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 You Know, That Thing Where.
Florestan
Since: May, 2015
MiinU
Since: Jun, 2011
13th Mar, 2019 09:50:38 PM
^^I'd say that falls under Literal-Minded, or Exact Words.
I wouldn't mind failure so much, if I didn't fail so much.
InTheMirror
Since: Apr, 2013
14th Mar, 2019 01:46:01 PM
Literal-Minded covers it best. I remember there was once a discussion in TLP for characters taking idioms and metaphors literally — mainly as comedy, examples were from cartoons, but it didn't lead nowhere, IIRC.
A guard at a medieval castle is trying to aprehend a rogue mage for some reason. But when he shouts "freeze", the mage... does exactly that. Turning into an ice sculpture that's not only invincible, it's also (conveniently) too heavy to move. Forcing the guard to basically give up.