Part 5 of the Laconical List of Subtle Trope Distinctions. Items are sorted alphabetically by whichever trope is alphabetically first; if you're looking for a specific one, use the "Find" or "Search" function of your Web browser.
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Schmuck Bait vs. Press X to Die:
- You got caught in an Obvious Trap.
- Schmuck Bait: "My god, you are an idiot!"
- Press X to Die: "My god, I am an idiot!"
Secret Art vs. Signature Move:
- A move the character is well-identified with:
- Secret Art: Because only they know how to.
- Signature Move: Because they use it far more than anyone else.
Sergeant Rock vs. The Neidermeyer vs. Drill Sergeant Nasty
- A man in charge is tough with his men.
- Sergeant Rock: He's a respected, competent leader.
- The Neidermeyer: He's a hated, incompetent fool.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: He's widely hated but does a great job of training his men.
Senseless Sacrifice vs. Stupid Sacrifice:
- Senseless Sacrifice: Sacrifice turns out to be in vain.
- Stupid Sacrifice: Heroic Sacrifice that wasn't the only option.
Servant Race vs. Slave Race
- Servant Race: Created specifically to serve.
- Slave Race: Formerly free, Made a Slave.
"Shaggy Dog" Story vs. Shoot the Shaggy Dog
- The characters set out on an adventure, and...
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: ...accomplish nothing.
- Shoot the Shaggy Dog: ...accomplish less than nothing and die.
Shock-and-Switch Ending vs. Surprisingly Happy Ending
- A story unexpectedly has a Happy Ending because:
- Shock-and-Switch Ending: It seemed as though the happy ending was undermined.
- Surprisingly Happy Ending: It seemed as though the happy ending wasn't gonna happen at all.
A Simple Plan vs. Zany Scheme:
- The ridiculous, convoluted plan started out:
- A Simple Plan: Straightforward.
- Zany Scheme: Ridiculous and convoluted.
Sorting Algorithm of Evil vs. Sorting Algorithm Of Villain Threat:
- The longer a series goes on, the more _____ the villains get.
- Sorting Algorithm of Evil: Competent
- Sorting Algorithm Of Villain Threat: Ambitious
Sorting Algorithm of Mortality vs. Sorting Algorithm of Deadness:
- Charts explaining:
- Sorting Algorithm of Mortality: Chance of dying.
- Sorting Algorithm of Deadness: Chance of staying dead.
Stalked by the Bell vs. Timed Mission:
- What happens when the timer expires?
- Timed Mission: Instant Game Over, man.
- Stalked by the Bell: Something in-game starts harassing/attacking you; finish the level or die trying!
Subverted Kids' Show vs. What Do You Mean, It's for Kids? vs. What Do You Mean, It's Not for Kids?:
- Subverted Kids' Show: G-rating characters, R- to X-rated show.
- What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: Really is a kid's show, but doesn't look like it.
- What Do You Mean, It's Not for Kids?: Mistaken for a kid's show because it's in the Animation Age Ghetto.
- What Do You Mean, It's Not for Little Girls?: Could easily be a kid's show (especially aimed at girls) but is intended for adults.
Sugar-and-Ice Personality vs. Tin Man
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: So, The Spock really does have emotions.
- Tin Man: Wait! Why did The McCoy just claim he has no emotions?
Suicide Attack vs. Taking You with Me:
- Alice killed herself and the Big Bad at the same time...
- Suicide Attack: ...because it was the only way.
- Taking You with Me: ...because she was going to die anyway.
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Tagalong Kid vs. Bratty Half-Pint vs. Kid-Appeal Character:
- The little kid who...
- Tagalong Kid: ...follows the team.
- Bratty Half-Pint: ...wants to be on the team.
- Kid-Appeal Character: ...actually is on the team.
Tattle Tail vs Tipped Off by the Tail:
- An animal's tail...
- Tattle Tail: reveals emotions it would prefer to keep hidden.
- Tipped Off by the Tail: exposes its disguise as a human.
Tempting Fate vs. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?:
- Impending catastrophe is glossed over by character...
- Tempting Fate: Because it looks straightforward to them. Everything will be fine!
- What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: Because they're sure they've covered every contingency.
Tomboy vs. Bokukko vs. Shorttank vs. The Lad-ette:
- Tomboy: Super-Trope, girl who acts like a boy.
- Bokukko: Uses male language.
- Shorttank: More boyish than girlish.
- The Lad-ette: More boyish than many boys.
Training "Accident" vs. Unwinnable Training Simulation
- It's a drill...
- Training "Accident": ...but something goes horribly wrong.
- Unwinnable Training Simulation: ...but the cast isn't able to win.
Trope Codifier vs. Trope Maker vs. Trope Namer vs. Ur-Example
- Trope Codifier: The example everyone else copies.
- Trope Maker: The first well-known and deliberate example.
- Trope Namer: Provides the name used here; may or may not be any of the others, or even an example of the trope.
- Ur-Example: The first example.
Two Lines, No Waiting vs. Third Line, Some Waiting vs. Four Lines, All Waiting
- In one work, the plot is formed by...
- Two Lines, No Waiting: ...several interconnected plotlines.
- Third Line, Some Waiting: ...several interconnected plotlines with one that's only significant near the end.
- Four Lines, All Waiting: ...several unconnected, alternating plotlines.
U
Undesirable Prize vs. Zonk
- A Game Show prize sucks...
- Undesirable Prize: ...but wasn't intended to.
- Zonk: ...to make fun of the losing contestant.
Unexpected Successor vs. You Are in Command Now:
- Unexpected Successor: Your dad died, now you're king until you die.
- You Are in Command Now: Your captain died, now you're filling in until the real replacement gets here.
Universe Bible vs. Universe Compendium vs. Universe Concordance vs. The Wiki Rule:
- A database of the series:
- Universe Bible: By the producers, for producer use.
- Universe Compendium: By the producers, for fan reading.
- Universe Concordance: By fans, for other fans.
- The Wiki Rule: In the form of a wiki.
Unwinnable vs. Unwinnable by Design vs. Unintentionally Unwinnable vs. Unwinnable Joke Game vs. Endless Game:
- Unwinnable: It's impossible to complete the game because...
- Unintentionally Unwinnable: ...the Dev Team screwed up (even if you helped).
- Unwinnable Joke Game: ...the fact that you can't win is the punchline.
- Endless Game: ...the game just continues forever until you die. How far can you get anyway?
V
Vitriolic Best Buds vs. With Friends Like These...
- Alice and Bob...
- Vitriolic Best Buds: ...really are friends but fight and name-call a lot.
- With Friends Like These...: ...say they're friends but actually hate each other.
W
Weapons-Grade Vocabulary vs. Words Can Break My Bones
Vocal language is the...- Weapons-Grade Vocabulary: ...sole cause of pain.
- Words Can Break My Bones: ...sole medium of a spell.
What the Hell, Hero? vs What the Hell, Player?
- A heroic character does a bad thing...
- What the Hell, Hero?: ...and gets called out for doing it.
- What the Hell, Player?: ...and you get called out for making them do it.
With Friends Like These... vs. Who Needs Enemies?
- With Friends Like These...: 'Friends' who really hate each other.
- Who Needs Enemies?: Allies with the same goal but contrasting agendas.
Word of God vs. Word of Saint Paul vs. Word of Dante vs. Word of Gay
- The info about a work is from:
- Word of God: One or more of the creators.
- Word of Saint Paul: Someone who knew the creators or helped make the work.
- Word of Dante: A really popular fanwork.
- Word of Gay: One or more of the creators, about a character's sexuality.
