Gesundheit: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

A joke in which one character says an unusual name or a long, odd-sounding or uncommon word, and another character reacts by saying "gesundheit" or "bless you," as though the first character just sneezed.

A common form of the joke is for the [[Idiot Hero]] or [[The Big Guy]] to start things off by using an [[The Malaproper|incorrect term]], only to reply "gesundheit" when corrected by another character, as in the following hypothetical example:

 

'''Big Guy:''' Gesundheit. }}

 

In this form, the trope is used to illustrate the character's lack of intelligence: not only did he get the original word wrong, he failed to recognize the correct word when provided with it, mistaking it for nonsense (whether it actually sounds anything like a sneeze or not). It can also be used by a [[Cloudcuckoolander]] or someone so naive that they honestly don't recognize the word.

 

 

== Comic Books ==

* Played with in one story of ''[[Archie Comics]]'', where they come to an aid of a young foreign prince. Jughead always says Gesundheit whenever the prince mentions the name of his country, "Kashew".

 

== Comic Strips ==

 

 

== Films -- Animation ==

'''Mushu:''' Gesundheit. I kill myself. }}

'''Flynn:''' Gesundheit. }}

 

== Films -- Live-Action ==

* An self-deprecating example from ''[[Last Action Hero]]'':

'''Jack:''' Gesundheit. }}

 

== Literature ==

* ''[[Winnie the Pooh]]'': The original book contains a dragged-out scene where Owl says they must issue a reward for Eeyore's tail, and Pooh replies "What did you say we should so with a reward? You sneezed just as you were about to tell me." They go back and forth on this several times.

** The trailer for the 2011 film has a scene in which Owl says that they must "issue a reward." Pooh interrupts with "gesundheit," saying that Owl sneezed. Owl replies that "the word is 'issue,' not 'achoo,'" Pooh suggests that he's catching a cold and Eeyore says he'll probably catch it too.

== Live-Action TV ==

* ''[[Top Gear]]'':

'''Richard:''' Ooh, bless you! }}

* Played with in an episode of ''[[Babylon 5]]'', where it's part of a joke being told:

"Gesundheit." }}

* In the ''[[Xena]]'' episode "Warrior...Princess...", a Xena look-a-like named Diana (who happens to be a princess!), is sharing a meal with some poor people, and a little girl asks about the chakram... ah, it goes like this.

'''Diana:''' Bless you. }}

* This became a running gag on the Trevor and Simon sketches in ''[[Saturday Morning Kids Show|Live And Kicking]]'' whenever ''[[Eastenders]]'' star Letitia Dean was a guest.

'''Trevor & Simon:''' Bless you! }}

 

 

== Music ==

* Parodied in a cover of "Minnie the Moocher:"

'''Singer:''' Gesundheit. }}

''De nada, hermano.'' (Bless you, brother.] }}

 

== Theater ==

* The musical ''Wonderful Town'' has several instances in the spoken patter of "Swing!" Here's one:

'''Ruth:''' It's nothing. }}

* ''Merrily We Roll Along'' has one in "Bobby and Jackie and Jack" as the characters imagine the Kennedys' White House cultural events:

'''Beth:''' -- the Russian soprano. Just pronouncing her name is refreshing enough! }}

 

 

== Video Games ==

"Gesundheit!" }}

'''Patrick:''' Gesundheit. }}

 

== Web Animation ==

* Used in an episode of the flash series ''[[Unforgotten Realms]]'' as a [[Running Gag]] with the word "delinquent".

 

 

== Web Comics ==

'''Piffany:''' Gesundheit. }}

 

 

== Web Original ==

* In ''[[Le Donjon De Naheulbeuk]]'', the Dwarf averts it:

'''The Dwarf:''' Die! }}

 

 

== Western Animation ==

'''Patrick:''' Gesundheit. }}

'''Ferb:''' Thank you very much. }}

* ''[[The Flintstones]]'' would have Wilma say "Bless you" in response to Pebbles calling out to the [[Great Gazoo]].

'''Rainbow Dash:''' Gesundheit. }}

* ''[[The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat]]'', after some M.C. Escher-like staircases appear out of nowhere:

'''Felix:''' Gesundheit. }}

* The toy dragon on ''Doc McStuffins'', Stuffy, does this when the titular Doc's new toy doll from Japan, Kiko, speaks in Japanese.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Stock Phrases]]