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Repeat What You Just Said

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"Let's have an old-fashioned brainstorming session. We'll get Chinese food, and we'll throw pencils and stick them in the ceiling, and someone will say something innocuous, and I'll say, 'Wait...say that again.'"
Michael, The Good Place

Bob is talking to Alice. Alice may have a problem and be looking for inspiration to solve it; Bob engages in a long and unhelpful monologue while Alice ponders, but one of Bob's comments ignites a "Eureka!" Moment. Alice promptly turns to Bob and says, "Wait. Repeat what you just said." Bob, bemused, repeats the very last thing he said — which is usually irrelevant. Alice impatiently retorts: "No, what did you say before that?" Bob repeats it, and it's exactly what Alice needed to hear.

Compare Comically Missing the Point and Dramatically Missing the Point, when the comment Alice fixates on is much less important than the other things that Bob says.

Alternatively, Bob's monologue may be an attempt to hide the truth inside a long distraction (see also Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick):

BOB'S DAD: So what'd you do with Alice?
BOB: Not too much, went out for pizza, stopped at the mall, got a parking ticket, hung out at the arcade, went down to the park, same old stuff.
BOB'S DAD: Wait... Repeat what you just said.
BOB: I went down to the park?
BOB'S DAD: Before that.
BOB: Stopped at the mall?
BOB'S DAD: After that...
BOB: "comma, space?"

If he can remember so clearly what it isn't, he could probably save a lot of time by remembering what it is, but that wouldn't be as interesting.


Examples:

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    Anime & Manga 
  • Case Closed:
    Policeman: *rushes in* Inspector Yamamura! We've finished getting all of the Ryokan employee's alibis! At the time of the crime, it seems everyone was preparing breakfast.
    Yamamura: Say that one more time.
    Policeman: Umm... At the time of the crime...
    Yamamura: No, before that.
    Policeman: The Ryokan employee's alibis...
    Yamamura: Before that.
    Policeman: In- Inspector Yamamura...
    Yamamura: Ah! That's it, that's it! Good work!

    Fan Fic 
  • From Calvin & Hobbes: The Series:
    Andy: (describing all the times Socrates has been injured) Well, let's see. Your voice has been switched into that of a duck's, you've been electrocuted by the MTM, you've been trapped in the hypercube, a transmitter has been inserted into you, you've been ejected into the clou...
    Socrates: Wait a minute, what was that last one?
    Andy: Uhhh... electrocuted by the MTM?
  • Terminal Justice:
    Shopkeeper: Just the common everyday items: potion ingredients, invisibility cloaks, black dragonhide gauntlets that contain magical cores to allow for hands-free spell casting and sub-dimensional pockets to contain unlimited weaponry, brass cauldrons...
    Harry: Wait! What was that last bit?
    Shopkeeper: Oh, the brass cauldrons? Size 2 with extra thick bottoms; great for brewing-
  • In All in a Nott Thalia gives Hermione a note to take to Harry before flying class.
    Daphne: What did the note say?
    Thalia: Oh you know, don't shame the family, make Hedwig proud, how's Draco's murder coming along? I hope you're ready to be beaten by me, you'll be a natural. You know, the normal.
    Pansy: Wait. What was that middle one?
  • When the Thunder Breaks:
    Luna: Would a bribe get me in? The gulping plimpies warned me I'd have to buy my way out of something. Let's see, I've got half a cookie, a plum and a quarter, three knuts and a sickle, one manticore feather, and Harry Potter.
    Auror: Look I'm flattered but that's not quite- Wait, did you say Harry Potter?

    Films 
  • There's an absolutely hilarious version in A Bronx Tale. An eight year old boy from the Bronx witnesses a mob boss kill a man, but follows the code of silence by not telling the police anything. When he goes to confession, however, rather than leaving it out entirely he tries to squeeze it in between sins like missing Sunday Mass and eating meat on Friday. Naturally the priest catches on and responds with this trope. Link to full scene.
    Young Calogero: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been one month since my last confession, and these are my sins: I missed Sunday Mass twice... I lied about witnessing a murder once. I ate meat on Friday...
    Priest: Wait. Can you back up a bit?
    Young Calogero: I ate meat on Friday once?
    Priest: Not that one. Back up a little more.
    Young Calogero: About witnessing a murder?
    Priest: Yeah, that's the one. Do you realize what you said?
    Young Calogero: It was only once, Father!
  • In Back to the Future, the band members playing at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance scare off Biff's cronies and mean to get Marty out of the trunk only for this to happen when Marty tells them the car keys are in the trunk with him. Doubles as an Oh, Crap! moment.
    Band Leader: Alonzo, where're your keys?
    Marty: The keys are in the trunk!
    Band Leader: Say that again...
  • In Back to the Future Part II, Marty is walking on the street in 2015 and discusses the sports news with Terry:
    Marty: Wait a minute. Cubs win the World Series... against Miami?
    Terry: Yeah, it’s something. Who would have thought? Hundred to one shot! I wish I could go back to the beginning of the season, put some money on the Cubs.
    Marty: I just meant Miami... What did you just say?
    Terry: I wish I could go back to the beginning of the season, put some money on the Cubbies!
    [Marty goes and buys the fateful sports almanac.]
  • The Gay Divorcee: Zigzagged a little by sneaking in the unusual item at the end, but it's still an attempt to slip something serious into a casual list, which is caught by the listener. When Guy finally catches up with Mimi in the park, he pulls out a picnic basket and props it on the running board of her car.
    Guy: Can I offer you anything? Frosted chocolate? Cointreau? Benedictine? Marriage?
    Mimi: What was that last one?
    Guy: Benedictine?
    Mimi: No, the one after that.
    Guy: Oh, marriage?
  • In I, Robot, the hero's grandmother says, reminiscing, "I could follow your trail of breadcrumbs all the way to school" to which the hero replies, "Breadcrumbs... Gigi, you're a genius!"
  • From Independence Day:
    Julius: Get off of this freezing concrete floor before you catch cold. Come on.
    David: What did you just say?
    Julius: You mean about faith? Well, you see, a man can either...
    David: No, no, I don’t mean that part.
    Julius: What? I don’t want you to catch cold?
    David: Duh!
    Julius: What’s the matter with you?
    David: Genius, Dad! [In the next scene, David introduces a plan to disable the alien ships with a computer virus.]
  • From Ralph Breaks the Internet which leads to the plot:
    Felix: Isn't that just a blessing? [chugs root beer] Eeeee-oh-boy!
    Ralph: Wait. What'd you say, Felix?
    Felix: Um, isn't that just a blessing?
    Ralph: No, the weird sound thing.
    Felix: Oh. Eeeee-oh-boy?
    Ralph: Yeah. Eee-oh... Sorry, say it again?
    Felix: Eeeee-oh-boy.
    Ralph: Eeeee-oh-boy.
    Felix: Eeeee-oh-boy.
    Ralph: Eee-boy! Say it again?
    Felix and Ralph: Eeeee-oh-boy. eboy! eboy! eboy! eboy? eboy? Yeah.
    Felix: Um, what are you getting at there, Ralph?
    Ralph: That kid out at the arcade said there was a steering wheel part on the internet, it's something called eboy or eBay! That's it, it was eBay!
  • Monsters, Inc.: Mike and Sulley are banished to the human world and find themselves in the cave of the Abominable Snowman. As he goes on about the benefits of living in the frozen tundra, Sully learns there's a nearby village with kids, meaning there are closet doors that will allow them to get back to their world and rescue Boo.
    Abominable: I mean, how about all this fabulous snow, huh? Oh, and wait till you see the local village. Cutest thing in the world. I haven't even mentioned all the free yak's milk.
    Sulley: Wait, w-what did you say?
    Abominable: Uh, yak's milk. Milking a yak ain't exactly a picnic. But you know, once you pick their hairs out, it's very nutritious.
    Sulley: No, no! Something about a village! Where? Are there kids in it?
    Abominable: Kids? Sure! Tough kids, sissy kids, kids who climb on rocks...
    Sulley: Where is it?!
    Abominable: H-Hey! It's at the bottom of the mountain! Around a three-day hike!
    Sulley: Ugh, three days?! We need to get there NOW!

    Literature 
  • Happens in Jingo, when a chance remark of Leonard's plants the seed of Vetinari's grand plan. The two are discussing an island which just rose out the sea a few days ago.
    Leonard: Oh, yes, Leshp. I made some sketches there a few years ago.
    Conversation continues. Eventually, a dissatisfied Vetinari leaves. Ten minutes later:
    Vetinari: (coming back in after navigating the numerous death traps leading to Leonard's room like he was playing the fastest, deadliest game of hopscotch) You did what?

    Live-Action TV 
  • 30 Rock: Parodied in a scene where Jack is working with the writers to try to figure out a new innovation in microwaves.
    Frank: Forget it.
    Jack: Wait. Say that again.
    Frank: I said "forget it"!
    Jack: "Four-get it". Four smaller doors!
    Twofer: Yes! We'll crack this yet!
    Jack: "Wheel crack this yet!" Wheels! Put wheels on it!
    After a series of additional improvements, such as adding cup holders and replacing the oven with an AM/FM radio, they realize that they have invented — the Pontiac Aztek.
  • Full House did the second variation in the episode in which Rebecca goes bungie jumping.
  • The Mentalist:
    Lisbon: Where is everyone?
    Van Pelt: Weird, they all called in to sign out. Jane wasn't feeling well, Rigsby's got a hot date, and Cho got Kings tickets.
    Lisbon: Son of a—
    Van Pelt: What?
    Lisbon: Jane doesn't get sick, Rigsby's not on a date because he's in love with you, and the Kings aren't playing tonight.
    Van Pelt: You know about that?
    Lisbon: Yeah, they're on the East Coast road trip. They're playing the Knicks tomorrow night.
    Van Pelt: No, I mean about Rigsby. How do you know about that?
    Lisbon: Everybody knows that. The attorney general knows that.
  • Monk: In "Mr. Monk Takes the Stand," Evan Gildea has been acquitted of murdering his wife thanks to his defense lawyer discrediting Monk on the witness stand. Afterwards, while working to help clear the name of a friend of Randy's who's been accused of murdering an auto parts store clerk during a snatch-and-grab robbery, Monk finds evidence that the murder was actually committed by Gildea to cover up an emergency taillight replacement he made on his car to preserve the alibi he'd made for his wife's murder. Gildea's lawyer shows up to get him out of custody, and as he's leaving, Stottlemeyer and Monk warn him that the truth will come out about Gildea's complicity in this murder.
    Evan Gildea: When are you people gonna stop hassling me? You've got the real killer here. That dope-smoking, chain-snatching, little thug right over there. [points to Rudy] He killed her. Everybody knows it.
    Adrian Monk: Excuse me. Wait a minute. Hey, did you hear what he just said?
    Leland Stottlemeyer: Yes, I did. I wonder why you're asking.
    Adrian Monk: [to Powell] Did you hear what he just said?
    Evan Gildea: I didn't say anything.
    Adrian Monk: You just called that young man "a chain-snatching, dope-smoking little thug."
    Evan Gildea: I was being kind.
    Adrian Monk: How did you know about the chain-snatching?
  • A jarringly awkward one in Stranger Things. Class bully Troy is in the police station to report a little girl breaking his arm. Hopper has more important things to worry about, like missing kids and a mysterious bald girl.
    Deputy: So what'd this girl look like?
    Troy: She had no hair, and she was bleeding from her nose. Like a freak.
    Hopper: What'd you just say?
    Troy: I said she's a freak!
    Hopper: No, her hair. What did you say about her hair?

    Theatre 
  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as a running gag, ending the show as an unfinished punchline:
    Rosemary: Darling, I don't care if you work in the mailroom, or you're Chairman of the Board, or you're President of the United States, I love you.
    Finch: Say that again.
    Rosemary: I love you.
    Finch: No, before that.
  • At the climax of Legally Blonde, after they've relocated to the bathroom (It Makes Sense in Context...sort of), Elle asks the court stenographer to read back the most recent part of the transcript. She immediately starts reading back the song that accompanied the transition, which she apparently wrote into the record. Elle has to specify that she means the witness' testimony.

    Web Animation 
  • In Hunter: The Parenting the recipe for Big D's omelette sauce is a long list of mundane condiments ending with a bit of graphite from an RBMK reactor core.
    Kitten: A bit of what?
    Big D: Uh, ketchup?

    Webcomics 

    Web Video 

    Western Animation 
  • In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katara first notices Aang as a potential romantic interest because of one of these: an offhand comment by Sokka had echoed a Fortune Teller's prediction of her love life.
    Katara: Wait, what did you just say?
  • Danger Mouse: Penfold and the Prophet of Puttingham Down have a go with this in trying to find Merlin's Mystic Inkwell.
    Prophet: Have you got a mystic word?
    DM: No.
    Prophet: (to camera) Straight to the closing credits, then.
    DM: Now, look here!
    Penfold: 'Cor, you've got a bally nerve! This is Danger M—
    Prophet: What did you say?
    Penfold: I said, this is Danger M—
    Prophet: No, before that.
    Penfold: Um... 'Cor.
    Prophet: No.
    Penfold: You've.
    Prophet: Keep going.
    Penfold: Got.
    Prophet: No, no.
    Penfold: A.
    Prophet: Nope.
    Penfold: Bally nerve.
    Prophet: That's it! That's the mystic word!
  • Danny Phantom:
    • From the episode "Maternal Instinct"
      Vlad: I've forgiven Jack for many things: causing the accident that ruined my life, stealing you, the backwash incident-
      Maddie: Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up. What was that?
      Vlad: Causing the accident that ruined my life?
      Maddie: No, after that.
      Vlad: The backwash incident?
      Maddie: (annoyed) No, in the middle!
      Vlad: You mean the stealing you part? Oh, Maddie, you could always see right through me! I'm just going to come out and say it! Maddie, please dump Jack and stay here!
    • And again in "Secret Weapons":
      Jazz: Oh, Uncle Vlad, I've run away from home; my father's an idiot, my brother hates me, and I wanna live with you.
      Vlad: Wait, what was that?
      Jazz: I've run away from home?
      Vlad: N-No, after that.
      Jazz: My brother hates me?
      Vlad: No, in the middle!
      Jazz: My father's an idiot?
      Vlad: *joyous* That's the one!
  • Used in the Doc McStuffins episode "That's Just Clawful" when they find a crab toy buried in a vegetable garden.
  • Used in an episode of Fairly OddParents when Mr. Crocker offers coffee to Cosmo and Wanda who are disguised as Timmy's parents but he knows better:
    Mr. Crocker: Can I get you anything? Cream? Sugar? Magic?
    Wanda: What was that last one?
    Mr. Crocker: Sugar?
  • Family Guy:
    • In the episode "The Son Also Draws":
      Lois: I'm sorry Peter. I feel so foolish. It just seemed like such a good cause. Everyone in the tribe gets a share of the casino's profits.
      Peter: What did you just say?
      Lois: I'm sorry Peter?
      Peter: After that.
      Lois: I feel so foolish?
      Peter: After that.
      Lois: Casino's profits?
      Peter: Before that.
      Lois: Everyone in the tribe?
      Peter: Now the whole thing.
      Lois: Everyone in the tribe gets a share of the casino's profits?
      Peter: That's it! Let's go.
    • Subverted hilariously in "Family Gay":
      Lois: What exactly did they inject you with?
      Peter: Hepatitis vaccine, some steroids, the gay gene, calcium, a vitamin B extract...
      Lois: What did you just say?
      Peter: The gay gene. I assumed that's what you meant, even though it wasn't literally the last thing I said, when you said "What did you just say?", it's just that was clearly the most unusual.
      Lois: Yes, that's the one I meant. Peter... are you... gay?!
      Peter: (raising his right hand, singing high-pitched) Guilty!!!
  • Some beautiful back-tracking in episode 201 of Home Movies:
    Paula Small: What were you saying?
    Brendon: Can we move the flowers?
    Paula Small: Before that.
    Brendon: This meatloaf is dry.
    Paula Small: Before that.
    Brendon: This is meatloaf?
    Paula Small: Before that.
    Brendon: This fish is dry.
  • Kim Possible:
    • In "A Sitch in Time", Future!Shego gloats to Kim and Ron by explaining how she took over the world.
      Future!Shego: Went back in time, went big into dot-coms, got out before the bubble burst, opened a bank, transferred your sidekick's mother to Norway, started an evil think tank...
      Ron: What a minute, what?
      Future!Shego: Evil think tank. You know, mind control, weird ray things and...
      Ron: No, before that!
      Future!Shego: Oh. Oh yeah, I transferred your mama to Norway. You know, break up the team.
    • In "A Very Possible Christmas", Ron and Drakken are fighting aboard the spaceship Drakken built in his latest attempt to Take Over the World. After they accidentally push some buttons:
      Drak-Force 1: Initiating emergency system test. Launching escape pods. Initiating self destruct.
      (A shelf extends from the wall with a glass, toothbrush, and teddy bear)
      Drak-Force 1: Initiating bedtime sequence.
      Ron: Wait a second... what was that?
      Drakken: (moves in front of the shelf to hide the teddy bear) I don't know what you're talking about.
      Ron: Before the teddy bear!
      Drak-Force 1: Self-destruct in twenty....
  • In My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Daring Done?, Pinkie is reading a newspaper when a particular ad catches Rainbow's attention:
    Pinkie Pie: "Noodles Named Official Food of Whinnyapolis". "Author A. K. Yearling Announces Retirement". "Cloudsdale Election Heating Up for Candidate in Favor of Cooling It Down".
    Rainbow Dash: What?! Let me see that!
    Pinkie Pie: I never knew you were so into politics, Rainbow.
  • An example from Penguins of Madagascar, though the statement being repeated is from earlier in the episode.
    Skipper: Kowalski! What was it you were saying earlier?
    Kowalski: Uh... "This stinks"?
    Skipper: No, no, before that!
    Kowalski: "Mama, I make boom-boom"?
    Skipper: Too far back.
    Kowalski: (Beat) "No land mammal should be able to move that fast"?
    Skipper: Bingo!
  • Used in Phineas and Ferb, by a (maybe purposely) obtuse Jeremy;
    Jeremy: *to Candace* What I like about you is...
    [they are interrupted by a giant rainforest growing underneath their picnic spot]
    Jeremy: Wow, this is incredible!
    Candace: Um, what was that you were saying?
    Jeremy: I said "this is incredible!"
    Candace: No, before that?
    Jeremy: I said...."wow"!
  • The Powerpuff Girls (1998): In "Slave the Day", Big Billy of the Gangrene Gang comes into their hideout crying about his time trying to help the Powerpuff Girls for saving him.
    Billy: Ace, it was terrible! First, the Powerpuff Girls save Billy from choo-choo, then Billy try to help Powerpuffs, then Powerpuff Girls be mean...!
    Ace: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a second! Billy, start over.
    (Billy walks out of the hideout)
    Ace: Um, after you came in, Billy.
    Billy: Oh, sorry.
  • Variation in Quack Pack, as the thing that's being repeated is actually the one that you'd expect should be, but the triplets only hear what they want to.
    Huey: Uncle D wants us to clean our room.
    Dewey: But that's a lot of work!
    Louie: So we thought you might have something that would do it for us!
    von Drake: Okay, what do I got around here? We got a karaoke simulator, Belgian cheese duster, superhero machine over here, subatomic room cleaner...
    Louie: What did you just say?!
    von Drake: The subatomic room cleaner! Ho ho, that's it, hoo! You know, if you can keep it from exploding and blowing up.
    Huey: No no, this! The superhero machine!
  • Played with in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost":
    Patrick: He really needs to get to the great beyond.
    SpongeBob: Patrick, say that again.
    Patrick: That again.
    SpongeBob: No, the other thing.
    Patrick: No, the other thing.
    SpongeBob: No, what you said before when you...
    Patrick: No, what you said before when you...!
    SpongeBob: Never mind! I've got an idea.
    Patrick: Never mind, I've got an idea.
    • A straighter example is used in the later episode "Born to Be Wild":
      Patrick: Those bikers think they're so tough. With their leather hats and their leather pants.
      SpongeBob: Their leather socks.
      Patrick: If we dressed up like that, then we'd be the big, scary bikers and they'd be little...baby...doody-heads.
      SpongeBob: Say that again, Patrick.
      Patrick: Little baby doody-heads?

 
Top

Patrick, say that again!

Well, he didn't really mean "that again", but...

How well does it match the trope?

5 (10 votes)

Example of:

Main / RepeatWhatYouJustSaid

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