.
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9	[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/RustyAndCo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/prompting_nudge_6.jpg]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:350: UnsoundEffect is optional.]]
11
12	Every so often, one character just has to apply a little force to another to get him to start talking. There can be numerous reasons for this:
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14	* The other person is shy;
15	* He's staring at something (often something that would be awkward if someone notices him looking at it);
16	* He's reluctant to say the particular [[GrudgingThankYou thing]] he's supposed to say;
17	* [[NoSocialSkills He'll miss certain cues if he's not prompted]];
18	* [[BreadEggsMilkSquick He appears to be dying or dead]].
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20	The reasons are different, but the remedy is the same -- a good solid nudge to get him to speak up. [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible The "nudge" need not exactly be a "nudge"]]. It can come in other forms, such as a kick under the table or an elbow in the ribs. It may be accompanied by the nudger [[{{Ahem}} clearing his/her throat]].
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22	This trope can occur in a number of places. Some of the most common non-dramatic ones are in conversation or at a play when one actor has StageFright.
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24	The inversion is a BeQuietNudge. It is a subtrope of HintDropping and in cases where it is PlayedForDrama, may overlap with PleaseWakeUp.
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26	----
27	!!Examples:
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29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32	* ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'': In the episode "Showdown at Dark City", Misty suggests making up pseudonyms so the group won't blemish their reputation by essentially taking sides in a gang war. Ash and Misty come up with names fairly quickly, but Misty has to nudge Brock to make him speak since he's too busy gawking at the female recruiter.
33	* In [[Anime/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGenerationDivineWars the anime adaptation]] of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars: Divine Wars'', Aya is responsible for doing this to Ryusei in order to remind him to stick to military protocol, which is justified since he had enlisted with the Earth Federation Army recently under pressure from Major Ingram so that he wouldn't be arrested.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Fan Works]]
37	* In ''Fanfic/GreyjoyAllaBreve'', Theon does this to Robb when he becomes dumbstruck [[spoiler:with his betrothed Margaery's beauty.]]
38	* In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Insontis}}'', [=McCoy=], who is playing a role-play game with the de-aged Kirk, kicks the biobed he has [[StrappedToAnOperatingTable strapped Spock to]] in order to get the Vulcan to say his lines.
39	* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'':
40	** Zim does this to Skoodge in the first chapter to get him to go along with the on-the-spot lie that he's Zim's cousin.
41	** Later, Red does this to Purple to keep him from accidentally revealing to Tenn that they forgot all about her.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
45	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': When Ratigan addresses his robot duplicate of the Mouse Queen and it doesn't respond, [[PercussiveMaintenance he gives it a slap to make it go]], unaware that this is because Basil and company had overpowered his henchman backstage and taken control of the robot.
46	-->'''Ratigan:''' That is, of course, with Your Highness's permission.\
47	''[the robot doesn't respond, so he give it a smack]''\
48	'''Robot Queen:''' ''[controlled by Basil]'' Most assuredly... ''you insidious fiend!''
49	* In the first ''WesternAnimation/IceAge1'' movie, Manfred just seemingly pulled a HeroicSacrifice and is down for the count. Sid approaches him and urges him to "say something, anything!" to confirm he's okay. He mutters something, and is told to clarify by Sid, so clarifies after that and says Sid is stepping on his trunk and unintentionally choking him.
50	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', one of Tyler's classmates nudges him after Mei blows off Tyler's demand for more rides saying "You gonna take that, Tyler?"
51	* In the ''WesternAnimation/WallaceAndGromit'' short ''WesternAnimation/AMatterOfLoafAndDeath'', one of the first signs that [[spoiler:Piella]] is evil is that the spoiled character's [[KickTheDog nudge to their dog was too hard.]]
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
55	* The opening scene of ''Film/{{Black Panther\|2018}}'' has Wakandan King T'Chaka appearing right in the middle of an undercover Prince N'Jobu's apartment in Oakland while the latter's friend, James, is in the room. N'Jobu immediately kneels before the king, then — without looking up — hits a still-staring James in the chest so that he follows suit. [[spoiler:This is subverted bare minutes later when "James" turns out to be Zuri, another undercover Wakandan agent.]]
56	* In ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', during a promotion at a store-opening, Gwen has to nudge fellow actor Alexander to get him to once again spit out his character's despised catchphrase.
57	-->'''Alexander:''' By Grabthar's hammer... What a savings.
58	* ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'': Ron has to nudge Harry during the Hippogriff lesson in order for him to go forward as Hagrid had asked.
59	* Janet nudges Brad to get him to speak in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Literature]]
63	* Near the end of ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' book ''The Arctic Incident'', Butler gives Artemis a nudge to prompt him to thank Holly for saving his parents.
64	* In the ''Literature/BekaCooper'' Literature/TortallUniverse sub-series, socially anxious Beka needs these regularly. By the end of her first time speaking in court, she suspects her legs will look like eggplants in the morning from the number of kicks Tunstall and Ersken have administered.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
68	* ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'': During a big production number by the Volunteer Fireman's Brigade the Captain pushes a dimwitted member out in front so he can introduce the Captain. The Captain ends up PlayingCyrano, feeding him the introduction phrase by phrase, then acts surprised when he "discovers" that he's the one being talked about.
69	* ''Series/TheBradyBunch'': Most famously in the episode that introduced CousinOliver, "Welcome Aboard." When Oliver won't go with the family on a movie studio tour, Carol begins a series of nudges to get Oliver to think that if he's not going, no one else is willing to go.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Music]]
73	* The premise of the chorus for the Music/MichaelJackson song "Smooth Criminal", The character finds "Annie" assaulted, so he goes "Annie, are you OK, would you tell us, that you're OK?" to the girl.
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
77	* Once in awhile, these can be noticed by the crowd, although these are often subtle enough to be hidden by the wrestlers. Most often -- but not always -- this happens when one wrestler (or the referee) misses a cue to perform a spot, although these can simply be reminders that a hot spot is coming up as part of a planned-out match.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	* ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankIntoTheNexus'' Clank does this to Ratchet after he said "No" at first to Captain Qwark's offer to rescue them ("Did someone call for a savior?"). He then changes it to "Yeah! It was us who said that!"
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Web Animation]]
85	* ''WebAnimation/TF2Analysis'': In "Mission Unpossible", Lightning Bliss bucks [=AnY Pony=] to wake him up, as he's snoring during the briefing.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Webcomics]]
89	* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0538.html Celia once disguises as a half-fiendish necromancer]] to trick hobgoblins guards, with Haley and Belkar pretending to be corpses. However, the guards get suspicious and demand she demonstrates her necromancy. When Belkar doesn't initially respond to "Darkblood Gloomgloom" pronouncing a fake incantation, Celia smacks him.
90	-->'''Celia as Darkblood Gloomgloom:''' I said, "ARISE, dead '''halfling''' corpse that is '''right in front of me''', and take a semblance of life!" NOW!\
91	'''Belkar as undead: OW!''' OK, OK, I'm arising already.
92	* In ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'', Madeline is quite often tongue-tied around Derek the Cleric, mostly because of her obvious crush on him. Mimic finally convinces her to talk to him about her ResurrectionSickness, but only after a good nudge do the words come out of her mouth.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Western Animation]]
96	* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins'' episode "Lazy Daze", Midgel nudges Zidgel in the chest roughly in order to get him to apologize for being lazy.
97	* In the ''Toys/EverAfterHigh'' episode "The Day Ever After", Blondie nudges Dexter to make him nod in agreement with what their friends are saying. This is an early hint that Dexter is secretly part of the group she was mocking.
98	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
99	** In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E22ABirdInTheHoof A Bird in the Hoof]]", Twilight gives Fluttershy a "make noise" nudge, to get her to help in covering up the sound of Philomena's coughing so the Royal Guards don't hear.
100	** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E3LessonZero Lesson Zero]]", Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both give one to Sweetie Belle so she'd say something along with them [[ItMakesSenseInContext to placate an obviously deranged Twilight Sparkle trying to offer them an ugly doll.]]
101	** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E16ItAintEasyBeingBreezies It Ain't Easy Being Breezies]]", when Fluttershy suggests to the Breezies it is safe to leave now, one ostensibly sneezes, then nudge another Breezie, who follows the lead and starts coughing.
102	** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E2TheCutieMapPart2 The Cutie Map - Part 2]]", Twilight gives Fluttershy a bump to remind her that she needs to say that [[FakeDefector she wants to join their cult in order to spy on Starlight Glimmer]].
103	** In the beginning of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E6AppleoosasMostWanted Appleoosa's Most Wanted]]", Scootaloo nudges Apple Bloom so that she'll ask her sister if they can participate in the rodeo events.
104	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. During a school assembly introducing new principal Ned Flanders, he asks if there are any questions. Jimbo nudges Kearney, telling him to ask a question or else they'll all have to go back to class. Kearney asks what the new principal's policy is on lunch.
105	* In the second episode of ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', Luke Cage nudges Sam Alexander so he can introduce himself.
106	* At the beginning of the ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' episode "King George and the Ducky", Jimmy and Jerry Gourd are both wearing cardboard cutouts of Bob and Larry. After Jimmy tries introducing himself as Bob the Tomato, Jerry tries introducing himself as Larry the Cucumber, but stops after saying "And I'm Larry", prompting Jimmy to give Jerry a nudge in the side, so that Jerry can finish with "the Cucumber".
107	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PromptingNudge