Is That the Best You Can Do?

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Stock phrase: "Is that the best you can do?" or "Is that the best you got?" Optional responses include "Not even close" (if the first speaker's been beaten to a pulp) or "Unfortunately, yes..." (if the first speaker doesn't even have his/her hair mussed).

Often said defiantly, only rarely despairingly. Usually said by a person that abides by The Law of Diminishing Defensive Effort. If it's followed up by Now It's My Turn, you better hope you have your legal affairs in order.

See also Punch-Punch-Punch Uh-Oh and Won't Work On Me for situations where this is most often said.

Demonstrated in this Rotten Tomatoes Show clip.

Examples of Is That the Best You Can Do? include:


Anime and Manga

Sanosuke Sagara (Zanza): [after being punched in the head with a dagger and being completely unharmed] Is that the best you can do? Even with a dagger? Man, I sure picked a boring fight.

  • Happens a lot in Dragon Ball Z when the saiyans aren't at the level of the moment's Big Bad...or vice versa, sometimes.

Frieza: Well, now! Satisfied?
Goku: (getting back on his feet) Is that the best you can do?
Frieza: What?
Goku: I said, is that the best you can do?

  • The Nightmare King from the Animated Adaptation of Little Nemo in Slumberland says something similar as Nemo attempts to remember the incantation to activate the Royal Scepter, the only thing that can defeat him.
  • Occurs frequently in Bleach, both from bad guys to good guys and good guys to bad guys: "Is that all you've got?" Generally indicates that the loser is in dire shape, but somehow they will still triumph in the end.

Comic Books

  • Marv's Last Words in Sin City: The Hard Goodbye: "Is that the best you got, you pansies?" This is after taking a seat in the electric chair.

Film

[Mikaela discovers Wheelie and captures him]
Wheelie: Is that the best you got, huh? Is that the best you can do?

Truman: [While sailing in the artificially-roughened winds and seas, he shouts to the sky] Is that the best you can do?

[Johnny engulfs Dr. Doom in a huge fire cone that burns away his clothes and outer skin]
Victor Von Doom: Is that the best you can do?

Gloria the Hippo: Smiles, everyone. Let's get it together. Is that the best you can do, Melman?
Melman: Oh, I'm not smiling. It's gas.

Betty: I'll try? Is that the best you can do?

  • The More the Merrier (1943)

[Carter and Dingle are reading a "Dick Tracy" comic strip]
Constance 'Connie' Milligan: Is that the best you can do with your time?

Patrick Harper: There must be something you can do for him, Father!
Father Curtis: I'm a priest. I pray for him.
Patrick Harper: Is that the best you can do for him?

Marshall: [Backing away as Louis continues pushing him] That the best you got? Is that the best you got man?

Tillover: How does a week in the hole sound?
Djinn: A week, is that the best you got? I was once in a hole for 3000 years, this should be a breeze.

  • Treed Murray.

Shark: Is that the best you got, Murray?

  • Rocky said this at least once during his climactic fight with Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and much more than that.

Literature

Iofur: Is that all? Is that all?!

  • Iorek rips off Iofur's jaw*

Iorek: Yes. That is all.

Live Action TV

Kyril Finn: You haven't tasted real fear yet, Doctor.
Doctor Beverly Crusher: Is that the best you can do? Is fear the only weapon you have?

Kensi Blye: Crashing in the spare bedroom, is that the best you can do? You were lucky I didn't shoot you.

David Silver: I was thinking we could take it down to the beach somewhere and bury it.
Dylan McKay: It that the best you can do?

  • Monk episode "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"

Adrian Monk: Ok, fine. His name is Doctor...Door.
Harold Krenshaw: Doctor Door? Is that the best you can do? I suppose if we were standing by that alarm you would've said Doctor Bell.

Peggy Bundy: [off-screen, implying they're having sex] Come on, Al. Is that the best you can do?

Lister: What time is it?
Rimmer: [drunkenly crawls over to the alarm clock] Saturday.
Lister: Is that the best you can do?
Rimmer: There are some numbers next to it but they could be anything.

  • Johnny Ringo episode "The Assassins" (1960)

Johnny Ringo: Go ahead, Chet. Go ahead and draw!
Chet Tomstedter: Sure. I shoot an unarmed man and you and that fancy shot kid gun me down for murder legal. Is that the best you can do, Ringo?

  • Smallville episode "Exposed". Jonathan Kent, "Is that the best you got?" variant.

Music

  • The Protomen song "Vengeance" has Mega Man give the "Is this the best you've got?" version when making his way through Wily's hoards. And it is AWESOME!

Video Games

Web Original

Stone: (dusts his shoulder off and looks at the driver) "That all you got?"

Western Animation

Wheeler: We're gonna try to tickle the clam open? Is that the best you can do?

  • In Martin Mystery, when the gang is fighting a really evil baddie, Martin dodges a really nasty fireball.

Martin: Is that the best you've got?! (Quietly) Because that was pretty good.

King Rat: That's the best you got? Bird, that is some weak sauce!

  • Teen Titans: "Robin, is that the best you can do?"
  • Spoofed in the Halloween Simpsons episode where Groundskeeper Willie is killed off in every story. During "The Shinning", he comes running into the house after Homer goes crazy.

"Alright, loony! Show me what you've got!" (Homer sneaks up behind him and axes him in the back) "Ach! Is that the best you can do?" (dies)

"Is that the best you could do, Starscream? And to think, you actually believed you could take over as leader of the Decepticons." (Powers up fusion cannon) "You couldn't lead a parade." (Va-voom)

"You'll have to do better than that!"

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