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Line 20: * In ''[[Rocket Girls]]'', Yukari is offered a job that's "so simple even a monkey could do it." Yes, monkeys have gone into space. * A variation occurs in an episode of ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', when Chiyo, overwhelmed at the preparations for the Culture Fest, begs someone to turn back the clock before it's too late. [[Cloudcuckoolander\|Osaka]] takes this as literal instruction. * In ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', the last half of the episode{{context\|reason=which episode?}} is set to a backdrop of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy". {{spoiler\|When Kaworu enters Heaven's Door to merge with Adam (and destroy humanity)}}, they sing a part with two of these metaphors: {{quote\|''Freude trinken alle Wesen ''An dem Brüsten der Natur Line 31: == Arts == * Guerrilla street artist [[Banksy]] used the phrase "[[Eat the Rich]]" in one of his works [https://web.archive.org/web/20130620114458/http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3965058479_9ac1fbedf5_z.jpg with a much more literal slant.] == Comic Books == Line 45: == Fan Works == * [[Shantae]] asks Rottytops to "lend me a hand" in the fan art [https://www.deviantart.com/patdarux/art/Shantae-Rottytops-give-me-a-hand-786263333 shown here], and Rotty takes it too literally. ** Obviously the artist took inspiration from [https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=6G0zx6dsBXU a similar scene] in ''[[Toy Story]]''. * [[DeviantArt]] deviant Daniel-Remo-Art creates an odd interpretation of "disco is dead" with [https://www.deviantart.com/daniel-remo-art/art/Disco-Is-Dead-Iray-568673665 this Deviation] of an [[Our Zombies Are Different\| undead]] version of [[Dazzler]]. (Warning, slightly NSFW.) * Another deviant from [[Deviant ART]]; the ''[[Beetlejuice (animation)\|Beetlejuice]]''-inspired comic [https://www.deviantart.com/serisabibi/art/Scuzzo-the-Clown-and-Lydia-895714707 seen here] shows [[Monster Clown\| Scuzzo]] capturing Lydia and subjecting her to [[Tickle Torture]] in order to produce literal canned laughter. Not that this Trope [[Understatement\|wasn't unusual]] in the source material, of course. * Two from ''[[Isekai by Moonlight]]'': Throw pillows. Especially after somebody's made a horrible pun. At a picnic, Sailor Mercury eats like a bird {{spoiler\|after she learns how to fly, swooping down from the sky and grabbing a sandwich}}. == ~~Films -- Animation~~[[Film]] == * In ''[[Chicken Run]]'', Rocky and Ginger are trying to escape from the chicken-pie-making machine. When they get pushed into one chamber, Rocky exclaims, "Whew! It's like an oven in here..." A second later, gas flames shoot up on all sides and the door starts to close. * ''[[Shrek]]'': "You're on fire, donkey!" ~~== Films -- Live-Action ==~~ * ''[[It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]]'' - yes, it is. * Happens in the film ''[[My Favorite Year]]''. Alan Swan is drunk, and hanging off a building by a fire hose. Line 76 ⟶ 80: * Occurs in ''[[Bugsy Malone]]''. One of Fat Sams workers says he can't stop Dandy Dan's gang because "he's all tied up" (he's actually tied up). Fat Sam replies "I don't care how busy you are." * ''[[In Time]]'', with its premise of using the time of your life as currency, regularly features phrases such as "spending time", "out of time", and "give me a minute" used in a literal sense. * ''[[Airplane!]]'' as a visual gag, when someone is warned about the shit hitting the fan. Cut to a view of ~~the~~said fan. == Jokes == * What did the Sphinx say when Oedipus answered his riddle? "Motherfucker!" * [[Stephen Wright]]: "I wondered why the Frisbee looked like it was getting bigger~~, and~~. ~~then~~Then it hit me." * Vampires suck. ** Werewolves bite. Line 91 ⟶ 95: {{spoiler\|'''Tiger:'''}} Bite your head off. Then crunch it. Then swallow it. }} * ''[[Discworld]]'' ''[[~~Discworld/The Truth\|~~The Truth]]'', about the Discworld's first newspaper, begins with someone yelling "Stop the presses!"... because the cart carrying the printing press in question has come loose and is careening down the street. In ''[[~~Discworld/~~Going Postal (Discworld)\|Going Postal]]'', Moist's reaction to seeing the once-proud Post Office is "Oh, shit!" Mr Pump reproves him for his language, but he explains it was a statement of fact: the place is filled with pigeon droppings. Then he finds out {{spoiler\|they're actually piles of letters.}} * Inverted in ''[[The Dresden Files\|Death Masks]]'': Dresden tells Molly she's sounding all grown up, and Molly snarks that "the breast fairy came to visit and everything". Quoth Dresden, to the reader, "Some might find it significant that it took me a second to realize she wasn't being literal about the faerie. Sometimes I hate my life". * ''[[Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency]]'' had [[Eskimo Words for Snow]] gag running into this: Line 222 ⟶ 226: * In an early ''[[Garfield]]'' strip, the protagonist wakes up and steps out of bed, not realizing it's at the edge of the table, which he falls off of. Jon frantically asks what happens, and Garfield replies, "I got up on the wrong side of bed." * From ''[[The Wizard of Id]]'', [https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2016/06/03 this strip] takes the term "hung jury" a little too far. * ''[[The Far Side]]''; in one cartoon, [[Albert Einstein]] discovers that [https://i.pinimg.com/564x/29/1b/29/291b290fe7de5d77a60e75ebf7b70758.jpg Time is actually Money.] == Puppet Shows == Line 285 ⟶ 290: In the ''Years of Yarncraft'' game, Torg was once [http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080811 handed his ass by the Forest Yetis of Black Rook Caverns]. First literally, and then figuratively too in all likehood. Torg negotiates with Eugene with the help of Mr. Franklin in his wallet. [http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/050429] ** [https://archives.sluggy.com/book.php?chapter=74#2024-03-19 Sam and Bun-Bun]: * A page of the webcomic ''Real Life Fiction'', aptly titled "[http://rlf.smackjeeves.com/comics/772566/too-literal/ Too Literal]", has a cold medecine that "may cause drow-siness". {{spoiler\|For the non-''D&D'' gamers, [[Don't Explain the Joke\|"drow" being another name for the dark elves]].}}▼ {{quote\|'''Sam''': Dude! It's like three in the afternoon! Can't a vamp get some sleep? '''Bun-Bun''': You can sleep when you're dead! '''Sam''': That's what I'm trying to do!}} ▲* A page of the webcomic ''Real Life Fiction'', aptly titled "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110801005744/http://rlf.smackjeeves.com/comics/772566/too-literal/ Too Literal]", has a cold medecine that "may cause drow-siness". {{spoiler\|For the non-''D&D'' gamers, [[Don't Explain the Joke\|"drow" being another name for the dark elves]].}} * Done occasionally in ''[[Sinfest]]'' by playing off sexual euphemisms, such as [https://web.archive.org/web/20140209190205/http://sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3247 "wax my missile"] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20140209174234/http://sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3646 "sowing wild oats."] * From ''[[Hark! A Vagrant\|Hark a Vagrant]]'': [[Julius Caesar\|Cry "Havoc!"]] and let slip the [http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=307 dogs of war]! Line 300 ⟶ 309: There are five Literal Metaphors in "[https://wronghands1.com/2020/02/14/lives-of-quiet-desperation/ lives of quiet desperation]": squeaking by, pecking away, keeping its head above water, clamming up, and sticking his neck out. "[https://wronghands1.com/2020/07/10/idiomatic-classic/ idiomatic classic (an open book)]" has fourteen Literal Metaphors, including the titular open book. * For most birders, a "nemesis bird" is a species that the birder keeps failing to see. [https://www.birdandmoon.com/comic/nemesis/ This instalment] of ''[[Bird and Moon]]'' gives the term a more literal meaning. == Web Original == Line 315 ⟶ 325: '''Fry:''' C'mon Leela, why won't you go out with me? We both know there's something there! '''Leela:''' No, I mean ''cool your jets''. You're melting Bender's face. }} : And another when Zoidberg is trying to do standup: {{quote\|'''Zoidberg:''' Ladies and germs... ''(rimshot)'' Line 329 ⟶ 339: '''Lisa:''' Uh, I wasn't talking about you, Dad. '''Homer:''' No, my ears are really burning. I wanted to see inside so I lit a Q-Tip. }} : And another when members of the [[Legitimate Businessmen's Social Club]] catch sight of Troy McClure. {{quote\|'''Louie:''' Hey, I thought you said Troy McClure was dead. '''Tony:''' No, what I said was: "[[But You Screw One Goat!\|He sleeps with the fishes]]". You see... '''Louie:''' [[Brain Bleach\|Uh, Tony, please, no. I just ate a whole plate of dingamagoo...]] }} * ~~This one from~~ ''[[Family Guy]]'': ** In one episode: {{quote\|'''Man:''' Wow, Lois Griffin. Hey, I love your act! Nice melons. '''Peter:''' Hey, listen pal! Line 346 ⟶ 357: '''Man:''' No problem. ''(beat)'' [[Rule of Three\|Your wife's hot!]] '''Peter:''' All right, that's it! }} : In another episode, Peter is trying to organize Stewie's first birthday party but one of the only things he could find was a "big-ass piñata"; pan over to show a large papier-mâché butt. Brian responds "I sure hope ''candy'' comes out of that." * ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'': ** Used a couple of times in the episode "Comet Kermillian". While at the park, Candace's screams of "I have [[Squirrels in My Pants]]!" are misinterpreted by a couple of performers, who think she's referring to her crazy dance moves. Then the squirrels get out, and one of the guys comments, "We just got served." Later on, when [[It Makes Sense in Context\|steaks are falling from the sky]], the same guy catches one and comments, "We keep getting served." Line 353 ⟶ 364: '''Candace:''' [[Flat Joy\|Yay.]] ''([[Beat]])'' I'm not actually on fire, am I? '''Buford:''' Nah, you're good. }} : In "Brain Drain", Dr. Doofenshmirtz ends up busting a rap about being controlled by Perry the Platypus turning his mind-control device against him. Vanessa's friends all think "There's a Platypus Controlling Me" is a metaphor for "whatever's keeping you down". {{quote\|'''Doofensmirtz''': I'm not speaking metaphorically, The platypus controlling me is underneath the table! }} : In retaliation to people telling him not to make a mountain out of a molehill, Doofenshmirtz tried to do it literally in "At the Car Wash". : When Doofenshmirtz was told he didn't have a green thumb in "Moon Farm", he took it literally and bought a can of green paint to make himself green. Ironically, because of how he held the can, his thumbs weren't painted. Only later, as he explained his plan to Perry, Doof [[Late to the Punchline\|finally understood the metaphor]]. * ''[[Archer]]'': ** [[Double Subverted]] and played straight in the same ~~''[[Archer]]''~~ episode. Charles and Rudy are two gay guys trying to help Archer seduce a gay spy named Ramon: {{quote\|'''Rudy:''' I'd try the Cockfight. '''Archer:''' A cockfight? Line 380 ⟶ 392: '''Charles:''' Oh, you meant literally. '''Archer:''' Yes! }} : In the episode Lo Scandalo, Kreiger is called in to dispose of a corpse in Malory's apartment. {{quote\|'''Malory''': And is Krieger...hard at work? '''Archer''': He literally might be, yes. }} * [[Looney Tunes]]: ~~[[Looney Tunes\|~~Marvin the Martian's]] "[[Earthshattering Kaboom\|Earth-shattering kaboom]]" was a literal metaphor. Then it became metaphorical again—the Trope name for the explosion of a whole planet or moon ([[That's No Moon\|or humongous spacecraft]]), not just the Earth. In one cartoon, Yosemite Sam builds his house on top of Bugs' burrow, and then kicks Bugs out; furiously, Bugs says he'll take Sam to "the highest court in the country" to get his home back. Next scene, he start to regret this, as the highest court is on a mountain and getting there requires a long trek uphill. ** In another "Knighty Knight Bugs", the Black Knight (ie, Yosemite Sam) has a dragon with a bad cold (it caught cold for letting its fire get low) and constantly sneezes; near the end, Bugs traps them inside a tower full of explosives. As it starts to sneeze again, Sam panics and yells, "No, no! Don't sneeze, ya stupid dragon! You'll blow us to the moon!" But the dragon sneezes anyway, the last scene showing the tower flying to the moon like a rocket. * In ''[[The Cleveland Show]]'', Mr. Waterman is trying to find the rest of his Santa costume: {{quote\|'''Mr. Waterman:''' Where's my [[The Beard\|beard]]? Line 396 ⟶ 411: '''Finn:''' Oh, right, I'm sorry-- '''Marceline:''' No, literally. You can't kill my dad. He's deathless. }} : Also, earliest appearances, Cinnamon Bun has a reputation of being dimwitted and clumsy, something that Princess Bubblegum claims is a result of being "half-baked". While this seems like her attempt at snarky humor (Cinnamon Bun is, [[Meaningful Name\| as his name implies]], a [[Anthropomorphic Food\| living cinnamon bun]]) she's not joking. In the episode "The Red Throne", Cinnamon Bun spends most of the episode in the Fire Kingdom, where the environment bakes him right, making him smarter and more mature; in effect, becoming a fully baked adult. * In ''[[American Dad]]'': {{quote\|'''Steve:''' We don't have an instrument for Jeff. Line 402 ⟶ 417: '''Steve:''' ''(bursts out laughing)'' '''Bob:''' ''(holds up a flute bound with animal skins)'' }} ** This might possibly be a [[Shout-Out]] to [[If It Was Funny the First Time\| the exact same joke]] from the original ''[[George of the Jungle]]'' cartoon series. * From ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' {{quote\|'''Uncle Iroh:''' ''(stops Zuko and a pirate captain from fighting)'' Are you so busy fighting you cannot see your own ship has set sail? Line 408 ⟶ 423: '''Uncle Iroh:''' It's no proverb! ''(cut to pirate ship being hijacked)'' }} : Later, ''Zuko's'' ship gets hijacked: "Maybe it SHOULD be a proverb..." * In the ''[[Lite Sprites]]'' special, the sprites are lost in a cave, and Meadow begins to glow. The other girls try to tell her this, but she takes it as a compliment instead. * Used to the point of a [[Hurricane of Puns]] in the [[Tex Avery]] short "Symphony in Slang", where Noah Webster and St. Peter try to interpret the slang-filled life story of a new arrival at the Pearly Gates. * Old-joke-new-twist version in an episode of ''[[Tale Spin]]'': {{quote\|'''[[Sky Pirate\|Don Carnage:]]''' FIRE AT WILL! ''(Mooks fire at another mook, who runs screaming and dodging.)'' '''Don Carnage:''' ''No'', don't fire at Will, fire at ''them!''}} * From ''[[DC Super Hero Girls]]''; Jessica is a [[Badass Pacifist]], but has no problem charging into battle against Poison Ivy's plant monsters, saying, [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner\| "I eat plants for breakfast!"]] Which is 100% true, as she is a vegan. * In ''[[Beetlejuice (animation)\|Beetlejuice]]'', the title character's parents are so dull, their picture is in the Netherworld dictionary, under "Boring". Literally. == Real Life == * [http://iamnotashamed.org/ I am not ashamed], an [[The Fundamentalist\|Answers in Genesis]]-powered website, encouraged Christians around the world to "''stand'' unashamedly and uncompromisingly ''on'' [[The Bible]]." (See [[Mixed Metaphor]].) In response, [http://hjhop.blogspot.com/2010/04/uncompromising-unashamed-atheists-can.html a group of internet atheists] decided to comply with this call a little more literally than the creators of the original campaign had intended. * Most people take the name of the restaurant "Hooters" to be a euphemism for breasts, whereas they assert, probably for legal reasons, that they are talking about [[Blatant Lies\|owls]] (especially during [[Super Bowl\|Superb Owl]] time) and everyone just misunderstands. * Any truck stop in the USA which has a sign informing you that you can "Eat and Get Gas". (For example, [http://www.businesspundit.com/how-not-to-advertise-a-restaurant/ Sherrill's] on US Route 31 near Tipton, Indiana.) {{reflist}} [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]▼ [[Category:Comedy Tropes]] [[Category:Truth and Lies]] ▲[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]