Basic Trope: An issue which is blatantly obvious, but no one wants to face it.
- Straight: Alice and Bob catch a mutual friend Carol in the act of adultery, and spend the episode avoiding any opportunity to talk to her about it.
- Exaggerated: Alice and Bob see Carol die horribly, and won't even acknowledge that fact to each other.
- Downplayed: Alice and Bob don't want to embarrass Carol by pointing out the food on her chin.
- Justified:
- Some issues are easier to deal with than others.
- Talking about the issue will certainly make it worse.
- Inverted: Everyone knows something is wrong, but they can't figure out what.
- Subverted: Alice and Bob just tell Carol what they know, awkwardness be damned.
- Double Subverted:
- But have second thoughts when one of them asks their cheating friend's spouse a Trial Balloon Question and hearing the answer.
- Alternatively, Alice tries to speak up, but Bob changes the subject or otherwise stops her.
- Parodied:
- Alice and Bob are sitting on the sofa trying to get their minds off this conundrum, when someone riding an elephant literally comes crashing through the wall and rides the elephant through the living room.
- Alternatively, Alice and Bob's day-to-day activities feature an elephant in the background.
- Zig Zagged: Alice and Bob skirt around some issues and tackle others head-on.
- Lampshaded: I Know You Know I Know
- Averted: Everyone is honest and frank about whatever issues they deal with, and deals with said issues promptly.
- Enforced: Rule of Drama
- Invoked: For nefarious reasons of her own, Carol wants her husband to be suspicious of Alice and Bob, so stages an affair when she knows they'll find out. She's confident they'll just act awkwardly around him, but even if they do tell him, she's got an alibi, so they'll look like liars.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied: Alice and Bob march over to their friend's house and tell their friend what they saw.
- Discussed: "Yeah, I'm not very comfortable talking about this. Can we just act like we're in a Soap Opera and pretend we don't know each other's secrets?"
- Conversed: "Gah! If they'd only talk to each other, they'd realise it's all a huge misunderstanding!"
- Deconstructed: Alice and Bob's worrying causes inability to concentrate at work, perform in bed, eat, sleep, etc. Not to mention, every article they read or TV program they watch reminds them of the issue at hand.
- Reconstructed: Alice and Bob are determined that even if it causes them anxiety and strains their friendship with Carol, it's simply none of their business.
- Played For Laughs: Alice and Bob have just found out that their friend picks their nose and make a big deal about it when they're alone.
- Played For Drama: Alice and Bob have a Big Secret, such as the knowledge that a friend is cheating.
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