Blackmail Is Such an Ugly Word: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

This trope dates back to movies in the 1930s (and possibly earlier). A character discovers that she is the target of [[Blackmail]] and confronts the blackmailer who, while not denying their actions, would rather call it something prettier like a "comprehensive insurance policy". The line is virtually stock dialogue now; as a trope it is at the very least [[Discredited Trope|discredited]], since it's only used for laughs (or period flavor) these days.

 

A subtrope of [[No Except Yes]] and [[Insistent Terminology]].

 

{{examples}}

== The Classic Line ==

* ''[[S.W.O.R.D.]]'': Abigail Brand lets Gyrich know that his attempted coup of her organisation nearly led to Earth's destruction, she has all the evidence needed to prove it, and the only way she'll keep it to herself is if he quits and tells the higher-ups that she has no need of a co-command.

{{quote|'''Gyrich:''' This is blackmail.

'''Brand:''' I prefer "squeezing your unexplored hairy planetoids in a vise". }}

 

=== Fan Works ===

* From ''[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7831829/1/bLooming_b_bDarkness_b Looming Darkness]'' we have [[Big Bad|Dark]] [[Evil Twin|Link]] quoting this almost word for word in chapter 9.

 

* Played straight in the [[Stanley Kubrick]] film ''[[Paths of Glory]]''.

* ''[[Dial M for Murder]]''

* Hilariously subverted in ''[[It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'':

{{quote|'''Chief Aloysius:''' ''(on the phone with the mayor)'' Now you know the word for this your Honor: it's called blackmail!}}

 

=== Literature ===

His squad-mates dragged him to his feets and took him to saddle their mounts. Kel was grateful. Lofren was happy to talk about matters of law at length, in detail, to anyone who would listen. }}

* Eric Idle's ''[[Rutland Weekend Television|Rutland Dirty Weekend Book]]'' contains a letter to critics in which Idle explicitly states they will be paid bribes for a good review of the book, and subject to physical violence for a bad review, and notes that blackmail is an ugly word, "but in this case, it's also a very accurate one."

* Variant: In the [[Lord Darcy]] novel ''Too Many Magicians'', when the Marquis of London pressures Darcy to take a case, Master Sean calls it blackmail:

{{quote|"'Blackmail' is perhaps too strong a word," Lord Darcy said thoughtfully, "but I will admit that no other is quite strong enough."}}

* Inverted in [[The Culture]] novel ''[[The Culture/The Player of Games|The Player of Games]]''. The protagonist is blackmailed by a drone and the drone actually says something like "What I'm doing to you is called blackmail." Presumably, since [[The Culture]] is a utopia, the protagonist might not actually know what blackmail is.

 

=== Live-Action TV ===

{{quote|'''Admiral Gregory Maitland:''' That's blackmail!

'''Sam Axe:''' No, actually, sir, I believe this form of extortion is known as ''[[wikipedia:Graymail|graymail]]''. It's much nicer than blackmail. }}

{{quote|'''Sir Humphrey:''' It's blackmail!

'''General Selim Mohammed:''' Are you referring to me or my proposal?

'''Jim Hacker:''' Your proposal, obviously! No, wait, not ''even'' your proposal! }}

 

=== Puppet Shows ===

'''Leo:''' ''(as Jack Nicholson)'' Blackmail is such a dirty word.

'''Leo:''' ''(as himself)'' Jack Nicholson, ''Chinatown.'' And yes. }}

 

=== Radio ===

''Caterpillar''. }}

 

 

* One of the examples given in the song "I Love a Film Cliche" from ''[[A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine]]'' is the trope name, word-for-word.

 

{{quote|'''Snake:''' So, you're blackmailing me?

'''Col. Campbell:''' I prefer to think of it as helping to make you come to a decision more easily. }}

 

=== Web Original ===

{{quote|'''Jadis:''' Ooh. That sounds like blackmail. And blackmail is such an ugly word.

'''Ayla:''' I prefer "intentional torts". At least it sounds like some deliberately tasty desserts. }}

 

=== Web Comics ===

{{quote|'''Max:''' Joe, you're blackmailing people!

'''Joe:''' "Blackmail" is such a negative term. I prefer "mail of color". }}

{{quote|'''Scroggs:''' Blackmail is such a negative term. Let's call it Proactive Synergy Reallocation.

'''Ix:''' Let's call it Susan. Ix always like that name. }}

'''Virus:''' ''(with hurt expression)'' We prefer the term "extortion".

'''Eastwood:''' Hey, it's not ''our'' fault if Commander Schaefer leaves videos of his secret chicken fetish lying around. ''Anybody'' could've broken into his apartment and found them. }}

 

=== Western Animation ===

 

== Examples of a different Ugly Word ==

* From ''[[FAKE]]'':

{{quote|'''Dee:''' So you are in cahoots with Berkeley after all, aren't you? I knew something was up.

'''Diana:''' Awww, cahoots is such a mean, ugly word. We're more like [[Unlucky Childhood Friend|childhood friends]], if anything. Swear to God. }}

 

* ''[[Batman|Joker's Asylum: The Riddler]]'':

{{quote|'''Jessica Duchamp:''' The painting. You're stealing it.

{{quote|'''Lisa:''' You fake the Mars missions here?

'''Lindsay Neagle:''' "Fake" is such a harsh word. Accurate, but harsh. }}

 

=== Fan Works ===

* [[Sdrawkcab Name|Nilvac and Sebboh]], from ''[[Calvin and Hobbes: The Series]]'', react this way to being called "evil". They prefer "dark".

 

* In ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]],'' Milo accuses the others on the expedition of being mercenaries, only to be told they "prefer the term 'adventure capitalist.'"

* In sequels to ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'', it's nearly Iago's catchphrase to say "Hate/traitor is such a strong word".

'''[[Robin Hood]]:''' "Rob?" Tsk tsk tsk tsk -- that's a naughty word; we never "rob." We just... sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.

'''Little John:''' "''Borrow?''" Huh. Boy, are we in debt! }}

* ''[[Chinatown]]'':

{{quote|'''Gittes:''' She was cheating on him. Were you?

'''Jane Foster:''' Stolen.

'''Agent Coulson:''' Borrowed. }}

 

=== Literature ===

'''Dr. Big:''' ''Geisteskrank'' is such an ''ugly'' word.! }}

* Informed by [[The Dresden Files|Harry Dresden]] that there've been two attempts on Harry's life since he was hired to follow him, a private investigator opts to discontinue his assignment, remarking that "accomplice" is an ugly word, as is "penitentiary".

 

=== Live-Action TV ===

* Subverted in ''[[Haven]]'':

{{quote|'''Duke''': Lying is such an ugly word...but yeah, I lied.}}

 

=== Video Games ===

* In ''[[Geneforge|Geneforge V]]'', a bandit argues over semantics.

{{quote|'''Emogene:''' I object to the word "extort". It is an ugly term. We are helping them. If they are so tight with their coins that they can't pay us for this service, it is a good thing we are here to teach them manners.}}

 

=== Web Comics ===

** Then Kathryn [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2013-01-29 argues that she didn't steal the ship]. With its previous captain. (Alexia finds it amusing because they were compensated later, and because it was not nearly the worst part of that mess).

* ''[[The Order of the Stick]]''

* Revolver Ocelot in ''[[The Last Days of Foxhound]]'':

{{quote|'''Revolver Ocelot:''' "Torture" is such an '''inelegant''' word. [[Torture Technician|I'm an artist. Their testicles are my canvas.]]}}

'''Carl''': I prefer to think of it as having an intricate and meticulous disregard for other being's feelings, opinions and welfare.

'''Carl''': That's the beauty of it... ''I don't care!'' }}

 

=== Web Original ===

* [http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/File:MPost12935-60261929db.jpg This] demotivator. They're not pirates, they're ''preemtive nautical salvage experts''.

* [http://www.theonion.com/articles/genocide-is-such-a-harsh-word,10797/ Genocide is such a harsh word...]

 

=== Western Animation ===

[[Category:Crime and Punishment Tropes]]

[[Category:Older Than Television]]

[[Category:No Real Life Examples, Please]]