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Misused: Gag Boobs

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To-do list:

  • Clean up examples that simply refer to large breasts existing, since the trope is about breasts as a source of comedy (regardless of size, and including male examples involving "man boobs" or fake breasts worn by crossdressing men).
    • Clean up on-page examples.
    • Clean up wicks.

    Original post 
NOTE: The following thread was proposed by Acebrock. Please give credit to them.


Gag Boobs is another ancient trope that has serious misuse problems. It's for large boobs played for laughs in some way but is more often used for giant boobs in general. A wick check is here and it's bad. I found five examples of giant breasts played for laughs (and two borderline examples that may qualify with a rewrite) out of 64 examples on 52 pages. All the other examples were either just giant boobs in general, sinkholes, or ZC Es.

I suspect the name is part of the problem and think a rename at minimum is the best option. As a proposed name, Hilariously Large Bosom might work (though that may draw similar misuse) or Large Boob Comedy. Alternatively, we could rename and expand the trope to include all examples of breasts in general being used for comedy, instead of just limiting it to large boobs. In which case, I would suggest naming it something like Boob-Based Gag, Comedic Boobs, or something similar.

If it's decided to cut/redirect/disambig the page, unless I'm explicitly forbidden from doing so, I'll grab any examples of boobs being used for comedy and see if there's enough for a TLP. if there is, I'll go ahead and run it.

BTW, the trope description itself admits to widespread trope decay. From there: "Contrary to what widespread Trope Decay would have us believe, this trope is not synonymous with "any pair of breasts bigger than a D cup", but refers specifically to large breasts regularly and intentionally used to comedic effect."

Wick check:

    open/close all folders 
    Big boobs actually used for comedy 5/ 64 
  • (Laser Hallway) In Good Luck Ninomiya Kun, this trope is combined with gag boobs to comical effect. After much careful sidestepping, eventually Tsukimura Mayu's breast obscures one of the (sensory-only) beams and sets off the security response. Needs a rewrite, though
  • (Characters.Ladies Versus Butlers) Gag Boobs: Selnia boobs are the main source of this. For example, in episode 5, when Sanae trips once again falling onto Akiharu, dessert from his tray lands on Selnia's chest. And it was standing. Even lampshaded by both Tomomi and Akiharu. Again, could stand a rewrite
  • (Characters.Skullgirls Main Characters) Gag Boobs: Certainly not as Gag-worthy as others, but she measures at 36E and lists "Back pain" as one of her dislikes.
    • It's actually made into a constant visual gag, as many of Valentine's animations have her adjusting her top or supporting her breasts as she pulls items from her cleavage.
    • Eliza makes note of her cup size in her pre-round introduction, rather than trash talking like she would with anyone else.
    Are you blessed by Taweretnote , or a scalpel? Borderline
  • (VideoGame.Tales Of Xillia) Gag Boobs: Not in a direct way, while Milla has big knockers, they instead use Jude's lack of knowledge about that for humor (TEACH ME ABOUT BAZONGAS!). After all, 'bazongas' is a slang word for 'boobs'. Definitely could stand to get more detail, though
  • (VisualNovel.High School Romance Magi Trials) Gag Boobs: When turned into a girl, Shaun finds himself with rather big mammaries. Both he and Charlie poke fun at their size, the latter at one point claiming that she could use them as cupholders.

    Sinkhole 13/ 64 
The links to the trope will be bolded for convenience

    Giant boobs in general 33/ 64 

    ZCE 13/ 64 

Edited by GastonRabbit on Mar 15th 2023 at 1:08:21 PM

Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#51: Mar 20th 2023 at 4:17:51 AM

I'm taking a break from Authority Equals Asskicking and dewicking this one for a while.

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
mightymewtron Angry babby from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Angry babby
#53: Mar 21st 2023 at 3:54:26 PM

I'm noticing a lot of examples being cut that clearly seem to be humorous, like "breasts are comically and unrealistically large" or "large boobs result in slapsticky Head-Turning Beauty accidents" without being moved to Boob-Based Gag. Are these misuse? What would thus qualify as valid use then?

EDIT: Okay one of the entries I was confused about was indeed moved to Boob-Based Gag, but my point stands that I feel I've seen some cut that could've been moved.

Edited by mightymewtron on Mar 21st 2023 at 6:55:02 AM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#54: Mar 21st 2023 at 4:18:20 PM

[up] Being comically large is not enough. There has to be a comedic purpose. Otherwise, the example will just be summed up as "big knockers" with nothing else following.

Edited by Berrenta on Mar 21st 2023 at 6:21:13 AM

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#55: Mar 21st 2023 at 4:27:13 PM

Right. The amount of misuse I'm seeing in the wicks is bad. More than half of the examples or potholes are just Gag Boobs = big boobs.

Edited by Gosicrystal on Mar 21st 2023 at 12:28:41 PM

Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016
Just stoic wisdom.
#56: Mar 21st 2023 at 5:10:52 PM

[up] I tend to just remove the wick and add some kind of an adjective like "ridiculously-sized" or if it's just a name pothole, "buxom [name]."

Vehicle-Based Characterization | Grief-Induced Split | Locker Mail
amathieu13 Since: Aug, 2013
#57: Mar 21st 2023 at 6:46:07 PM

I feel like we've discussed before the idea of spinning out a trope from a thread along the lines of "Hilariously Over/Undersized" to cover items intended to be comedic because they are either comically oversized (like a giant pair of glasses) or comically undersized (like a tiny violin)...

That said, this trope isn't that so those examples should be removed.

Edited by amathieu13 on Mar 21st 2023 at 9:46:46 AM

WarJay77 Bonnie's Artistic Cousin from The Void (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Bonnie's Artistic Cousin
#58: Mar 21st 2023 at 6:48:32 PM

Yeah, I've discussed the idea in the past but there's been no TLP effort for it yet. Since that example is saved on here, it can be picked up if a TLP is made.

Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
BlackMage43 Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
#59: Mar 21st 2023 at 7:09:44 PM

[up][up], [up] I usually use Parodied.Trope for that effect.

And incidentally, as I wrote this, I noticed that the Parodied.Trope page denotes Boob-Based Gag as the "parody trope" of Buxom Beauty Standard. We discussed earlier this trope shouldn't be about size, so should that be removed?

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#60: Mar 21st 2023 at 7:51:50 PM

[up] I'm pretty sure we agreed on that, so yank it.

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#61: Mar 22nd 2023 at 6:57:37 AM

Alright, I've removed an example from Sandbox.Hololive Watson Amelia Ch that at first seemed like misuse but might not be upon closer inspection. Thoughts?

  • Gag Boobs: On the EN Minecraft server, there exists a giant Amelia statue who stands over the minecart tracks. She is modestly proportioned, except for her massive boing-boings that extend outward by 10 blocks. Gura did that, and it now stands as one of the many monuments on the railroad leading into the main build area for all to gawk at.

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#62: Mar 22nd 2023 at 1:47:45 PM

[up] I saw instances of that moment on other pages that did explain that it was indeed a gag. Maybe a slight reword to denote that Gura was doing it for laughs would make it fully valid.

Edit: Added under new name, with the slight expansion.

Edited by Berrenta on Mar 22nd 2023 at 3:52:37 AM

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#63: Mar 23rd 2023 at 6:35:41 AM

Another one, from WebVideo.Familiar Faces:

  • Gag Boobs: Princess Melony from his "Simpsons Live" video, one of the several characters he made to showcase the potential of live 2D motion-capture animated avatars. She has over 2,000,000 subscribers and plays mostly games with motion controls.

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
#64: Mar 23rd 2023 at 6:40:14 AM

[up] Okay, not seeing much context in the boob department...or the gag department.

she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
MacronNotes (she/her) (Captain) Relationship Status: Less than three
(she/her)
#65: Mar 23rd 2023 at 6:41:52 AM

I don't think that example has enough context. There's no clear mention of breast based comedy.

Edited by MacronNotes on Mar 23rd 2023 at 9:42:13 AM

Macron's notes
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#66: Mar 23rd 2023 at 6:56:02 AM

Unless the "joke" is that she has 2 million subscribers because of those... I'm trying to give it the benefit of the doubt, but...

StarSword Captain of USS Bajor from somewhere in deep space Since: Sep, 2011
Captain of USS Bajor
#67: Mar 23rd 2023 at 8:40:37 AM

Yeah, just cut that one as ZCE.

Berrenta How sweet it is from Texas Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
How sweet it is
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#70: Mar 24th 2023 at 4:47:31 AM

Removed this one from Recap.The Simpsons S 18 E 20 Stop Or My Dog Will Shoot, but maybe some people find it funny?

  • Gag Boobs: It is revealed that Homer's man boobs have gotten so large that he needs a sports bra to use the stairs.

GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#71: Mar 24th 2023 at 5:21:08 AM

[up]Are you sure if it's misuse? Jokes about "man boobs" still apply in addition to jokes about women's breasts.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Mar 24th 2023 at 7:21:42 AM

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Gosicrystal Since: Jun, 2016 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
#72: Mar 24th 2023 at 6:27:35 AM

I know man boobs are allowed. My doubt was regarding the "funny" part.

GastonRabbit Sounds good on paper (he/him) from Robinson, Illinois, USA (General of TV Troops) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Sounds good on paper (he/him)
#73: Mar 24th 2023 at 6:47:47 AM

Oh, OK. Well, I guess we can leave it off, and if it turns out that the scene does fit and the example text just lacked proper context, someone can put it back later with proper example context later.

Edited by GastonRabbit on Mar 24th 2023 at 8:48:02 AM

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.
Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016
Yindee Just stoic wisdom. from New England Since: Jul, 2016

Trope Repair Shop: Gag Boobs
13th Mar '23 6:30:03 AM

Crown Description:

Gag Boobs is heavily misused, and it was decided to rename it to something that more clearly matches the definition. What should its new name be?

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