- Basic Trope: A character calls someone at a bad time.
- Straight: Bob is trying to sneak into Emperor Evulz's lair. He gets a call from Nate, and says that it's not a good time right now.
- Exaggerated: Nate calls Bob while he's fighting Evulz.
- Downplayed: Nate calls Bob when he's about to enter Evulz's lair.
- Justified: Nate didn't know, because Bob didn't tell him.
- Nate is secretly a traitor, so he does this to ruin Bob's attempt at sneaking through.
- Inverted: Big Damn Heroes
- Bob is captured by Evulz, who forgets to take away his phone. Nate calls and when Bob doesn't answer, he realizes something is wrong.
- Subverted: Bob says it's "not a good time" but continues on his merry way.
- Double Subverted: Then, something really bad happens and Bob says, "I have to let you go. NOW is a REALLY bad time!"
- Parodied: Nate calls Bob to ask him if he's fed his cat, Fluffy.
- Zig Zagged: Nate calls Bob several times at various times.
- Averted: Nate does not call Bob at a bad time.
- Enforced:
- Lampshaded:Bob: Hello?Nate: ...Bad time?Bob: Very. *Click*
- Invoked: Nate knows Bob is doing something very important and decides to call him.
- Exploited:Bob: Nate, you have bad timing...but I could really use your help right now.
- Defied: Bob mutes his phone and leaves an automatic message.Sorry, I'm Kinda Busy Here.
- Discussed: "Y'know, Nate, you should really learn when is a good time to call and when is not."
- Conversed:
- Deconstructed: Nate was trying to Bring News Back to Bob, but had no immediate form of communication, so he called him. Bob telling him that it's not a good time without letting him explain proves to be his downfall.
- Reconstructed:
- Played For Laughs: Bob has an Embarrassing Ringtone.
- Played For Drama: Nate has been Secretly Dying for months, and Bob's dismissal of him was the last thing he ever said to him.
*Ring!* *Ring!*What? This is not a good time, Troper! I'm Kinda Busy Here!
