Lame Rhyme Dodge

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Stan: "We have to do something!"
Kyle: "We tried but that fat bitch won't let us!"
Mrs. Crabtree: "WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"

Kyle: "I said 'Rabbits eat lettuce!'"
—South Park

Generally speaking, Lame Rhyme Dodge is the result of someone having a Did I Just Say That Out Loud? moment, but doesn't want to/is afraid or embarrassed to admit to having said what they said, or, it's a case of someone trying to dodge having heard what somebody else just said to them. It's the little sibling trope to Last-Second Word Swap.

Frequently used by guys who are tongue-tied around women, or teenagers trying to dodge teachers or other adults.

The way both parties try to dodge this situation is to come up with a word that rhymes or sounds similar to the operative word in the sentence. Unfortunately, this usually results in a sentence that makes no sense at all.

A common variant is to have someone dreaming/daydreaming about something, then they're awakened from their reverie by someone saying "What did you say?" and realize they've been saying everything out loud. They proceed with the clumsy cover-up.

Compare Freudian Slip. Not to be confused with Subverted Rhyme Every Occasion.

Examples of Lame Rhyme Dodge include:


Film

Dr. Evil: Son, wouldn't you like to see what daddy does for a living?
Scott Evil: Blow me.
Dr. Evil: What?
Scott Evil: Show me.

    • And cleaned up for broadcast TV:

Dr. Evil: Son, wouldn't you like to see what daddy does for a living?
Scott Evil: Bite me.
Dr. Evil: What?
Scott Evil: Might be - fun.

  • Lion King: When Banzai grumbles about Mufasa, earning an enraged "What did you say?!" from Scar, he nervously replies "I said, uh...que pasa?".
    • Since "mostaza", "mustard" in Spanish, rhymes with "Mufasa", the Mexican dub renders it as "I said, uh... with mustard!".
  • Inverted in the remake of Ocean's Eleven, Rusty is talking to a bartender, only it's too loud in the bar for them to hear each other. Rusty begins the conversation with something like, "Longest night of my life" When the bartender looks up, wondering what Rusty said, he says, "I'm running away with your wife," and the bartender just nods and smiles.
  • In Wet Hot American Summer, camp chef Gene tends to accidentally mention his odd fetishes and then offer up a lame rhyme dodge:

Gary: You said you were going to... fondle your sweaters.
Gene: Ah, uh - no I didn't. I said... fondue the cheddar... I was thinking about making fondue with cheddar cheese for dinner tonight.

  • An unusual version of this happens in Hot Rod when the main character changes his sentence into something worse instead of something innocuous when he suddenly backtracks on his brief moment of having enough nerve to compliment the girl he likes.

"You look pretty."
"What?"
"Uh, I said you look shitty."

Old Lady at the Opera: Did you like the opera, dear?
Vivian: It was so good, I almost peed my pants!
Edward: She said she liked it better than The Pirates of Penzance.

  • All of Me

Schuyler (Roger's Boss): Women just started throwing themselves at me!
Roger: You must be joking.
Schuyler: What was that?
Roger: I said, "I must be choking."

C.D.: [shouting through the front door] Ten more seconds and I'm leaving!
Roxanne: [opening the door] What did you say?
C.D.: I said, ten more seconds and I'm leaving! Wait a second! What did you think I said?
Roxanne: I thought you said, "Earn more sessions by sleeving."
C.D.: Well, what the hell does that mean?
Roxanne: I don't know. That's why I came out!

  • In Up The Academy, Major Liceman trying to get some action at a dance:

Liceman: Tickle your ass with a feather?
Woman: What?
Liceman: I said, uh, it's particularly nasty weather...we're having.

Live Action TV

Deborah: I'm glad you've become so much more mature, Tony...what are you staring at?
Tony: I was just wondering what colour your bush is.
Deborah: Pardon?
Tony: I was just...wondering...what car rubbish...is.

  • A sketch on The Two Ronnies features Ronnie Corbett's character doing this with every sentence, ie: "Tickle your botty with a feather tonight" is changed to "Particularly grotty weather tonight." Eventually the people around him figure it out and he admits that he's doing it to try and to drum up his trade: he sells deaf aids.
  • Drake and Josh, similar to the Hot Rod example, uses it in a way that's WORSE than what it was before. Drake agreed to pay for Josh's speeding ticket so their father wouldn't find out.

Josh: Thanks, Drake! You're really saving my butt!
Megan: How is Drake saving your butt?
Josh: Oh, I didn't say he was saving my butt! I said Drake was... (realizes he can't think of anything else) shaving my butt...

Tom Servo: Sh-sh-she's turning around!
Mike: Shh!
Crow: [offscreen] Did you say she's turning around?
Tom Servo: No, no, Crow, I said she's spurning a clown!
Crow: Well, I like that too! Where's the Visine?

Lucille: Wait a minute. Are you saying that before they got married, your mom and dad lived together!?
Randy: Oh, no, no. What I said was that before they got married, they loved good weather. See?

    • And another:

Tim: There's nothing wrong with two kids having a nice race down Dead Man's Curve.
Jill: Down what!?
Tim: Fred Man's Curve!

Arthur: Now remember, in here, you're not my servant. I'm just a simple peasant like everyone else.
Merlin: The simple part's right.
Arthur: What?
Merlin: I said, 'The sun is very bright.'

Xander: (to Buffy) You're in love with a vampire?! What, are you outta your mind?!
Cordelia: What?!?
Xander: (to Cordelia) Not vampire... (to Buffy) How could you love an umpire? Everyone hates 'em!

Literature

"And you're a maggot-infested string bean," muttered Louis.
"What?" asked Mr. K.
"I said, you're a magnificent human being."

  • Redwall's The Legend of Luke; two characters insult each other's cooking.

"That wouldn't be hard to do."
"What did you say?"
"I said the sky's far up'n'blue, mate!"
"There's worse cooks aboard than me."
"What was that?"
"I said the sky's as blue as the sea."

  • In Goosebumps #41: Bad Hare Day, the protagonist's sister tells their parents that she and her brother have a secret. When their parents ask what it is, the protagonist says that his sister was saying that she wanted a "wee pet", claiming that she was practicing her Scottish accent.
  • In Lolita, when Humbert Humbert is sitting on the porch of the hotel where he's just arrived with his preteen lover, he has the following somewhat unnerving dialogue with a mysterious stranger who had spoken briefly with him and Lolita earlier:

"Where the devil did you get her?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said: the weather is getting better."
"Seems so."
"Who's the lassie?"
"My daughter."
"You lie-- she's not."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said: July was hot."

Theater

  • A Little Night Music:

Fredrick: You must meet my wife.
Desiree: Let me get my hat and my knife.
Fredrick: What was that?
Desiree: I must meet your wife.

Nicky (talking to Brian and Christmas Eve): I do believe my roommate Rod is a homosexual.
Rod (overhearing): WHAT!?!?
Nicky: Er, I do believe my roommate Rod...has an undescended testicle.

Video Games

Leanne: Ah, this skirt's too short!
Zephyr: Now all we need is a trampoline.
Leanne: What did you say?
Zephyr: I said "the hem looks really keen."

  • Ratchet pulls one when meeting the Plumber, or rather his… posterior.

Ratchet: (to Clank) Look, plumber's crack.
Plumber: What did you just say?
Ratchet: Err, I said, look! The plumber's back!

Web Comics

Belkar: See, this is more like it, now.
Miko: What did you say?
Belkar: I said, "I'm looking forward to cutting out your pancreas, you fascist cow."

Web Original

Billy: Love your hair!
Penny: ...huh?
Billy: [stammers] I...love the ...uh...air.

Casca: I can't believe I'm going to sleep with you in three episodes.
Guts: What was that?
Casca: Uh, I said if we could just find a sheep then we could make lamb burritos!

Western Animation

Rose: Jake!
Rose: [moments later] Jake? I was calling you.
Jake: Oh, did you say Jake? I thought you said ...steak.
Rose: Why would I say steak?

    • Another Jake Long example. Spud, disguised as a member of the Huntsclan sees Jake get knocked down and apparently killed by the Huntsgirl. He calls out "Jake!" and then realising that he's surrounded by Huntsclan trainees, changes it to "Cake! Which is what we'll have to celebrate the death of the dragon."
  • Danny Phantom: Vlad accidentally said in front of Maddie how he wanted to kill Jack. How he fixed it? 'Flapjacks'.

Vlad: They're here, kill Jack.
Maddie: What was that?
Vlad: I said... Flapjacks! Mm-hm, pancakes. I have pancakes.

  • Used all the time in South Park, between Stan and the crabby Bus Driver, and even subverted at one point:

Stan: We're not getting on, you fat bitch!
Mrs. Crabtree: WHAT DID YOU SAY?
 Stan: [contritely] I said, 'we're not getting on, you fat bitch'.
Mrs. Crabtree: [pacified] Oh. Okay, then.
Kyle: Dude!
Stan: I always wondered if that would work!

Cartman: How would you like to suck my balls?
Mr. Garrison: What did you say?!
Cartman: Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. What I mean to say was * gets out a megaphone* How would you like to suck my balls, Mr. Garrison?

  • Happens in The Simpsons, when Mr. Burns was dreaming of his lost teddy bear:

Burns: Bobo... Bobo... [wakes up]
Smithers: Who's Bobo, sir?
Burns: Hm? Bobo? Er... no, I said... Lobo! Sheriff Lobo. They never should have cancelled that show."

    • And parodied immediately after when it cuts to Homer who actually is shouting about Sheriff Lobo.
    • Done by Mr. Burns a second time in Treehouse of Horror III:

Marge: Am I coming?
Mr. Burns: Of course. We wouldn't think of going without the bait-- uhh, that is, the bait-thing beauty. The bathing beauty! I covered that up pretty well.

Littlefoot: (referring to the travelling dinosaurs entering the valley) They know they can find food here, and then be on their way.
Cera: Yeah, with a belly full of our treestars!
Petrie: Only if you not eat them all first..
Cera:: What did you say?!
Petrie:: Er...me say..."oh gee, that sure be the worst!"

  • In The Critic, Jay was so deluded that he interpreted his producer Gary Grossman's opinion of his script in this way.

Jay: All right, it's just you and me. Now what did you think of my script?
Gary: It was excrement.
Jay: Did you say "it was excellent?"
Gary: It was crummy.
Jay: Did you say "it was yummy?"
Gary: It was an awful piece of junk that made me want to puke all night.
Jay: Did you say "it was an awesome piece of spunk that you want to shoot tonight?"
Gary: It was a bilious piece of dirt that made me cry out in pain.
Jay: Did you say "it was a brilliant piece of work, and you'll fly me to Spain? Where we'll meet King Juan Carlos and drink sangria all night?"
Gary: You piece of blech.

    • In the pilot, after Jay falls out of a Daydream Surprise about the woman whose movie he's reviewing...

Jay: (mumbling) Beauty and King Dork...
Valerie: What?
Jay: I said, "how useful is the spork!" You know, that spoon/fork thing you get at Kentucky Fried Chicken? (aside) I covered that up pretty well!

Joan of Arc: Abe, I'm so mad at you I could kiss you!
Abe: What did you say, Joan?
Joan of Arc: I said, I'm so mad at you I could piss glue.
Abe: Really? It sounded like you said "I could kiss you."
Joan of Arc: No, I said: "I could piss glue." It's a very common expression.

Snively: Your stupidity will ruin everything, you ugly boil.
Dr. Robotnik: What was that, Snively?
Snively: I said the doomsday machine is going to need more oil, sir.

Stewie: I love you.
Brian: What?
Stewie: Uh...I said...olive juice...
Brian: Olive juice?
Stewie: Olive juice you too.

Donna (wryly): Oh, believe me, there's plenty of room for three in this bed.
Cleveland: What?
Donna: Uh...I said, 'There's plenty of room for Clee in this bed!'
Cleveland: You never call me 'Clee.'
Donna: Of course I do! I love you, Clee.

  • In Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child's take on "Thumbelina", the mole is played by a fruit bat, who shows Thumbelina his collection of pinned butterflies. Seeing one she recognizes, she exclaims, "Mario!" which she tries to pass off "Marry you, I can't wait to marry you."
  • Somewhat of a subversion in Phineas and Ferb's Musical Cliptastic Countdown: Dr. Doofenshmirtz does this with his plan to control people using his MIND-CONTROL-INATOR. When he realizes that all of what he just said was on-camera, he quickly says, "I meant, 'Mimes control my gator!'" Cut to two mimes and an alligator.

Dr. D.: See? And you thought I was just making it up!

    • Then he starts going off on his plan to Enslave the Tri-State Area... I mean... Engrave my pie-plate carrier!

Dr. D.(pulls out a pie tray): "It's silver!"

    • Happens between Doofenshmirtz and Monogram again in the character commentary on Chronicles of Meap. Subverted when, instead of using this trope, Doof flounders and says the same exact thing again.
    • Happens to Candace in "Spa Day" due to the fact that she doesn't seem to understand that no matter how loudly she speaks and the person is standing right next to her, they can still hear what she's saying. Jeremy even goes to point this out, leading to the truly horrible rhyme dodge while talking to Stacy:

Candace: "Look, I don't want him to know about the whole spa thing. He'll think all I care about is myself."
Jeremy: "Candace?"
Candace: (to Jeremy) "Uno momento por favor!" (turns back to Stacy) "Look, we'll go help people for like fifteen minutes and then we'll go to the spa."
Jeremy: "Candace!"
Candace: (to Jeremy) "Your call is very important to us and will be answered in the order received." (turns back to Stacy again) "We'll still be able to make it to our spa day!"
Jeremy: "Candace, if you'd rather have a spa day..."
Candace: "Oh, you heard SPA day? Because I said HURRAH DAY!"

  • In the 2010 Pound Puppies episode "Nightmare on Pound Street," the main characters are discussing a puppy whose ugliness has kept him from being adopted:

Niblet: It's so sad. I mean, just because he's creepy-looking--
Freddie: *overhearing* What do you mean 'creepy-looking?'
Niblet: Um...did I say 'creepy?' 'Cause I meant *thinks for a minute* 'sleepy!' Yeah, I meant sleepy-looking.

  • Blinky Bill did this a lot, in one case setting up the plot of the episode by changing "Have you ever seen such a silly face?" to "We're practicing for a heavy race". He then proceeds to give Mayor Pelican the idea for a Fun Run to raise money for a new hospital.
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