Out of Character Alert: Difference between revisions

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[[wikipedia:Steganography|Steganography]] is the art of writing hidden messages that only the intended recipient would recognize.
[[wikipedia:Steganography|Steganography]] is the art of writing hidden messages that only the intended recipient would recognize.


Compare with [[Not Himself]], contrast with [[Something Only They Would Say]] (in which a character is identified by a characteristic) and [[Bluff the Impostor]].
Compare with [[Not Himself]], contrast with [[Something Only They Would Say]] (in which a character is identified by a characteristic) and [[Bluff the Impostor]].
{{tropelist}}
{{tropelist}}


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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* Used to Hawkeye's advantage in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' to trick Envy, who was disguised as Roy, as part of her [[Batman Gambit]]. She aims a gun at him, saying that Roy never calls her "Lieutenant" in private. Cue Envy immediately breaking the form, cursing his luck and shouting "[[Everyone Can See It|I]] ''[[Everyone Can See It|knew]]'' [[Everyone Can See It|there was something going on with you two]]!'' Her reply can effectively be summed up as, "Not really. [[Unwitting Pawn|Thanks for believing me, Envy]]." Cue epic beatdown.
* Used to Hawkeye's advantage in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' to trick Envy, who was disguised as Roy, as part of her [[Batman Gambit]]. She aims a gun at him, saying that Roy never calls her "Lieutenant" in private. Cue Envy immediately breaking the form, cursing his luck and shouting "[[Everyone Can See It|I]] ''[[Everyone Can See It|knew]]'' [[Everyone Can See It|there was something going on with you two]]!'' Her reply can effectively be summed up as, "Not really. [[Unwitting Pawn|Thanks for believing me, Envy]]." Cue epic beatdown.
* This trope is a key plot point in the ''[[Weiss Kreuz]]'' OAV ''Verbrechen ~ Strafe''. During a mission briefing, when asked if she's well, Weiss's [[The Handler|handler]] Manx replies that she's having trouble with her allergy to black lilies. Much later, when Weiss finish springing their trap on the villain who was holding Manx hostage, they reveal that "[[Flower Motifs|black lily]]" is a codeword indicating "lies," and that Manx's comment had alerted them to the fact that the orders given in that mission briefing were fraudulent.
* This trope is a key plot point in the ''[[Weiss Kreuz]]'' OAV ''Verbrechen ~ Strafe''. During a mission briefing, when asked if she's well, Weiss's [[The Handler|handler]] Manx replies that she's having trouble with her allergy to black lilies. Much later, when Weiss finish springing their trap on the villain who was holding Manx hostage, they reveal that "[[Flower Motifs|black lily]]" is a codeword indicating "lies," and that Manx's comment had alerted them to the fact that the orders given in that mission briefing were fraudulent.
* In the Chuunin exams arc of ''[[Naruto]]'', Sasuke proposes using a password in case of enemy ninjas using doppelgangers to imitate one of them (again), and makes up a long poem as the passphrase. A few scenes later, Naruto excuses himself to pee, and when he returns he is quizzed for the passphrase, and successfully gives it. Of course, Sasuke knows that the real Naruto would not have remembered such a long passphrase, and that he was being spied on when he made it.
* In the Chuunin exams arc of ''[[Naruto]]'', Sasuke proposes using a password in case of enemy ninjas using doppelgangers to imitate one of them (again), and makes up a long poem as the passphrase. A few scenes later, Naruto excuses himself to pee, and when he returns he is quizzed for the passphrase, and successfully gives it. Of course, Sasuke knows that the real Naruto would not have remembered such a long passphrase, and that he was being spied on when he made it.
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** It happens again when the T-1000 takes Sarah Connor's form and asks for help, something the real Sarah had previously berated her son for doing. The other Sarah instead tells John to get out of the way, something the T-1000 would not be inclined to tell his target.
** It happens again when the T-1000 takes Sarah Connor's form and asks for help, something the real Sarah had previously berated her son for doing. The other Sarah instead tells John to get out of the way, something the T-1000 would not be inclined to tell his target.
*** In the [[Directors Cut]], however, John is tipped off when he sees his "mother's" foot melting into the floor.
*** In the [[Directors Cut]], however, John is tipped off when he sees his "mother's" foot melting into the floor.
* The ''[[Firefly]]'' movie, ''[[Serenity]]''
* The ''[[Firefly]]'' movie, ''[[Serenity]]''
{{quote|''Mal and Inara have a polite, awkward conversation by videophone, with Inara inviting Mal to visit her. Discussion with the rest of the crew ensues.''
{{quote|''Mal and Inara have a polite, awkward conversation by videophone, with Inara inviting Mal to visit her. Discussion with the rest of the crew ensues.''
'''Zoe''': So. Trap?
'''Zoe''': So. Trap?
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** Miss United States drops a big hint to her location by saying "My booty is on the line here." Sandra's character catches on and explains that "She would never refer to her butt as her booty... she would never refer to her butt as her butt! She calls it a po-po!" The kidnappers tie her and the celebrity pageant host into the sinking ship at Treasure Island in Las Vegas to passively kill them.
** Miss United States drops a big hint to her location by saying "My booty is on the line here." Sandra's character catches on and explains that "She would never refer to her butt as her booty... she would never refer to her butt as her butt! She calls it a po-po!" The kidnappers tie her and the celebrity pageant host into the sinking ship at Treasure Island in Las Vegas to passively kill them.
* ''[[Bullshot]]'' (1983). The dastardly villain, Count Otto von Bruno, who speaks in a [[Prussia|stereotypical Prussian accent]], fakes the voice of Professor Fenton with [[Applied Phlebotinum]]. Despite a [[Failsafe Failure|chronic malfunction]] which forces von Bruno to speak at a vastly sped-up rate, the Professor's [[Damsel in Distress|dim-witted daughter]] doesn't suspect a thing when he says: "I want you the formula to London bring." Only our hero Bullshot Crummond realises instantly that you'd never hear a split infinitive from an Oxford man, and so it must be a trap!
* ''[[Bullshot]]'' (1983). The dastardly villain, Count Otto von Bruno, who speaks in a [[Prussia|stereotypical Prussian accent]], fakes the voice of Professor Fenton with [[Applied Phlebotinum]]. Despite a [[Failsafe Failure|chronic malfunction]] which forces von Bruno to speak at a vastly sped-up rate, the Professor's [[Damsel in Distress|dim-witted daughter]] doesn't suspect a thing when he says: "I want you the formula to London bring." Only our hero Bullshot Crummond realises instantly that you'd never hear a split infinitive from an Oxford man, and so it must be a trap!
* In ''[[Die Hard]] With a Vengeance'', a bunch of German mercenaries impersonate cops. Although the leader speaks English with a flawless American accent, he slips up on a few word choices, such as calling an elevator a "lift" and saying that it's raining "dogs and cats," instead of the usual "cats and dogs. When McClane recognizes that one of them is wearing a friend's badge, and mentions the lottery to figure out if anyone on the elevator is real. None of the fake cops know last night's numbers, though in the beginning it's established that every NYPD cop plays the lottery with their badge number.
* In ''[[Die Hard]] With a Vengeance'', a bunch of German mercenaries impersonate cops. Although the leader speaks English with a flawless American accent, he slips up on a few word choices, such as calling an elevator a "lift" and saying that it's raining "dogs and cats," instead of the usual "cats and dogs. When McClane recognizes that one of them is wearing a friend's badge, and mentions the lottery to figure out if anyone on the elevator is real. None of the fake cops know last night's numbers, though in the beginning it's established that every NYPD cop plays the lottery with their badge number.
* Since we don't have a "Something They Would Never Do"-Trope: One of the ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' films had Harry walk into a café that was being robbed. Everyone inside was forced to act naturally while "The Cop" made his order, but the waitress managed to warn Harry by pouring about five tea-spoons of sugar in his coffee after ten years of "His Usual" being No Sugar, No Milk.
* Since we don't have a "Something They Would Never Do"-Trope: One of the ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' films had Harry walk into a café that was being robbed. Everyone inside was forced to act naturally while "The Cop" made his order, but the waitress managed to warn Harry by pouring about five tea-spoons of sugar in his coffee after ten years of "His Usual" being No Sugar, No Milk.
** A similar scene in the film ''[[It Could Happen To You]]''. When a cop walks into a local deli to get coffee, he asks where the owner's wife is. The owner tells him that she's out sick, but as he turns to get supplies we see that his wife is being held at gunpoint by a robber. Although the cop doesn't see this, when he goes outside to join his partner, he tells him that the man is being robbed--having come to the store for years, they know that "that woman could be dead and she'd STILL show up for work".
** A similar scene in the film ''[[It Could Happen To You]]''. When a cop walks into a local deli to get coffee, he asks where the owner's wife is. The owner tells him that she's out sick, but as he turns to get supplies we see that his wife is being held at gunpoint by a robber. Although the cop doesn't see this, when he goes outside to join his partner, he tells him that the man is being robbed--having come to the store for years, they know that "that woman could be dead and she'd STILL show up for work".
* Inverted in ''[[Single White Female]]'': Allie has just realized the extent of her roommate Hedy's depravity and psychosis when she realizes that she's murdered her boyfriend. Desperate to get out of the apartment without arousing Hedy's suspicion, Allie hurriedly claims that her upstairs neighbor Graham had called her and invited her to hang out with him. Unfortunately, unknown to Allie, Hedy bludgeoned Graham to death the previous night (but as it turns out he was merely unconscious) and knows Allie's lying.
* Inverted in ''[[Single White Female]]'': Allie has just realized the extent of her roommate Hedy's depravity and psychosis when she realizes that she's murdered her boyfriend. Desperate to get out of the apartment without arousing Hedy's suspicion, Allie hurriedly claims that her upstairs neighbor Graham had called her and invited her to hang out with him. Unfortunately, unknown to Allie, Hedy bludgeoned Graham to death the previous night (but as it turns out he was merely unconscious) and knows Allie's lying.
* In [[Inglourious Basterds]] one of the team's plans gets upset by this when, trying to pass for German soldiers and ordering drinks, they use the American gesture for the number three instead of the German version. The real German soldiers notice this and promptly try to eliminate the imposters.
* In [[Inglourious Basterds]] one of the team's plans gets upset by this when, trying to pass for German soldiers and ordering drinks, they use the American gesture for the number three instead of the German version. The real German soldiers notice this and promptly try to eliminate the imposters.


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* ''[[Animorphs]]'' has a straight example when Jake is infested. His friends realize he has been body snatched when he shows sudden, inexplicable revulsion to Ax; the accusations tick the Yeerk off so much that he eventually snaps and calls him "Andalite filth," confirming the suspicions. Of course most of the time the trope is subverted with Yeerks impersonating humans flawlessly.
* ''[[Animorphs]]'' has a straight example when Jake is infested. His friends realize he has been body snatched when he shows sudden, inexplicable revulsion to Ax; the accusations tick the Yeerk off so much that he eventually snaps and calls him "Andalite filth," confirming the suspicions. Of course most of the time the trope is subverted with Yeerks impersonating humans flawlessly.
** And then he flubbed it ''again'' by laughing when he realized that Ax's plan to take his place for three days while the rest of the group starved the Yeerk out of his head would most likely crash and burn. Obviously, a bad Jake impersonation and a suspicious Tom wouldn't be a good thing for the real Jake, no matter how annoyed he was with his friends.
** And then he flubbed it ''again'' by laughing when he realized that Ax's plan to take his place for three days while the rest of the group starved the Yeerk out of his head would most likely crash and burn. Obviously, a bad Jake impersonation and a suspicious Tom wouldn't be a good thing for the real Jake, no matter how annoyed he was with his friends.
** That particular Yeerk seems to be a bad actor; he was also Tom's original Yeerk, who quit the basketball team and thus clued Marco in that Tom was [[Not Himself]].
** That particular Yeerk seems to be a bad actor; he was also Tom's original Yeerk, who quit the basketball team and thus clued Marco in that Tom was [[Not Himself]].
* Georgina "George" Kirrin in the first ''[[The Famous Five]]'' novel is ordered to send a note to two of the gang (another is with her) by some smugglers. She signs it "Georgina", which she would never call herself and gets highly offended when called that.
* Georgina "George" Kirrin in the first ''[[The Famous Five]]'' novel is ordered to send a note to two of the gang (another is with her) by some smugglers. She signs it "Georgina", which she would never call herself and gets highly offended when called that.
* In ''[[Green Rider]]'', a man hides a crucial message in a love letter. He's killed before he can deliver it, but the protagonist, Karigan, passes on the love letter to the messenger's girlfriend. When she gets the letter, she spots some inconsistent details (he misstates the color of her hair; he mentions a brother when he doesn't have one) and mentions it to Karigan, who realizes that the letter contains a coded message.
* In ''[[Green Rider]]'', a man hides a crucial message in a love letter. He's killed before he can deliver it, but the protagonist, Karigan, passes on the love letter to the messenger's girlfriend. When she gets the letter, she spots some inconsistent details (he misstates the color of her hair; he mentions a brother when he doesn't have one) and mentions it to Karigan, who realizes that the letter contains a coded message.
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* In the ''[[Jack Reacher]]'' novel "Tripwire", his girl-friend has been captured and been ordered to lure him into a trap. She calls him up and opens the conversation with "Hi, Jack". The point is that the main character is *always* called Reacher, by everyone including his mother when he was very young, and no one ever uses his first name. The coincidence of "Hi, Jack" and "hijack" only makes it more convincing that this is indeed a trap.
* In the ''[[Jack Reacher]]'' novel "Tripwire", his girl-friend has been captured and been ordered to lure him into a trap. She calls him up and opens the conversation with "Hi, Jack". The point is that the main character is *always* called Reacher, by everyone including his mother when he was very young, and no one ever uses his first name. The coincidence of "Hi, Jack" and "hijack" only makes it more convincing that this is indeed a trap.
* In a short mystery story involving a group of women at some sort of get-together, one of the members sends a note saying she won't be able to make the meeting. The women reading the letter note discrepancies in the letter, each discrepancy referencing a number (including the absent member's middle initial in her signature being erroneously given as "O," which is taken to mean "0.") There are a total of seven errors in the letter, and when the errors are written out in their numerical form, one of the group theorizes it may be a telephone number. It is -- to the police.
* In a short mystery story involving a group of women at some sort of get-together, one of the members sends a note saying she won't be able to make the meeting. The women reading the letter note discrepancies in the letter, each discrepancy referencing a number (including the absent member's middle initial in her signature being erroneously given as "O," which is taken to mean "0.") There are a total of seven errors in the letter, and when the errors are written out in their numerical form, one of the group theorizes it may be a telephone number. It is -- to the police.
* In ''Fearless'', there's one arc where Gaia is being forced to humiliate Ed Fargo. He asks her "You're enjoying this aren't you?" and Gaia answers, "Yes, I like torturing you. Almost as much as I like Lox." This is actually more of a coded message, as Gaia hates Lox and is trying to tell Ed she is being forced to do this. However, she would never say she likes Lox, so it works.
* In ''Fearless'', there's one arc where Gaia is being forced to humiliate Ed Fargo. He asks her "You're enjoying this aren't you?" and Gaia answers, "Yes, I like torturing you. Almost as much as I like Lox." This is actually more of a coded message, as Gaia hates Lox and is trying to tell Ed she is being forced to do this. However, she would never say she likes Lox, so it works.
* In the second ''Lady Grace'' mystery, Lady Sarah is abducted by a sea captain, and alerts Grace/ anyone who can help with a message passed by a commoner that she sends her love to " Lady Jane, my dearest friend". the two young women hate each other with passion, and so Grace and Masu are off to the rescue in a trice.
* In the second ''Lady Grace'' mystery, Lady Sarah is abducted by a sea captain, and alerts Grace/ anyone who can help with a message passed by a commoner that she sends her love to " Lady Jane, my dearest friend". the two young women hate each other with passion, and so Grace and Masu are off to the rescue in a trice.
* In ''[[Jennifer the Jerk Is Missing]]'', there is an unusual variant of this. To find out if Jennifer-the-Jerk Smith made it to camp or was kidnapped before reaching it, the protagonist, Amy, calls the camp to see if Jennifer Smith arrived. She's told that yes, Jennifer Smith did indeed arrive, and she's a very pleasant and charming girl. Malcolm, the kid who suspected the kidnapping in the first place, immediately recognizes that Jennifer-the-Jerk Smith is neither pleasant nor charming, and therefore the girl that arrived couldn't have been her. (She wasn't)
* In ''[[Jennifer the Jerk Is Missing]]'', there is an unusual variant of this. To find out if Jennifer-the-Jerk Smith made it to camp or was kidnapped before reaching it, the protagonist, Amy, calls the camp to see if Jennifer Smith arrived. She's told that yes, Jennifer Smith did indeed arrive, and she's a very pleasant and charming girl. Malcolm, the kid who suspected the kidnapping in the first place, immediately recognizes that Jennifer-the-Jerk Smith is neither pleasant nor charming, and therefore the girl that arrived couldn't have been her. (She wasn't)
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** More to the point, Valentine adds so many personal in-jokes and idiosyncracies that Ender can't help but assume that she was told to write the letter in such a way that it was stupidly obvious that it was her.
** More to the point, Valentine adds so many personal in-jokes and idiosyncracies that Ender can't help but assume that she was told to write the letter in such a way that it was stupidly obvious that it was her.
* ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography|Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' features a long and poignant letter written by the Duchess R to Lemony Snicket. He immediately lambasts the numerous errors she would never have made. {{spoiler|Or, errors she might have made as a coded signal that all was not well.}} {{spoiler|Or, errors she might have made due to disruptions in her training which were caused by constant moving of the V.F.D. Headquarters.}}
* ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography|Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' features a long and poignant letter written by the Duchess R to Lemony Snicket. He immediately lambasts the numerous errors she would never have made. {{spoiler|Or, errors she might have made as a coded signal that all was not well.}} {{spoiler|Or, errors she might have made due to disruptions in her training which were caused by constant moving of the V.F.D. Headquarters.}}
* In the LionBoy series, the main character knows his parents are in trouble because their letter to him is written the way an adult talks to a child, while his parents always talk to him like he was older. He and his parents use this in all their communications throughout the series.
* In the LionBoy series, the main character knows his parents are in trouble because their letter to him is written the way an adult talks to a child, while his parents always talk to him like he was older. He and his parents use this in all their communications throughout the series.
* In one ''[[Maximum Ride]]'' book, a clone of Max tries to take her place. The kids realize something is up when she offers to cook (as Max is a [[Lethal Chef]] and leaves the cooking to Iggy), and when she expresses surprise that Iggy would know his way around considering that he's blind. Of course, Angel can read minds, too, which the clone has no clue of, so ''she'' knew right away.
* In one ''[[Maximum Ride]]'' book, a clone of Max tries to take her place. The kids realize something is up when she offers to cook (as Max is a [[Lethal Chef]] and leaves the cooking to Iggy), and when she expresses surprise that Iggy would know his way around considering that he's blind. Of course, Angel can read minds, too, which the clone has no clue of, so ''she'' knew right away.


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** One episode of the new series had a hilarious variation when Mike is impersonating a member of a group [[The Caper|out to steal from a Vegas casino]]. The leader figures out something is wrong because Mike is too ''competent''.
** One episode of the new series had a hilarious variation when Mike is impersonating a member of a group [[The Caper|out to steal from a Vegas casino]]. The leader figures out something is wrong because Mike is too ''competent''.
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'':
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'':
** In "Heart of Stone", Odo spends a lot of time with Changeling!Major Kira. He only realizes it is a double when "she" says "I love you".
** In "Heart of Stone", Odo spends a lot of time with Changeling!Major Kira. He only realizes it is a double when "she" says "I love you".
** In "Armageddon Game", an alien government has faked the deaths of O'Brien and Bashir (while trying to hunt down and actually kill them) in an attempt to destroy all knowledge of a dangerous bio-weapon. They send a recording of a faked lab accident to Deep Space Nine, using security footage from earlier on. But O'Brien's wife notices him drinking coffee, which he would NEVER do in the afternoon, and her suspicions along with the shady explanation of the accident itself is enough to get Sisko and the others to investigate further. At the end of the episode, O'Brien is recovering at home and asks for a cup of coffee after lunch, explaining to his shocked wife that he ALWAYS drinks coffee in the afternoons...
** In "Armageddon Game", an alien government has faked the deaths of O'Brien and Bashir (while trying to hunt down and actually kill them) in an attempt to destroy all knowledge of a dangerous bio-weapon. They send a recording of a faked lab accident to Deep Space Nine, using security footage from earlier on. But O'Brien's wife notices him drinking coffee, which he would NEVER do in the afternoon, and her suspicions along with the shady explanation of the accident itself is enough to get Sisko and the others to investigate further. At the end of the episode, O'Brien is recovering at home and asks for a cup of coffee after lunch, explaining to his shocked wife that he ALWAYS drinks coffee in the afternoons...
* The ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of". A robotic double is made of Kirk, with the robot having a duplicate of his mind as well. Kirk foils the plan during the procedure by mentally focusing on a racist insult toward Spock, something he would never normally say but which is consequently implanted into the double.
* The ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of". A robotic double is made of Kirk, with the robot having a duplicate of his mind as well. Kirk foils the plan during the procedure by mentally focusing on a racist insult toward Spock, something he would never normally say but which is consequently implanted into the double.
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* In ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "Allegiance", Picard is replaced by a double who has his memories but doesn't act like him very well--basically doing the kinds of things Picard would do if he weren't an incredibly reserved man (one of the weird things the doppelganger Picard does is go into [[Good Guy Bar|Ten Forward]], order drinks all around, and start singing). When the real Picard asks Riker what the giveaway was, he is told: "Well, sir, I find it hard to believe that [[Take That|you're that good a singer]]."
* In ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "Allegiance", Picard is replaced by a double who has his memories but doesn't act like him very well--basically doing the kinds of things Picard would do if he weren't an incredibly reserved man (one of the weird things the doppelganger Picard does is go into [[Good Guy Bar|Ten Forward]], order drinks all around, and start singing). When the real Picard asks Riker what the giveaway was, he is told: "Well, sir, I find it hard to believe that [[Take That|you're that good a singer]]."
* On ''[[Angel]]'', Lorne appears to have pursued a career in show business and is only seen during brief telephone calls every few episodes, and each time, he asks how Fluffy is doing. The main characters are convinced that his success is just going to his head and that he is constantly snubbing them, but when they finally come to his rescue, he says, "Fluffy. Fluffy the dog. The dog you don't have. The universally recognized code for I'm being held prisoner. Send help!"
* On ''[[Angel]]'', Lorne appears to have pursued a career in show business and is only seen during brief telephone calls every few episodes, and each time, he asks how Fluffy is doing. The main characters are convinced that his success is just going to his head and that he is constantly snubbing them, but when they finally come to his rescue, he says, "Fluffy. Fluffy the dog. The dog you don't have. The universally recognized code for I'm being held prisoner. Send help!"
** Hilariously played off when they got the call originally.
** Hilariously played off when they got the call originally.
{{quote|'''Fred:''' "You don't think he was referring to anything of mine that's fluffy do you? Because that would just be inappropriate..." }}
{{quote|'''Fred:''' "You don't think he was referring to anything of mine that's fluffy do you? Because that would just be inappropriate..." }}
** Also played with in the episode "Double or Nothing" when an old debt of Gunn's is called in (his soul) and he tries to push Fred away with some very mean words in order to spare her the pain of his leaving/death (not clear). Although visibly upset at first, she sees right through this ploy and tell the others he must be in some VERY BAD trouble because Gunn would never really say those things unless he was TRYING to push her away to protect her.
** Also played with in the episode "Double or Nothing" when an old debt of Gunn's is called in (his soul) and he tries to push Fred away with some very mean words in order to spare her the pain of his leaving/death (not clear). Although visibly upset at first, she sees right through this ploy and tell the others he must be in some VERY BAD trouble because Gunn would never really say those things unless he was TRYING to push her away to protect her.
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** In the episode "Bait", Gibbs is being held hostage by a teenager wearing a suicide bomber vest and demanding to see his mother. When the team finds out that the boy's mother is considered dead, Tony tells Gibbs that "Special Agent Caitlin Todd" is looking for her. When one of the local LEO's asks why Tony didn't reveal what the mother's death, he says he already has. {{spoiler|Special Agent Caitlin Todd is dead.}}
** In the episode "Bait", Gibbs is being held hostage by a teenager wearing a suicide bomber vest and demanding to see his mother. When the team finds out that the boy's mother is considered dead, Tony tells Gibbs that "Special Agent Caitlin Todd" is looking for her. When one of the local LEO's asks why Tony didn't reveal what the mother's death, he says he already has. {{spoiler|Special Agent Caitlin Todd is dead.}}
* In ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the Third Doctor once told the Brigadier to "tell it to the Marines" over the phone, alerting Lethbridge-Stewart to the danger.
* In ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the Third Doctor once told the Brigadier to "tell it to the Marines" over the phone, alerting Lethbridge-Stewart to the danger.
** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S13 E4 The Android Invasion|The Android Invasion]]," the Fourth Doctor realizes Sarah Jane has been replaced when the android accepts the ginger pop he offers her, because he knows she hates ginger pop.
** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S13/E04 The Android Invasion|The Android Invasion]]," the Fourth Doctor realizes Sarah Jane has been replaced when the android accepts the ginger pop he offers her, because he knows she hates ginger pop.
*** Actually he figures it out the moment he sees her, because, as he put it, "The real Sarah wasn't wearing a scarf." Him giving her ginger pop is just his way of checking to make sure he's right.
*** Actually he figures it out the moment he sees her, because, as he put it, "The real Sarah wasn't wearing a scarf." Him giving her ginger pop is just his way of checking to make sure he's right.
** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S14 E1 The Masque of Mandragora|The Masque of Mandragora]]," the Doctor figures out that Sarah is under hypnotic control when she asks him how it is that she can understand the local language. He reveals this to her later (after he's broken the hypnosis), explaining that, "It's a Time Lord gift I allow you to share." (this is expanded upon further in the New Series, where it is explained that the TARDIS translates languages through the Doctor's head). The implication is that it's supposed to seem so natural that the companions don't question it. The fact that Sarah ''does'' question it is what alerts the Doctor to the fact that her mind is being controlled by an outside force.
** In "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S14/E01 The Masque of Mandragora|The Masque of Mandragora]]," the Doctor figures out that Sarah is under hypnotic control when she asks him how it is that she can understand the local language. He reveals this to her later (after he's broken the hypnosis), explaining that, "It's a Time Lord gift I allow you to share." (this is expanded upon further in the New Series, where it is explained that the TARDIS translates languages through the Doctor's head). The implication is that it's supposed to seem so natural that the companions don't question it. The fact that Sarah ''does'' question it is what alerts the Doctor to the fact that her mind is being controlled by an outside force.
** Martha Jones figures out that her parents are speaking under duress when her mother tells her that her father is in the same room without so much as a raised voice.
** Martha Jones figures out that her parents are speaking under duress when her mother tells her that her father is in the same room without so much as a raised voice.
*** Subverted in the same scene when Martha asks her father to just answer "yes" or "no" if there's someone else there. Unfortunately, the someone else can hear both sides of the conversation.
*** Subverted in the same scene when Martha asks her father to just answer "yes" or "no" if there's someone else there. Unfortunately, the someone else can hear both sides of the conversation.
*** Inverted when the 10th Doctor spouts phrases against timey slimey clone Martha in "[[Doctor Who/NS/Recap/S4 E4 The Sontaran Stratagem|The Sontaran Strategem]]", as in "Avan ti!" instead of his usual "Allons y!" and a few times during the episode he can be seen eyeing her as a result of this.
*** Inverted when the 10th Doctor spouts phrases against timey slimey clone Martha in "[[Doctor Who/Recap/NS/S4/E04 The Sontaran Stratagem|The Sontaran Strategem]]", as in "Avan ti!" instead of his usual "Allons y!" and a few times during the episode he can be seen eyeing her as a result of this.
** Also done earlier in "New Earth", when Cassandra pulls a [[Grand Theft Me]] on Rose. He doesn't initially suspect anything, even when Rose suddenly kisses him and starts speaking a little strange. However, when they find out that {{spoiler|the hospital is making clones and infecting them with diseases}} and Rose doesn't react with horror, the Doctor knows something's wrong.
** Also done earlier in "New Earth", when Cassandra pulls a [[Grand Theft Me]] on Rose. He doesn't initially suspect anything, even when Rose suddenly kisses him and starts speaking a little strange. However, when they find out that {{spoiler|the hospital is making clones and infecting them with diseases}} and Rose doesn't react with horror, the Doctor knows something's wrong.
*** In this instance the Doctor starts to get suspicious just after she kisses him, when she leads them both into the secret intensive care unit by using technical knowledge he knows she doesn't have. Suspicions are confirmed when Rose doesn't care about {{spoiler|the dying patients.}}
*** In this instance the Doctor starts to get suspicious just after she kisses him, when she leads them both into the secret intensive care unit by using technical knowledge he knows she doesn't have. Suspicions are confirmed when Rose doesn't care about {{spoiler|the dying patients.}}
* A variant is used in an episode of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', where Daniel, trapped behind enemy lines, is relaying a battle plan to the SGC via radio through what sounds like small talk, mixing in Goa'uld words to let them know what his plan is. If the message was translated, it would sound something like, "Oh, and could you have Teal'c water my ''coordinated pincer attack''?"
* A variant is used in an episode of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', where Daniel, trapped behind enemy lines, is relaying a battle plan to the SGC via radio through what sounds like small talk, mixing in Goa'uld words to let them know what his plan is. If the message was translated, it would sound something like, "Oh, and could you have Teal'c water my ''coordinated pincer attack''?"
** A straighter example would be when O'Neill and Teal'c are stuck in a time loop, but everyone else's memories are reset. O'Neill tries to prove it by explaining why the planet they're visiting is important before Carter has a chance to. Later, Carter and Hammond have the following conversation:
** A straighter example would be when O'Neill and Teal'c are stuck in a time loop, but everyone else's memories are reset. O'Neill tries to prove it by explaining why the planet they're visiting is important before Carter has a chance to. Later, Carter and Hammond have the following conversation:
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* ''[[Eleventh Hour]]'', "Miracle": [[Patrick Stewart]]'s character realizes that the apparent suicide of a doctor he'd been working with isn't what it seems when, in her suicide note, she bequeaths to him her "geiger counter". At an earlier meeting, she had made a point of her aversion to that term (on account of Hans Geiger's naziism), insisting instead upon calling it a "radiation detector".
* ''[[Eleventh Hour]]'', "Miracle": [[Patrick Stewart]]'s character realizes that the apparent suicide of a doctor he'd been working with isn't what it seems when, in her suicide note, she bequeaths to him her "geiger counter". At an earlier meeting, she had made a point of her aversion to that term (on account of Hans Geiger's naziism), insisting instead upon calling it a "radiation detector".
* ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'' used this in ''Hunted''. When Gordon uses Dean as bait and forces him to call Sam, Sam instantly knows that something's wrong because Dean used the codeword "Funkytown". {{spoiler|Subverted: Gordon knew that Dean would find a way to alert Sam and was leading him into a trap}}.
* ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'' used this in ''Hunted''. When Gordon uses Dean as bait and forces him to call Sam, Sam instantly knows that something's wrong because Dean used the codeword "Funkytown". {{spoiler|Subverted: Gordon knew that Dean would find a way to alert Sam and was leading him into a trap}}.
** Actually done several times. Once by a shape-shifter. Another time the body of another supernatural hunter was possessed by the [[Seven Deadly Sins]].
** Actually done several times. Once by a shape-shifter. Another time the body of another supernatural hunter was possessed by the [[Seven Deadly Sins]].
* ''[[Dark Angel]]'' uses this in the episode "Rising". When the villains tries to use Original Cindy as bait, she warns Max by referring to her new boyfriend. Original Cindy is a lesbian.
* ''[[Dark Angel]]'' uses this in the episode "Rising". When the villains tries to use Original Cindy as bait, she warns Max by referring to her new boyfriend. Original Cindy is a lesbian.
** However, since [[Viewers are Morons]], they had a earlier scene where she spent like five minutes listing some of her old girlfriends and how she would never ever ''ever'' date a man.
** However, since [[Viewers are Morons]], they had a earlier scene where she spent like five minutes listing some of her old girlfriends and how she would never ever ''ever'' date a man.
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* In a recent episode of ''[[CSI]]'', Riley calls Greg Sanders by her own name to alert him to the fact that she and Langston were being held hostage (a technique [[Chekhov's Skill|established at the beginning of the episode]] in a training roleplay). He replies "Okay, Sanders" to let her know he understands the message.
* In a recent episode of ''[[CSI]]'', Riley calls Greg Sanders by her own name to alert him to the fact that she and Langston were being held hostage (a technique [[Chekhov's Skill|established at the beginning of the episode]] in a training roleplay). He replies "Okay, Sanders" to let her know he understands the message.
* An episode of ''[[Tales from the Crypt]]'' had the bad guy threatening the protagonist with his wife's gun, which she normally keeps in her purse for self defence. With the husband taken hostage using the gun, he attempts to lure the wife in by telling her that the husband is threatening to commit suicide with the same gun he's holding. Unfortunately for the bad guy, both husband and wife know that {{spoiler|the wife [[It Works Better with Bullets|doesn't keep any bullets]] in the gun.}}
* An episode of ''[[Tales from the Crypt]]'' had the bad guy threatening the protagonist with his wife's gun, which she normally keeps in her purse for self defence. With the husband taken hostage using the gun, he attempts to lure the wife in by telling her that the husband is threatening to commit suicide with the same gun he's holding. Unfortunately for the bad guy, both husband and wife know that {{spoiler|the wife [[It Works Better with Bullets|doesn't keep any bullets]] in the gun.}}
* In a first-season episode of ''[[Jericho]]'', Johnston uses this technique to flush out a group of desperate con-artists posing as Marines, by mixing Marine and Army mottos to see if they'd recognize the wrong ones.
* In a first-season episode of ''[[Jericho]]'', Johnston uses this technique to flush out a group of desperate con-artists posing as Marines, by mixing Marine and Army mottos to see if they'd recognize the wrong ones.
* On ''[[Farscape]]'', episode "I Shrink, Therefore I am". Crichton is returning to [[Living Ship|Moya]], which unbeknown to him has been hijacked. He messages the ship:
* On ''[[Farscape]]'', episode "I Shrink, Therefore I am". Crichton is returning to [[Living Ship|Moya]], which unbeknown to him has been hijacked. He messages the ship:
{{quote|'''Pilot''': Ka D'Argo is currently... helping Rygel with his... laundry. And Aeryn's writing some... poetry.
{{quote|'''Pilot''': Ka D'Argo is currently... helping Rygel with his... laundry. And Aeryn's writing some... poetry.
'''Crichton''': Uh-huh. What about, ah... Chiana and Sikozu?
'''Crichton''': Uh-huh. What about, ah... Chiana and Sikozu?
'''Pilot''': Enjoying each other's company. Preparing a meal for... everyone but Rygel. He's... not hungry. }}
'''Pilot''': Enjoying each other's company. Preparing a meal for... everyone but Rygel. He's... not hungry. }}
** After hanging up Crichton says "something's wrong".
** After hanging up Crichton says "something's wrong".
* On ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', Reid does this in the episode "Revelations" when he's being held hostage. The killer forces Reid, on a video feed, to pick a member of the team to die. Reid picks Hotch, and mentions a few character flaws and a relevant Bible verse. Hotch realizes that the personality Reid is describing isn't him -- it's a profile they had been discussing earlier. (To prove it, he has everyone on the team list his worst flaws, and none of them agree with what Reid said.) Hotch then looks up the Bible verse, and realizes that the quotation was incorrect. Since Reid has an eidetic memory, he would never quote something incorrectly. The actual passage is a clue to where Reid's being held.
* On ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', Reid does this in the episode "Revelations" when he's being held hostage. The killer forces Reid, on a video feed, to pick a member of the team to die. Reid picks Hotch, and mentions a few character flaws and a relevant Bible verse. Hotch realizes that the personality Reid is describing isn't him -- it's a profile they had been discussing earlier. (To prove it, he has everyone on the team list his worst flaws, and none of them agree with what Reid said.) Hotch then looks up the Bible verse, and realizes that the quotation was incorrect. Since Reid has an eidetic memory, he would never quote something incorrectly. The actual passage is a clue to where Reid's being held.
** In an earlier episode, Hotch was uncharacteristically frustrated with Reid's earlier difficulty in the shooting range after they had both been captured. He eventually convinced the UNSUB to let him kick Reid before they both died, which gave Reid a chance to grab the gun in his ankle holster. Later Reid said he'd figured out the plan at the very beginning, making the drawn-out scene unnecessary.
** In an earlier episode, Hotch was uncharacteristically frustrated with Reid's earlier difficulty in the shooting range after they had both been captured. He eventually convinced the UNSUB to let him kick Reid before they both died, which gave Reid a chance to grab the gun in his ankle holster. Later Reid said he'd figured out the plan at the very beginning, making the drawn-out scene unnecessary.
** In the DVD commentary for "Revelations," the writers mused on this swap and eventually agreed that Reid and Hotch have "a very effective spite-based communication."
** In the DVD commentary for "Revelations," the writers mused on this swap and eventually agreed that Reid and Hotch have "a very effective spite-based communication."
* During the second season arc of ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', Sydney and Jack's [[Deep-Cover Agent|cover]] as agents of SD-6 is in jeopardy. Jack is in the custody of an SD-6 higher-up, ordered to bring his daughter in under suspicion of being moles. He calls Sydney, then tells her to take "surface roads," because of traffic. That's their code for, "we've been discovered, it's not safe."
* During the second season arc of ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', Sydney and Jack's [[Deep-Cover Agent|cover]] as agents of SD-6 is in jeopardy. Jack is in the custody of an SD-6 higher-up, ordered to bring his daughter in under suspicion of being moles. He calls Sydney, then tells her to take "surface roads," because of traffic. That's their code for, "we've been discovered, it's not safe."
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* In the episode "Chris-Crossed" from ''[[Charmed]]'', Chris is forcibly taken to the future, and tells the sisters right beforehand, "Looks like Leo's going to have to fix that floorboard without me." They initially misinterpret this to be his final words of defeat, as it seemingly has no relevance to the situation and he hates Leo, until they figure out Chris is trying to get them to put a power-restoring spell underneath the floorboard for him to use in the future.
* In the episode "Chris-Crossed" from ''[[Charmed]]'', Chris is forcibly taken to the future, and tells the sisters right beforehand, "Looks like Leo's going to have to fix that floorboard without me." They initially misinterpret this to be his final words of defeat, as it seemingly has no relevance to the situation and he hates Leo, until they figure out Chris is trying to get them to put a power-restoring spell underneath the floorboard for him to use in the future.
** Another ''Charmed'' example has Piper being possessed by a demon. Piper warns the demon that her sisters will eventually figure it out, "Or if they don't, my boyfriend Tom will." Piper's fiance (the aforementioned Leo) comes in just then and immediately becomes suspicious when the demon in Piper's body calls him Tom.
** Another ''Charmed'' example has Piper being possessed by a demon. Piper warns the demon that her sisters will eventually figure it out, "Or if they don't, my boyfriend Tom will." Piper's fiance (the aforementioned Leo) comes in just then and immediately becomes suspicious when the demon in Piper's body calls him Tom.
* In the ''[[JAG]]'' episode "Secrets", Admiral Chegwidden is being held at gunpoint, and tells Bud over the phone to get him a specific file. Harm and Mac realize the file the Admiral asked for is about a sailor who held his CO hostage, tipping them off.
* In the ''[[JAG]]'' episode "Secrets", Admiral Chegwidden is being held at gunpoint, and tells Bud over the phone to get him a specific file. Harm and Mac realize the file the Admiral asked for is about a sailor who held his CO hostage, tipping them off.
* In ''[[Chuck]] versus The Santa Suit'', {{spoiler|Shaw}} has taken over Castle and is holding Sarah hostage. In getting an important file, Chuck apparently gets a call from Sarah, but as he's able to deduce, it's just {{spoiler|Shaw}} using a voice modifier. How? Chuck concludes that Sarah would never call him "dear".
* In ''[[Chuck]] versus The Santa Suit'', {{spoiler|Shaw}} has taken over Castle and is holding Sarah hostage. In getting an important file, Chuck apparently gets a call from Sarah, but as he's able to deduce, it's just {{spoiler|Shaw}} using a voice modifier. How? Chuck concludes that Sarah would never call him "dear".
* In the ''[[MacGyver]]'' episode "Countdown", Mac cues Pete in on the fact that he needs to speak to him on a private channel by 'reminding' him that they are due to play golf when he gets back. Mac has never played a round of golf in his life.
* In the ''[[MacGyver]]'' episode "Countdown", Mac cues Pete in on the fact that he needs to speak to him on a private channel by 'reminding' him that they are due to play golf when he gets back. Mac has never played a round of golf in his life.
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* A ''[[Nodwick]]'' strip details a dungeon crawl where the group finds a high-up switch. The group is tipped off that something is amiss (viz. he's been replaced by a doppelganger) when Yeagar, looking for something to throw at it, [http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/gamespyarchive/index.php?date=2002-05-02 ignores Nodwick in favor of a rock lying at his feet].
* A ''[[Nodwick]]'' strip details a dungeon crawl where the group finds a high-up switch. The group is tipped off that something is amiss (viz. he's been replaced by a doppelganger) when Yeagar, looking for something to throw at it, [http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/gamespyarchive/index.php?date=2002-05-02 ignores Nodwick in favor of a rock lying at his feet].
* In ''[[Questionable Content]]'', Faye and her [[Crazy Prepared]] mother have worked out a code phrase for when Faye was being held against her will.
* In ''[[Questionable Content]]'', Faye and her [[Crazy Prepared]] mother have worked out a code phrase for when Faye was being held against her will.
{{quote|'''Faye''': No mother, the peaches are '''definitely not ripe'''.}}
{{quote|'''Faye''': No mother, the peaches are '''definitely not ripe'''.}}
* Belkar of ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'' subverts ([[Zig-Zagging Trope|double-subverts? parodies?]]) this during aftermath of the fight with the thieves guild. Celia and Hayley take it as Belkar gone [[Ax Crazy]]. More so than usual, anyway.
* Belkar of ''[[The Order of the Stick|Order of the Stick]]'' subverts ([[Zig-Zagging Trope|double-subverts? parodies?]]) this during aftermath of the fight with the thieves guild. Celia and Hayley take it as Belkar gone [[Ax Crazy]]. More so than usual, anyway.
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* In ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' {{spoiler|Norman Osborn does not apologize.}} The Chameleon would though.
* In ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' {{spoiler|Norman Osborn does not apologize.}} The Chameleon would though.
* On an episode of ''[[Men in Black (animation)|Men in Black]]'', J instantly realized that an alien was impersonating K, because K would never had laughed at any of his jokes.
* On an episode of ''[[Men in Black (animation)|Men in Black]]'', J instantly realized that an alien was impersonating K, because K would never had laughed at any of his jokes.
* On ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]],'' the hero Jericho is possessing Cinderblock to get him and the other good guys into the bad guys' lair. However, he villains are immediately suspicious when "Cinderblock" says "Thank you" to one of their comments--having never fought these villains before, Jericho didn't realize that Cinderblock [[The Voiceless|doesn't normally talk]].
* On ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]],'' the hero Jericho is possessing Cinderblock to get him and the other good guys into the bad guys' lair. However, he villains are immediately suspicious when "Cinderblock" says "Thank you" to one of their comments--having never fought these villains before, Jericho didn't realize that Cinderblock [[The Voiceless|doesn't normally talk]].
** Which is sort of ironic, because usually, [[The Speechless|Jericho doesn't either]].
** Which is sort of ironic, because usually, [[The Speechless|Jericho doesn't either]].
* This was how Cosgrove discredited an evil clone in ''[[Freakazoid]]'': he asked if the clone wanted to [[Running Gag|go to a Yakov Smirnov festival]]. The clone said "no". (Compare that to Freakazoid's usual "DO I!")
* This was how Cosgrove discredited an evil clone in ''[[Freakazoid]]'': he asked if the clone wanted to [[Running Gag|go to a Yakov Smirnov festival]]. The clone said "no". (Compare that to Freakazoid's usual "DO I!")
* In the opening movie of the ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' cartoon, Rex clues Anakin and Ahsoka into the fact that the surviving members of the group of clones they'd been captured by saying "Anakin, we've held the droids. What is your position?" This clues them in because all clones address Jedi by either "General" for Knights or "Commander" for Padawans, never by name.
* In the opening movie of the ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' cartoon, Rex clues Anakin and Ahsoka into the fact that the surviving members of the group of clones they'd been captured by saying "Anakin, we've held the droids. What is your position?" This clues them in because all clones address Jedi by either "General" for Knights or "Commander" for Padawans, never by name.
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* As mentioned in ''[[Bravo Two Zero]]'', people in the military, particularly special forces who may be likely to be captured, will often agree on a sign that they are being forced to do something under duress. In this book, one of the captured soldiers is forced to make a video message stating that all's well. He is given a cigarette to add to the illusion. His signal that all's not well is to hold the cigarette differently than he usually would.
* As mentioned in ''[[Bravo Two Zero]]'', people in the military, particularly special forces who may be likely to be captured, will often agree on a sign that they are being forced to do something under duress. In this book, one of the captured soldiers is forced to make a video message stating that all's well. He is given a cigarette to add to the illusion. His signal that all's not well is to hold the cigarette differently than he usually would.
* Resistance radio operators for the British Special Operations Executive were given special code words to indicate if they were being forced to transmit under duress. Unfortunately some of these agents were later "reminded" by headquarters to include their security check when they omitted it after being captured.
* Resistance radio operators for the British Special Operations Executive were given special code words to indicate if they were being forced to transmit under duress. Unfortunately some of these agents were later "reminded" by headquarters to include their security check when they omitted it after being captured.
** Security checks, such as using codewords and including/not including certain punctuation characters in certain points of a message, to indicate that the operator now works in captivity, were the standard practice of radio operators who transmitted intelligence information from behind the enemy lines during WW II.
** Security checks, such as using codewords and including/not including certain punctuation characters in certain points of a message, to indicate that the operator now works in captivity, were the standard practice of radio operators who transmitted intelligence information from behind the enemy lines during WW II.
* When captured during [[The Vietnam War]], then-aviator Jeremiah Denton communicated to the American audience during a televised interview by blinking in Morse code, spelling out the word "torture".
* When captured during [[The Vietnam War]], then-aviator Jeremiah Denton communicated to the American audience during a televised interview by blinking in Morse code, spelling out the word "torture".
* One urban legend describes a prisoner of war forced to write a letter to his family saying that he is being treated well. In the letter is a cryptic sentence: "Please give little Jimmie the stamp for his collection." The family doesn't know anyone named Jimmie, so they realize that it must be a clue. They steam the stamp off the envelope, and on the other side is written the truth of the prisoner's condition: "They've cut off my [hands/legs/tongue]."
* One urban legend describes a prisoner of war forced to write a letter to his family saying that he is being treated well. In the letter is a cryptic sentence: "Please give little Jimmie the stamp for his collection." The family doesn't know anyone named Jimmie, so they realize that it must be a clue. They steam the stamp off the envelope, and on the other side is written the truth of the prisoner's condition: "They've cut off my [hands/legs/tongue]."
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