The TVTropes Trope Finder is where you can come to ask questions like "Do we have this one?" and "What's the trope about...?" Trying to rediscover a long lost show or other medium but need a little help? Head to Media Finder and try your luck there. Want to propose a new trope? You should be over at the Trope Launch Pad.
Chariset
Since: Jan, 2001
2011-07-28 08:21:22
Probably under Stock Sound Effects
It would also count as an Acceptable Break from Reality — yes, no one is using a jackhammer unless they're tearing out pavement, but it universally signals "Men Working" so people expect it
Edited by Chariset

Not sure if it's a trope or not, but is there a trope for this:
Whenever construction work is going on in a cartoon, you always hear the sound of a Jackhammer, even though Jackhammers aren't used for building work (least not the type that's supposed to be going on) This might also extend to the presense of any random constuction sound effects that don't fit with the tools the characters actually have in the scene