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{{trope}}
{{cleanup|As per the talk page: "The examples listed here are generally in need of formatting and curation, and at a glance reads like a list of "things the editor had this reaction to" as much as it does "actual examples of this reaction"."}}
[[File:Shive What small 45.jpg|link=El Goonish Shive|frame]]
{{quote|''"Ok, this is the most common thing I write. I've said it 34 times in my notes. Nothing else. Just that single word, followed by a lack of any punctuation. Not a question or an exclamation, just a statement of utter disbelief."''
|''[[Mark Reads Twilight]]''}}
''"What."''
You've just been witness to something [[Mind Screw|so bizarre]], so eye-crossingly stupid (or possibly [[Nightmare Fuel|so mind-crushingly terrifying]] [[Ghostbusters|as to put you beyond the capacity for rational thought]]), that your brain can no longer put together a more articulate response - and so it settles for a '''Flat What'''.
Written as presented, this trope is a [[Stock Phrase]] of sorts that uses a single word to speak volumes about how absurd (or absurdly mundane) the situation is, with spoken examples leaning on the inflection in the speaker's voice - or typically a lack thereof: The "flat" part that distinguishes this from the "What?" that signals a standard (or at most somewhat rude) response or a request for clarification, as well as from the more surprised "What?!" that follows something disturbing or surprising. Further contrasts include:
* "What!?" - Typically the [[Defensive "What?"]], used in response to accusatory stares towards the speaker's actions, or as a form of intimidation (e.g. "I'm in your face, what are you going to do about it!?")
* "WHAT?!" et. al. - The [[Big "What?"]] that signals new levels of absurdity, and is also used primarily for comic effect.
'''Unless someone actually says one in the work, DO NOT list or [[Pothole]] this trope on other pages. This is not an [[:Category:Audience Reactions|Audience Reaction]].'''
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* One of the best parts of the dubbed ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' episode, "Electric Shock Showdown!". Lt. Surge gives a Flat What after {{spoiler|Pikachu nullifies his Raichu's Thunderbolt by grounding its tail}}. [[New Rules as the Plot Demands|This is also a remarkably accurate representation of what every fan of the Pokémon games said at that exact moment.]]
* In the ''[[Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' anime adaptations, this is a favorite reaction of Kyon's alongside the [[Face Palm]], and is in response to some of the following:
*
**
** Asakura {{spoiler|says to Kyon she's going to kill him}}.
* ''[[Student Council's Discretion]]'' has a knocked-out Sugisaki Ken trying to cross the river of Hell to reach his "harem". ''[[Hell Girl]]'', who happens to be passing by on her ferry, responds to this bizarre scene with a flat "Oi..." after he passes her.
* [[Fan Nickname|Greedling]] in the Japanese dub of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' often responds with a flat "Huh?"
* In a chapter of ''[[Shin Mazinger Zero]]'' (a ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' spin-off), Kouji and [[Robot Girl|Minerva-X]] are together inside the cockpit. During the battle Minerva lands on Kouji on a ''very awkward and embarrassing'' position. Sayaka (the [[Clingy Jealous Girl]] and [[Action Girl]]) who has just arrived and destroyed three Mechanical beasts in a fit of jealous rage then notices him. After displaying a tremendously comical [[Oh Crap]] stares, they also try to explain it's not what it seems. Minerva is revealed to actually be a Super Robo created by [[The Professor]] Dr. Kabuto to be Mazinger-Z's partner. Sayaka's reaction?
{{quote|'''Sayaka''':... What.}}
* In ''[[Toradora!]]'', Ami, Kitamura, and Minorin do a flat what after Ryuuji tells them that he and Taiga {{spoiler|are going to run away and get married.}}
* In ''Yankee-kun to Megane-chan'' (''[[Flunk Punk Rumble]]'' in the American release), Izumi reacts this way after the student council finds a necklace that claims to grant three wishes... and Chiba immediately suggests wishing [[Wasteful Wishing|that 5th-period PE get cancelled.
* In the last episode of ''[[Ladies versus Butlers!]]'', after Sernia and Tomomi have had one of their biggest battles ever over a ticket to the amusement park Try Aqualand for a date with Akiharu (won by Sernia), the guy is so [[Oblivious to Love]] that he completely misunderstands their enthusiasm, and gives the other ticket to Tomomi as a "sort of consolation prize". Cue absolutely deadpan
** Honestly, Akiharu's an idiot.
*
*
* [[Axis Powers Hetalia|Russia]] mixes one of these with a creepy, intense stare when Stalin informs him that the White Sea-Baltic Canal he spent a year breaking his back digging is [https://web.archive.org/web/20100211153455/http://aph.starry-sky.com/rsa.html totally useless].
* In a recent{{when}} [[Filler]]/[[Flash Back]] episode, [[Naruto]] (or, more accurately, one of his shadow clones) has this reaction to Tenten summoning what appears to be [[It Makes Sense in Context|thousands of syringes to rain down on him]].
* In ''[[Corsair]]'', in the midst of discussing Aura's wish to marry Canale, Ayace decides to bluntly let everyone know that Canale is his lover. While the others' reactions vary from awkwardness to surprise, Aura simply says "...what."
* Uryuu Minene aka the 9th, a terrorist of some repute, of ''[[Mirai Nikki]]'' does this when {{spoiler|the police officer Nishijima proposes to her. While they were on the run from other police officers. He even has a ring.}}
== Comic Books ==
* This is Doctor Nemesis's reaction to an unexpected teleport in the [[X-Men (Comic Book)|X-Men]] one-shot Blind Science.
** In [[Joss Whedon]]'s ''[[Astonishing X Men]]'', Kitty leaves Emma Frost trapped in a cave beneath the Mansion. She then confronts the hooded leader of the new Hellfire club, who lifts the hood to reveal that she's...[[Mind Screw|Emma Frost!]] She even declares that defeating her, the White Queen (Emma Frost's ''nom de guerre''), won't be as easy as defeating Emma Frost. Kitty's reaction? [[Buffy-Speak|"Yeahbuwha?"]]
* A particularly amusing example from ''[[The Invisibles]]''. A Mexican god of death tells to a very young Lord Fanny that she has to give her body/soul to a passage to the next level of her ritual to become a witch. She doesn't want to... so she offers the god a joke. A god of death answering with a flat what its just priceless (mostly because a lot of readers were asking themselves the same).
* The Devil's response when [[John Constantine]] nonchalantly comments that the candles made booze out of holy water. The booze the Devil just drank, and the candles that Constantine promptly kicks over.
== Fan Works ==
* In ''[[D. Gray Man: The Abridged Series]]'', there is a short starring Kanda and Allen:
{{quote|'''Kanda:''' Hey Allen. You're a bean sprout.
'''Allen:''' Your mom's a bean sprout.
'''Kanda:''' Your beansprout's a mom!
'''Allen:''' ...What. }}
* [[Fullmetal Alchemist|Alphonse and Hohenheim]] have [http://www.cryogenia.com/~dragnl/Valiant/Supernova/?directory=.¤tPic=8 this reaction]{{Dead link}} to Edward's [[Determinator]]-style declaration in a doujin.
** Though in all honesty that should be the reader's reaction to the doujin in general.
* Given the frequency of positively bizarre crap that happens in the Pokémon fic ''[[Brave New World (fanfic)|Brave New World]]'', one can hardly blame [[Only Sane Man|Pikachu]] for reacting this way often. You know it's approaching critical mass when [[Cloudcuckoolander|Leo]] does it though.
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* Waking to a situation that's already taxing her mind, [[Children of the Stars|Keleria]] is further confused by Ayuri saying she's taken a courier job leading to Stranglethorn Vale.
{{quote|''Keleria blinked, feeling about as intelligent as a suffocating fish, "what."''}}
* Draco Malfoy has this reaction in ''[[Harry Potter and
** Harry also ends the first chapter with one.
* In ''[[Dragon Age: The Crown of Thorns]]'', people occasionally exhibit this reaction when the protagonist issues some strange command, like {{spoiler|telling Branka to make golem-sized pickaxes}}.
* Continuing the tendency marked by [[Haruhi Suzumiya|his canon counterpart]], Kyon in ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'' gives a
* In ''[[Weekend at Hisao's
{{quote|'''Takumi''': [[Brutal Honesty|You were an asshole back then]].
'''Hisao''': ([[Beat]]) What? }}
* Luna's reaction to the discovery of Mr. Tsukino's ''[[Kamen Rider]]''-like secret identity in the "Mister Tsukino Does His Taxes and the Household Budget" [[Omake]] to ''[[Shadowjack Watches Sailor Moon]]''.
* ''[[Sailor Moon Abridged|SMA the Movie: Promise of the Lost Rose]]''
{{quote|'''Kisenian:''' Fiore, go! Kill him! He's shitfaced; it'll be easy.
'''Fiore:''' But... he's my lover.
'''Kisenian:''' ... What. }}
* In ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho Abridged]]'', we get this gem:
{{quote|'''Kuwabara:''' Urameshi... [[It Makes Sense in Context|I need you to finger bang me.]]
'''Yusuke:''' What. }}
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'' we get this gem:
{{quote|'''Dartz:''' Here's what we're gunnah do, mayn. We're gonna find Yuu-gay Mowtoe, and we're gunnah take his d?ck.
'''Rafael:''' What. }}
== Film ==
* The best Flat What in history belongs to Kevin Spacey in ''[[L.A. Confidential]]'' when Guy Pearce expresses doubts about the Nite Owl case.
*
* ''[[The Fifth Element]]'': Zorg's response when he learns one of his lackeys failed to take Korben Dallas' spot on the plane.
* ''[[Fight Club]]'': After Jack explains to Marla Singer that {{spoiler|Tyler Durden is a separate personality that he's only just been made aware of}}, she delivers one that manages to be both [[Crowning Moment of Funny|flat and epic at the same time.]]
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* ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]'' - this is Diane's initial reaction when Wayne tells her that his shrinking machine zapped their kids. It becomes a sharper "What?!" as she realizes the implications.
* ''[[Equilibrium]]'': The Nethers squad commander, after Preston kills two of his men. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJOF7jhgAQ With their own shotguns.] ''[[Guns Akimbo|simultaneously.]]''
* There's a fantastic
* ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'': The first evil-ex "boss battle" is already beyond absurd to everyone present in the scene, from Matthew Patel's crashing-in appearance to Scott surprisingly fending him off in fantastical fashion, but when Patel breaks out into a Bollywood-esque number (with demon hipster chicks) in the middle of the fight, a disbelieving Stacy Pilgrim can only manage a "what."
* Toward the end of ''[[Super 8]]'' after {{spoiler|Joe is speaking with the Alien, and the Alien sets Joe down very nicely and starts to leave}} Cary delivers an extremely confounded
* In ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]'', an officious [[The Neidermeyer]] type Colonel confronts Pvt. Joker about his peace sign necklace and helmet which reads "Born to Kill"
{{quote|'''Joker''': I'm trying to suggest something about the duality of man, ''sir!''
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== Literature ==
* Attributed to [[Richard Nixon]] as the epigraph to the fourth part of ''[[Gravity's Rainbow]]''.
* In ''The Zigzag Kid'', Nono says "What is this" instead of asking, because he's too shocked to "wrinkle his voice at the end to make a question" when he finds out {{spoiler|his friend the [[Con Man]] is also his grandfather}}.
* ''[[The Dresden Files
== Live-Action TV ==
* ''[[Family Ties]]:'' This was Alex P. Keaton's response to {{spoiler|Mallory and Nick's decision to get married}}.
* ''[[Blackadder]]'' uses this fairly regularly.
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** Sam is rather famous for these. He has a particularly beautiful one while reading "The Ant and the Grasshopper"; he reads the traditional Aesop's fable until he reaches the last line:
{{quote|"And so it was, dear listeners...that the Grasshopper drove his sports car to Florida, and the Ant got stepped on."}}
* Cameron Mitchell of [[Stargate SG-1|SG-1]] says "what" with varying inflections so often that he's been accused of using it as his [[Catch Phrase]]. Obviously, at least one
* In ''[[Skins]]'', Emily launches one when Katie tells her she ''does'' have to ask her who she sleeps with.
* Both forms are running gags on ''[[Titus]]''; the flat what is often used by Ken Titus, usually toward an unseen observer of his behavior.
* ''[[Lost]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcatQSyRK6c&playnext_from=TL&videos=wc-1fGQaFVc a few of these].
* ''[[Community]]'', right after Jeff telling off Abed's father for trying to control Abed vaguely backfires:
{{quote|'''Abed's Dad:''' Fine! You want to raise him? You raise him! I'm out!
'''Jeff:''' What. }}
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* Frequently, [[Jon Stewart]] and [[Stephen Colbert]] on their respective shows in response to stupid world events. Mostly [[Eagle Land|American]]. Mainly caused by their Politicans/Mediamen.
* Barbara Walters interviewed Herman Cain as one of her most fascinating people of 2011 and gave this when he answered a question about theoretical cabinet positions with he would like to be Secretary of Defense. This from a man who admitted (and demonstrated) he didn't know squat about foreign affairs.
* ''[[Third Watch]]'': After a bad night, Doc does the math on how much they make on each run. Faith's response to the $13.85 is a
* [[David Letterman]] tends to quickly bolt out one if he hears something over the course of his show that's weird or otherwise catches him off-guard.
* ''[[Life]]'''s Captain Tidwell inverts this amazingly, using the
* The first half of the two-hour pilot of ''[[Firefly]]'' features one such moment, when Mal opens up Simon's crate, and finds {{spoiler|[[Girl in a Box|Simon's cryogenically frozen sister inside. Naked.]]}}
{{quote|'''Mal:''' ...huh.}}
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== Music ==
* Bryan Adams and his producer both had this reaction when informed for his next song, what it was they wished for him to come up with. A song about a male stripper. Cue Bryan's "What."
* The Japanese pop duo WaT has nothing to do with this trope. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imeKI07eZCk The comments on their YouTube video, however...]
* In [[The Lonely Island]]'s song "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY&NR=1 Jack Sparrow]
{{quote|'''Michael Bolton:''' (singing) This is the tale of Captain Jack Sparrow. Pirate so brave on the seven seas.
'''Andy:''' What. }}
* In [[Eminem]]'s Just Lose It, he tells a male chorus to grab their left nuts to make their right ones jealous.
== Video Games ==
* The ''[[Second Life]]'' griefing group "W-Hat" takes its name from this.
** More specifically, it takes the name from a ''[[Something Awful]]'' [[Emoticon]] containing a [[Visual Pun|W immediately followed by a hat]], used in much the same way as the Flat What.
* In ''[[Recettear]]'', a very flat "What." is spouted by Tear in a pub conversation where a very drunk Charme says, unflinchingly, that {{spoiler|she became a thief out of necessity, but eventually grew to like the whole "being a murderous thug" thing.}}.
* In ''[[Touhou]] 10.5: Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'', Alice pulls one after being defeated by Remilia in the latter's story.
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'''Remilia Scarlet:''' Hey, Sakuya, that makes no sense! Bring up the next! }}
* In the [[Boss Rush]] of ''[[Final Fantasy IV: The After Years]]'', this is most possible characters' reaction to [[Final Fantasy VI|Ultros]].
* A very flat what appears in the intro to ''[[WCW]]/nWo: Revenge'', when a truck driver notices that [[
* This is Qualstio's reaction to seeing {{spoiler|Tatzylvurm}} in ''[[The Reconstruction]]''.
* From ''[[Katawa Shoujo]]'':
{{quote|'''[[Blind Without'Em|Kenji]]''': "That blind broad is up to no good; I can feel it in my spleen, man. Her presence is like a dark shadow that's in the way of my great vision. [[Hypocritical Humor|As expected of blind people]]."
'''[[Only Sane Man|Hisao]]''': "What." }}
** And again in Lilly's route:
{{quote|'''Kenji''': I've confirmed that [[Yamato Nadeshiko|Lilly]] is in the Mafia.
'''Hisao''': What. }}
** Also in Lilly's route, when Hanako has an [[OOC Is Serious Business]] moment.
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== Web Comics ==
* Parson Gotti of ''[[Erfworld]]'', on Maggie [http://www.erfworld.com/book-2-archive/?px=%2F2010-05-14.jpg unexpectedly casting a suggestion spell on Stanley] to make him leave the room and appoint Parson chief warlord.
{{quote|'''Parson:''' Lolwut.}}
* ''[[8-
** It's important to note that Sarda (Barring {{spoiler|Chaos. Who he turns into.}}) is the most powerful character in the comic and downright omnipotent, and just [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/01/27/episode-1087-exalted-feat had] his mind broke by a character who managed to [[Beyond the Impossible|Dual Wield longbows with two arms]] ''[[Up to Eleven|twice]]'' resulting in [[Serial Escalation|wielding four bows, each with three arrows apiece loaded.]]
** The Lich reacts this way after Black Mage pulls a [[Not Now, Kiddo]] on him (discussing killing his son, Vilbert, right in front of him, on his own property, without even bothering to turn around to address Lich.)
* ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'': Part of a [[Running Gag]] is that whenever something on TV mentions him in some fashion (the infamous "McNinja Burgers" from [[McDonald's]], mayor Goodrich fingering him as the partner in the town's zombie defense system), the titular doctor will spend [[Beat Panel|one brief panel]] staring at the TV in surprise and saying "What." in the next.
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** [http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/17p12 "Yo ho!" "What."]
* In ''[[Hark! A Vagrant]]'', Sucre [http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=207 elicits one of these] from Bolivar after suggesting that maybe they ''shouldn't'' be fighting for freedom all the time. Which, of course, is a completely incomprehensible idea to [[Attack! Attack! Attack!|Bolivar]].
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'':
** Mort the ghost does this one when Annie has her other undead friends scare the bejeebers out of him (as a roundabout way of apologizing) in [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=535 this] strip. ([http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=534 This] one is the setup for it.)
** [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=640 Haha! What?]
* Mike of ''[[CRFH]]'' has been known to use it.{{context}}
* ''[[The Last Days of Foxhound]]'':
** [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=377 Psycho Mantis' reaction] to being told that {{spoiler|Berthold could talk. Being psychic and thus differently-brained, Berthold couldn't get through to him.}}
** Also, [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=35 this strip]:
{{quote|'''Liquid:''' Say, huh... Why don't you levitate yourself up here? You can do that.
'''Psycho Mantis:''' Couple of reasons. First, it takes a lot of concentration, and getting blown up sort of threw me off a little. Second, there's a stalactite the size of a goddamned '''baseball bat''' lodged in my chest.
'''Vulcan Raven:''' [[Completely Missing the Point|Stalagmite.]]
'''Psycho Mantis:''' What. }}
* Many webcomic artists attribute this to Ryan North of ''[[Dinosaur Comics]]''.
** As mentioned in [[The Rant]] of [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1212 this] ''[[Questionable Content]]'' strip.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130112215042/http://badgods.com/mm-leprechaun.html This Bad Gods comic] contains one when the [[Squick|secret behind Fleprechaun gold]] is revealed.
* Occurs in ''[[Pictures for Sad Children]]'' a couple of times.{{context}}
* [http://blankitcomics.com/2008/08/18/what/ This] [[Blank It]] comic is both named for, and delivers, upon Aric finding that the world contains an infinite loop.
* ''[[Questionable Content]]''
** A good one from [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481 Faye].
** [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1212 Sven] has one as well when Wil screws up trying to court Penelope.
** As well as [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 this one] from Faye.
* Seen in this [[Collar 6]] [http://collar6.com/2009/bend-it-like-laura-36 strip].
* Mike Warner of ''[[Shortpacked]]!'' had this reaction upon learning that [http://www.shortpacked.com/2009/comic/book-10/04-hamalanche/what-2/ Amber had adopted a pair of hamsters.]
*
** From [http://dizzy.pestermom.com/?p=thcomic22 this] installment:
{{quote|'''Eirin''': Yes, it tastes almost exactly like "Tewi is trying to get me and Mika to pull a prank."
'''Reisen''': What }}
** Used [[Lampshade Hanging|word for word]] [http://dizzy.pestermom.com/?p=csa01marisa0386 here].
*
** Here's a great one, from the mouth of a [http://hanna.aftertorque.com/?p=22 sassy bat.]
** And also from the mouth of Conrad, who is [http://hanna.aftertorque.com/?p=781 NOT invited to the party.]
* Occurs in ''[[Mountain Time]]'' when an onion sensei is asked about the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140405090718/http://mountaincomics.com/2009/09/28/aisle-5/ human status of Donna the Bears], a woman whose mind is several bears.
* Since the protagonists of ''[[Homestuck]]'' are only connected through IMs, bouts of confusion are common. [http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003553 Example.]
** [[Only Sane Man|Karkat]] says this several times in conversations with [[The Fool|John]], [[The Hyena|Terezi]], and [[The Stoner|Gamzee]].
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{{quote|'''[[Word of God|Dan Shive]]''': I love it when characters say 'what.'}}
* From [[Johnny Wander]], we get [http://www.johnnywander.com/comics/35 this gem.]
* [[Manly Guys Doing Manly Things]] has [http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/398 this triple one.]
* ''[[Awkward Zombie]]'' demonstrates the appropriate male reaction to the [http://www.awkwardzombie.com/index.php?page=0&comic=041111 Pokémon Musical.]
* Alicia does one of these in ''[[Growing Up Grunge]]''.
* The [http://fancyadventures.com/2008/08/08/page-9/ revelation of the premise] of [[The Fancy Adventures of Jack Cannon]].
* [http://www.legostargalactica.net/2011/01/14/01142011/ This] ''[[Legostar Galactica]]'' strip. [[Doctor Who|The Doctor]] apparently can't wrap his mind around the concept of a Dalek ''not'' being [[
* Nita's reaction to "THE AWESOME (untested) POWER OF YOGIC FLYING" in the ''[[Scary Go Round]]'' [[Spin-Off]] ''Giant Days''.
* In ''[[Gastrophobia]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20130926125726/http://gastrophobia.com/comix/2011-04-20.png Phobia's reaction] to being told that {{spoiler|Philia is her and Klepto's daughter.}}
* Avatar of ''[[Far Out There]]'' does one in reaction to a [https://web.archive.org/web/20130113053849/http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/1191539/page-348-i-was-not-prepared-for-that/ particularly flamboyant mad scientist].
* Lillian of ''[[Go Get a Roomie]]'' does a good one [http://nana-51.deviantart.com/art/Go-Get-a-Roomie115-214726726 here].
* Nick gets one in ''[[General Protection Fault]]'' when Trudy accidentally slips
* The nameless mercenary from ''[[Flaky Pastry]]'' reacts appropriately to [http://flakypastry.runningwithpencils.com/comic.php?strip_id=379 this] rather... ''unconventional'' technique.
* Done hilariously by Zelda in [http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/335/8/e/how_skyward_sword_should_have_ended___spoilers_by_metaknuckles-d4hvj7m.jpg this (spoileriffic!) fan comic] of ''[[Skyward Sword]]''.
* [http://www.firmanproductions.com/?p=675 Strip #343] of Michael Firman's ''Moe'', accompanied with an extra-large speech bubble for emphasis.
* In the "Crux's Climb" story arc of ''[[A Moment of Peace]]'', Story asks Ito if he thinks she is happy sitting by the pool waiting for Crux, for which he answers "yes". [http://www.amomentofpeace.net/?num=154 Apparently it wasn't the answer she expected.]
* ''[[xkcd]]'' uses a flat What to start off [http://xkcd.com/1769/ #1769], "Never Seen Star Wars".
* In the ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'' segment "Snips, snails and Dragon Tales" where the members of the Order make up stories (read: "take famous stories from [[Real Life]] and parody them in a 3.5 context"), Roy's retelling of ''[[Hamlet]]'' has Hamlet (played by Roy) utter this when the play he set up to make Claudius (played by Xykon) admit to his father's murder gets... [[Off the Rails|slightly derailed]]. That tends to happen when the leader of your theatre troupe is Elan.
== Web Original ==
* This is a common response online to signal confusion, bemusement and the like, and is particularly common on [[Fora|forums]], [[Image Boards]], social media, or many other online platforms, undergoing various [[Memetic Mutation]]s all the while. It may be written with or without the period at the end, and may also occur as "wha", "wat", "wut?" or similar; a deliberate lack of punctuation may be used to emphasize the flat tone.
** "what is this i dont even" (sic) is a longer form of this response, originating in 2007 when an anonymous Paheal user posted the phtase in the "source link" field of a [[Squick]]y Rule 34 post.
** "i'm 12 and what is this" is another form of this, originating from a confused [[YouTube]] comment under a video of an X-rated clip misleadingly (and deliberately) titled "Jonas Brother Live on Stage"; the video was posted on May 20th, 2009 during a [[4chan]] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8061979.stm raid on YouTube.] Naturally, [https://kotaku.com/bioware-bans-old-republic-player-for-using-internet-mem-5878669 some instances of the meme have lead to bans] with the user posting the phrase being mistaken for someone actually underage.
** The "LOL WUT" meme works in a similar vein, and originated with the quoted words being placed on an image of [https://www.deviantart.com/ursulav/art/The-Biting-Pear-of-Salamanca-29677500 Ursulav's "Biting Pear of Salamanca"].
** In the long''est'' form (verbose): [[Delusions of Eloquence|"I have become quite profounded from your previous statement, so much so that it has become quite humorous how abnormal the said statement is."]]
* The unofficial ''[[
* Pretty much the primary catchphrase of the Goosebumps series review blog, [[Blogger Beware]].
* Uttered by Ironyuppie in ''[[
* The RPGNet [[Hive Mind]] is fond of "man what" (no punctuation) as a response to any completely brain-spraining statement. This was inspired by and often associated with a certain photograph of [[Bob Marley]],
** The hive mind seems to have determined it actually came as a response to [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=206199 someone discussing] the Inferi from ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (novel)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''... to the tune of "The Happy Wanderer" (the "Valderie, Valdera" song). "In-fer-iiiii... in-fer-aaaaaaa..." The first post after that was a prematurely-launched post consisting entirely of "man what"
*** NOTE: The absence of a period at the end of the previous entry is entirely deliberate and proper. The phrase expresses such a profound and utter state of confusion that it ''eradicates'' any and all punctuation and grammar within a radius of one post.
* [[The Nostalgia Critic]]'s review of [[Alone in the Dark (2005 film)|Alone in The Dark]]:
{{quote|'''N.C. (Through Speakonia):''' How did you get in here?
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** The same site's Bum Reviews give us this, from the review of [[Burn After Reading]]:
{{quote|'''Chester A. Bum:''' And at the end, something happens, but at the same time, nothing happens! What.}}
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20130925192646/http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/29922-return-of-the-nostalgic-commercials "You, your mate, and your Johnson."]
*** A particularly good example is when he figures out the evil plan in Future 5.
** The Nostalgia Critic also does this in his review of ''[[The Room]]''.
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([[Beat]])
'''NC:''' What. }}
** [[The Nostalgia Chick]] made good use of this too when she reviewed ''[[Beauty and
{{quote|'''[[Tim Curry]]''': They can't fall in love...[[Narm|if they're DEAD]]!
'''Nostalgia Chick''': What.
''[cue noise and running around as the Tim Curry tries to kill Belle and the Beast through the [[The Power of Rock|power of]] [[Ominous Pipe Organ|dramatic organ music]]]''
'''Nostalgia Chick''': What.
''[The Beast throws a piano at organ!Tim Curry]''
'''Nostalgia Chick''': What...EVER ''just end already''! }}
** [[The Cinema Snob]] got one in ''[[Kickassia]]'' when [[The Nostalgia Critic]] revealed that yes, he really did order twenty tons of dynamite.
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* In Nakar's ''[[Ultima VI]]'' [[Let's Play]], during the parodic [http://lparchive.org/Ultima-4-5-and-6/Update%2057/ "cannon"ical ending], Draxinusom utters the Gargish version of this upon seeing {{spoiler|the Death Cannon that everyone thought to be Steve's insane hallucination}}:
{{quote|'''Draxinusom''': To be saying what.}}
* It's become NothingNow's defacto [[Catch Phrase]] in [[The Creepy Teen Years|AH.Com: The Creepy Teen Years.]]
* In [[Charlie the Unicorn]] 2, Charlie reacts this way when he and his two... um... friends encounter a giant letter Z.
{{quote|'''Blue''': ¡El hombre con el sombrero nos envió!
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** Adrian Shephard in ''Shephard's Mind'' does this ''twelve times'' in response to unleashing a swarm of snarks.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKVha8YqKWo And again:]
{{quote|'''Jon:''' I'd be down with a cool black star like that.
'''Emile:''' Actually, it's official name is [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Ztar]].
'''Jon:''' ...
* On [[Loading Ready Run]]'s ''Daily Drop'' feature at [[The Escapist]], the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131111234715/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/daily-drop/3289-Billy-the-Bass utter indestructibility] of one object lead the captions to declare, "DOES NOT COMPUTE", "SERIOUSLY?" and finally the
* During the production of ''[[
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bRRupLoijM&feature=relmfu Don't tell my dad!]
* ''[[Dragon Ball Abridged]]'' gave us a great one: Piccolo and Krillin use the Multi-Form technique to attack Nappa, but Nappa is still able to dodge their attacks. Piccolo ponders what kind of training Nappa had gone through to be so powerful, but Nappa is simply singing ''Patty-Cake'' in time to his attacks. Afterwards we get this:
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'''Piccolo:''' What. }}
** Another one in Episode 16:
{{quote|'''Yamcha:''' What the hell? I [[Wax On, Wax Off|waxed off]] everything! I waxed off your car, I waxed off your house, [[It Makes Sense in Context|I even waxed off your monkey]]!
'''Piccolo:''' Okay, I just started paying attention - what. }}
** Aaaand Episode 15:
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'''Dodoria''': {{spoiler|I ''am'' a woman!}}
''[[Beat]]''
'''Vegeta''':
** Heck, [[Team Four Star]] is the king of these!
{{quote|'''Nail''': Learn your place earthling! you have some nerve demanding-
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{{quote|'''Zarbon''': Mm, too bad. And that Bardock was such a dashing rogue.
'''Dodoria''': What. }}
** This was also Shenron's reaction in the ''Christmas Tree of Might'' Christmas Special when the group summons him and go on about the forest being devastated by fire. Naturally Shenron thinks they want him to restore life to the forest, but Krillin's response that nah, Krillin just wants a great Christmas tree first makes Shenron do a
* In ''[[My Little Pony:
== Western Animation ==
* [[The Simpsons (animation)|Lisa Simpson]] is fond of this expression. Notably, the episode "Bart's Inner Child" and motivational speaker Brad Goodman:
{{quote|'''Brad Goodman:''' Young man, what made you yell out that remark?
'''Bart:''' I dunno...
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'''Lisa:''' What. }}
* In the second season première of ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'', this is the reaction of The Monarch to escaping from prison through the sewers, grasping the arm of what he believes to be one of his henchmen, and finding that it is instead the arm of Doctor Venture (and that the rest of the doctor is elsewhere, due to a teleportation accident.)
* The ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' episode [[Fantastic Racism|"Troq"]]. Cyborg and Starfire (well, Cyborg's doing the talking) inform Robin that "Troq" is a very offensive anti-Tamaranian slur (they had been assuming it was just a nickname, as they had all been given one). His
** Robin also gets a
** In "Every Dog Has Its Day" when the Titans decide that what they really need to catch the alien dog-thing they're chasing (which has been constantly jumping on [[Ms. Fanservice|Raven]] and enthusiastically licking her every time it sees her) is "some bait". Raven gives the ''flattest'' "...what." you will EVER hear.
* In ''[[The Batman]]'''s fourth season premiere, "The Batman/Superman Story", [[Lex Luthor]] can only manage a strained "''Whaaat''" when it becomes clear his plans have been foiled and Superman is hovering just outside of his [[Humongous Mecha]].
* [[Kim Possible]] does this occasionally, such as when she finds out Monique is a huge wrestling fan.
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', the gang is talking about some strange creature, and Aang simply gives a perfect flat "What."
* This trope is [[Beavis and
* In the later seasons of [[South Park]], the boys' [[Functional Genre Savvy]] (especially Stan) has reduced many of their reactions (to ever-increasingly improbable events) to "what."
* In a "Dial M for Monkey' cartoon on ''[[Dexter's Laboratory]]'', the Justice Friends say this after Rasslor's big melodramatic speech.
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* [[The Powerpuff Girls]] give a flat "say what?" in "Him Diddle Riddle" when they find that they have gone through white heat solving Him's riddles only to fail the last one, and now the Professor will pay...full price for a pancake breakfast.
* ''[[Adventures of the Gummi Bears]]'' pulled one or two. Gusto Gummi had carved a wooden statue of a Gummi Bear that artistically parodied the Statue of Liberty, then it promptly got devoured by a super termite. Cue "What."
* Spike gets one in the ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode "[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic/Recap/S1
* On ''[[Daria]],'' when she reads from [[The Slacker|Trent]]'s journal of song lyrics.
{{quote|'''Daria:''' "My heart is like an open wound/That reads the tea leaves of its doom." What. "Soothe me with redemption's love/Like a heat-proof kitchen glove." God, I hope this is a first draft.}}
* In ''[[Adventure Time]]'', Marceline drops this after Finn says a [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|suggestive line]].
{{quote|'''Marceline:''' Finn, you're like an ant to [[Eldritch Abomination|him]].
'''Finn:''' Oh yeah? Well, ''this'' ant's [[Ho Yay|about to get in his pants]].
'''Marceline:''' ......What.
'''Finn:''' ''(blushes)'' [[That Came Out Wrong|Well--You know!]] }}
* In the ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'' episode "A Real Boy", Vanessa has this reaction when her father mistakenly says that he wishes he had a son instead of a daughter:
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'''Vanessa:''' Whatever. }}
* ''[[Family Guy]]'': Princess Peach when Mario asks her if he can have a kiss after he rescues her.
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Character Reaction Index]]
[[Category:Pothole Magnet]]
[[Category:Stock Phrases]]
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