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Lampshaded Tempting Fate seems closest.
Isn't Tempting Fate for when the thing you wish not to happen actually happens? In the example I have in mind we never see the cardboard prank actually happening.
Maybe that would be a subversion...?
Edited by Lermis Space Battles Dot Com fanworks (unnoficial) index in my Sandbox.
I can't think of a specific trope, but it's definitely a thing. Here are two examples:
- The Twits: When Mr Twit has tied Mrs Twit's feet to the ground, with her arms pulled upwards by balloons, Mrs Twit asks if her feet are tied properly, because if the strings break, she will fly up in the air. This gives Mr Twit the idea to cut the strings tying her feet down.
- The Famous Five: In Five Go Adventuring Again, George tells her mother how at school, she was punished for Timmy the dog's misbehaviour. Her mother then jokingly says she might do the same thing.
Huh. Sounds like a trope proposal. Accidentally Gave Them The Idea? Stop Giving Him Ideas is something of a stock phrase, I think.
Space Battles Dot Com fanworks (unnoficial) index in my Sandbox.
^ Damn. There it is. Was looking all over for it.
^^ First time I see this trope... Let's see how it fits.
Space Battles Dot Com fanworks (unnoficial) index in my Sandbox.
Well, we don't see it, but Bob seems determined to make it happen now. Maybe we'll see it later, maybe it's going to be a Noodle Incident, or maybe Alice will (after many shenanigans) stop him. But she did tempt fate. This said, wow. We do have a trope for everything, don't we? Never even knew about this one.
A character accidentally provides an idea to a troublemaker. Something like this:
Bob: "Oh my god, that'a great idea! Now I HAVE to do it."
Alice: "Oh shit."