Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
213,890
edits
Two Words: Obvious Trope: Difference between revisions
Removed the duplicate "Discworld" example. It's an accurate cunt, even though Dibbler says otherwise
m (clean up) |
(Removed the duplicate "Discworld" example. It's an accurate cunt, even though Dibbler says otherwise) |
||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
Line 3:
'''Lucy''': A good reason to do this...
'''Danae''': Two words, Lucy...Risk Management.
'''Lucy''': Oh, I think I'm gonna need a ''lot'' more words than that.
|''[[Non Sequitur (comic strip)|Non Sequitur]]''}}
Two words: Spurious emphasis. Something so fundamental that it can be expressed in a snappy utterance, or just its mere existence. In fiction, if the reference is something the characters know about but never reveal to the audience, it can be an instance of "Two words: [[Noodle Incident]]".
Line 9 ⟶ 10:
For comedic effect, [[The Ditz]] or [[The Fool]] will sometimes miscount the words, or anyone may break a single word into two parts for additional emphasis.
'''Using this as a [[Pothole]] in examples in lieu of actually explaining the example is discouraged''', unless the word itself is already [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|self-description]]. [[
{{examples}}
==Accurate count of words:==
===Advertising ===
* Denis Leary appeared in a number of MTV ads in the early 90s where he regularly invoked this trope, including [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D3N4COZ4LE this public service ad] promoting tolerance and condemning racism:
{{quote|"One word folks, racism. One more word, Earth. If anyone gets any mail from outer space, that's gonna be the mailing address, okay?... I've got two words for you, David Duke. I got two more words, Nose Job, okay?"}}
===[[Comic Books]]===
* To quote Jubilee from ''[[Generation X]]''...
{{quote|"Three words, chump. Back and off."}}
===Film===
* ''[[Sister Act]]''.
{{quote|'''Sister Mary Clarence''': I got two words for ya, Vince!
Line 34 ⟶ 31:
* In ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'', one of the band's reviews for ''Shark Sandwich'' is "Just two words: 'Shit sandwich.'" This is one of the few times where the cast actually laughs.
=== Literature ===
* From ''[[Moving Pictures]]'' by [[Terry Pratchett]]: "In a word -- im-possible!" "That's two words," said Dibbler<ref>It isn't</ref> (as a reference to legendary Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn, [[Malaproper]] and simile-mangler extraordinaire).
===
* From a [[Whitest Kids U Know]] sketch:
{{quote|'''Executioner:''' Do you have any last words?
Line 46 ⟶ 41:
* Inverted in an episode of ''[[The West Wing]]''; during a presidential debate Bartlet's opponent Robert Ritchie (a Bush parody) claims that Bartlet will try and excuse high federal costs with one big word: 'Unfunded Mandate'. In his rebuttal, Bartlet is quick to point out that that's actually ''two'' words, thus making Ritchie look more than a little ridiculous.
** There's also a less flippant example in the episode "Stirred," where Bartlet explains that the reason he wants to keep Hoynes as his vice-president is "four words," which he writes down: {{spoiler|"Because I could die."}}
* [[Rudy Coby]] invokes the "two words" thing with this exchange:
{{quote|'''Rudy Coby:''' Everything you've seen today can be explained with just one word:
'''Offscreen Guy:''' Hairspray.
Line 57 ⟶ 52:
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''
** Ordered by Buffy to explain what he's doing in five words, Spike retorts "Out. For. A. Walk." Realizing he still has one left, he adds, "''[[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|Bitch]]''."
** When Wesley sees Cordelia for the first time, someone, I believe it was Faith,{{verify}} told him "First word Jail, second word Bait."
* ''[[Gavin and Stacey]]'', when Smithy goes to the stag party organiser:
{{quote|'''Jammy the Stag Party Organiser:''' One word:
Line 65 ⟶ 60:
'''Jammy:''' One word:
'''Projector:''' TITS }}
* A variation has appeared twice in ''[[Doctor Who]]'', in that it is crucial to the plot. In the episode The Christmas Invasion, The Doctor emphasises to everyone present that with only six words he can bring down Harriet Jones' government. He says the words "Don't you think she looks tired?" and Harriet Jones' government collapses within the day. In the Series 3 finale, Martha Jones prepares everyone in the world to say "just one word.. Doctor" at the exact same instant and, with spectacular use of a [[Chekhov's Gun]] (somehow), brings the Doctor back to his original state and saves the entire planet.
* Parodied on ''[[The King of Queens]]'':
{{quote|Arthur: I've got two words; I'm staying right here!
Carrie: [[Lampshade Hanging|That's four words!]]
A: Well, here's another four: screw you!
C: Dad, that's two words.
Doug: Arthur, maybe you should stop saying how many words you're going to say in advance.
A: Yeah, once you do that, you're pretty much trapped in a hole, eh?
D: I'll put my fist up your hole... }}
* Played with in ''[[30
{{quote|'''Donaghy''': One word: Surge.
'''Tracy''': [[Cloudcuckoolander|That's two words]]! }}
Line 88 ⟶ 83:
'''Shawn:''' I'm gonna need more words. }}
=== Music ===
* [[Kanye West]]'s 'College Dropout' has a song called Two Words.
=== [[Newspaper Comics]] ===
* A few from ''[[Garfield]]'':
** [http://garfield.nfshost.com/1979/01/05/ January 5, 1979]{{Dead link}}:
{{quote|'''Jon''': Do you know why you need me, Garfield? I can sum it up in two words. Quality companionship.
'''Garfield''': Body heat. }}
** [http://garfield.nfshost.com/1991/12/29/ December 29, 1991]{{Dead link}}:
{{quote|'''Garfield''': Sigh. Christmas is over, and New Year's is almost here. Sigh. So it seems appropriate at this time to stop and reflect. To reflect on those three words which represent the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season... '''Boogie!''' '''Boogie!''' '''Boogie!'''}}
** [http://garfield.nfshost.com/1995/07/15/ July 15, 1995]{{Dead link}}:
{{quote|'''Jon''': It's the weekend, and you know what that means... Two words, Garfield... “Board games”.
'''Garfield''': [[Sarcasm Mode|Whoa! My fun meter is a-jumpin' off the scale!]] }}
** In the book ''Garfield's Book Of Super School Excuses'', one of the excuses for "Why I didn't go to gym class" is "Two words: Towel snapping.", and one of the ones for "Why my library books are late" is "Two words: Hungry termites".
=== Stand-Up Comedy ===
* A [[Steve Martin]] stand-up comedy routine from the 1970s. "You can be a millionaire and never pay taxes. Yes, you can have one million dollars and never pay taxes! How? First, get a million dollars. Now, you might ask, Steve, what do I do when the tax man comes by and says, 'You have never paid taxes'? Two words: 'I forgot.' How often do we get in trouble because we don't say 'I forgot'? Armed robbery? Just say, 'I forgot armed robbery was illegal.'" The bit predictably ends with, "Two words: 'Excuuuuse me!'"
=== [[Pro Wrestling]] ===
* To quote [[De Generation X]] from ''WWE''...
{{quote|"We've got Two Words for ya!! SUCK IT!!!"}}
=== Theater ===
* In ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'', Pseudolus triggers the intermission just as he's been sentenced to death by begging to say a word ... just one word ... a very important word ...: INTERMISSION!
=== Video Games ===
* In ''[[Destroy All Humans!]] 2'', Crypto tries to convince British hippies that Arkvoodle has the best collection of music in the galaxy. When they ask what Arkvoodle listens to, Crypto says "Three words. And one of them's a disease. Blind Willie Syphilis."
* There was a Spider-Man text adventure for the Commodore 64 whose parser only understood two word commands ("go north", "take mcguffin", etc). So when you wanted to web something up, you had to use the command "shoot web", to which the game would reply: "In two words: AT WHAT?" after which you then had to enter another two word command like "at sandman".
Line 125 ⟶ 114:
{{quote|'''Hemlock:''' Four words - The. Marquis. De. Singe.}}
=== Web Original ===
* According to [[SF Debris|Chuck Sonnenburg]] in part 1 of his [https://web.archive.org/web/20131016233858/http://blip.tv/sf-debris-opinionated-reviews/clone-wars-nightsisters-trilogy-review-part-1-6096569 Nightsisters] review, there was a two word review for the [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars|Clone Wars]] animated movie: {{spoiler|"[[Precision F-Strike|Shit]] sandwich."}}
** {{spoiler|Which he then reuses more than half a minute later to describe his opinion on the first episode of the cartoon based off of said movie.}}
=== Web Comics ===
* ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' had the three words Haley'd been longing to say: "Sneak attack--[[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|bitch!]]" Later lampshaded when Bozzok tries to pull the same "two words: sneak attack!" gag:
{{quote|'''Haley''': Oh my gods, I've done that "two words" gag like nine times already! You're going to need some fresher material if you want to be a villain in this story. [[Take That Me|Not that much fresher]], but still.}}
** Shojo reminds Roy that Roy's in as deep as he is with all these deceptions with Two Words: "your trial," then elaborates about the extent he went to rig things so they would be found not
** And again in strip 252:
{{quote|'''Nale''': Oh really? Please explain why we're suddenly in such a hurry.
'''Sabine''': Four words: Out of fudge ripple.
'''Thog''':oh, little ice cream friends! thog delays boredom-driven rampage only for you! }}
=== Western Animation ===
* In the "Late Show" episode of ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]],'' the #1 line on the "Big Ten list" is "'Two words.' * beat* That's it, just... 'two words.'"
* In ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', J. Jonah Jameson gives a Seventeen Words response to one of Peter's protests, followed by him giving a 17-word suggestion. Humor ensues when Peter questions how fast talking J.J. Jameson could count the amount of words he would use in his next sentence in the split second it took him to say the words.
* Parodied in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "I Married Marge" when Patty says, "Marge, I've got two-and-a-half words for you. Gulp. 'N'. Blow."
** When Lisa asks for advice on how to gently let down Ralph Wiggum, Homer suggests, "Six simple words: I'm not gay, but I'll learn."
* [[Darkwing Duck]] after facing a huge fire-breathing monster; "Two words, breath mint."
=== Real Life ===
* One of the best known examples comes courtesy of President [[Calvin Coolidge]]. When a reporter told him he had made a bet he could get more than two words out of "Silent Cal", the president replied, "You lose."
* An example in Polish is the "three words to the presiding father" audio clip, in which an anonymous caller phones a somewhat infamous radio station in order to say [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|three (or four, depending how you're counting) words to the presiding father]], which can be translated as "dick up your arse".
* And then there's the old cliché as to what, in [[Department of Redundancy Department|three words]], matters most in real estate valuation: Location, location and location.
== Inaccurate word count ==
=== Advertising ===
* A 1980s commercial for Alka Seltzer Cold Medicine where a group of construction workers touted the product. One of them said "in a word: it works."
* From an 80s car commercial starring Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell: "I've got one word for you, Vern, new car!"
=== Film ===
* ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]] 2'' had Stinky Pete get this ''wrong'' while explaining the reason for the declining popularity of ''Woody's Roundup'': "Two words: Sput Nik." [[Don't Explain the Joke|Stinky Pete was referring to unmanned Russian satellite ''Sputnik'', the beginning of the "Space Race"]].
* In ''[[Midnight Run]]'' Walsh is getting annoyed by Mardukas' nagging, leading to the following exchange.
{{quote|'''Mardukas''': Jack, you're a grown man. You have control over your own words.
Line 170 ⟶ 153:
* ''[[True Lies]]'': "Okay, I've got two words for that: In. Sane."
* ''[[Analyze This|Analyze That]]'' has a scene where Billy Crystal's character is talking with a pair of police detectives, one of whom is an attractive woman in a short skirt. After Crystal's wife, played by Lisa Kudrow, catches him staring at her legs (and inadvertantly commenting on them via a [[Freudian Slip]]), she excuses herself from the room, then glances at the female cop: "Two words of advice, from one professional woman to another: Pant. Suit."
* Phil from Disney's ''[[Hercules (
{{quote|"I got two words for ya kid--I am retired!"
"What is that?!"
"Two words -- am-scray!" ([[Pig Latin]] for scram, for those under a rock.)
** Hercules (imitating Phil): Two words: Duck!}}
** And the one time he ''did'' have the right number, in his song "One Last Hope", he was forced to make a [[Last-Second Word Swap]].
{{quote|'''Phil''': "I only have two words..." [[Bolt of Divine Retribution|(Gets hit by lightning)]] "...o-kay."}}
Line 198 ⟶ 177:
{{quote|"I got two words for you...Brush your teeth!"}}
=== Literature ===
* In parts of Steven Brust's [[Dragaera]] series, someone who leads with "if I might say two words...", or any variation of that, inevitably launches into an extended exposition.
* Rosalie Murray, in ''[[Agnes Grey]]'', about Mr Weston (who is really a much nicer man than how she describes him): "I can give you his description in three words ... an insensate, ugly, stupid blockhead. That's four, but no matter ..." ([[The Ditz|That's actually five words.]])
=== Live-Action TV ===
* Joey in ''[[Friends]]'' does this in "The One With The List": "I got two words for you. Threesome."
* ''[[The West Wing]]''. lampshaded in the season six episode "In God We Trust" by a Vinick advisor when he recommends that the senator continue to repeat four words:
Line 221 ⟶ 197:
* In an episode of ''[[Seinfeld]]'' where George is trying to break his engagement to Susan, Kramer suggests, "Two words: pre-nup."
* In developing the rivalry between the musical cast and the young members of the King Lear cast in the third season of ''Slings & Arrows'': "Three words: Stink Bomb."
* On ''[[Garth Marenghi's Darkplace]]'':
{{quote|''I've got two words for you, Sanch. Tele... Kinesis.''}}
* Hank from ''[[Corner Gas]]'':
{{quote|'''Hank:''' Two words: Boycott. }}
=== Music ===
* Denis Leary's song "Asshole": "Two words... [[Precision F-Strike|Nuclear fuckin' weapons!"]]
* Played with in Weird Al's "This Song's Just Six Words Long". The song itself has a lot more words than that. The ''title'' is exactly six words; however, [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|many people assume]] he's singing "This song is just six words long", which would make it this trope.
=== Newspaper Comics ===
* In ''[[Bloom County]]'', the newly personality-reversed Steve Dallas attempts to convince his old, vapid girlfriend Quiche to look at things the way he now does.
{{quote|'''Steve:''' Now I want you to say the first word that comes to mind when I say this: Celibacy.
'''Quiche:''' Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
'''Steve:''' That's ''ten'' words... }}
* [http://garfield.nfshost.com/2005/04/22/ The April 22, 2005]{{Dead link}} strip of ''[[Garfield]]'':
{{quote|'''Jon''': Ellen, how's about I zip over to your place and serenade you with my accordion? {silent beat} “Restraining order” is such an ugly word, Ellen.
'''Garfield''': That's two words, dummy. }}
=== Professional Wrestling ===
* Paul Heyman, in a shoot-promo, fired off an often quoted version during the first ever "ECW One Night Stand" pay-per-view event, addressing members of WWE's RAW and [[Smack Down]]! brands who had crashed the show - in particular, Adam "Edge" Copeland:
{{quote|'''Heyman:''' * I* have two words for you...
Line 250 ⟶ 223:
*** And then use Matt Hardy's signature hand motion to indicate that it is indeed 3 words.
=== Theater ===
* This one is [[Older Than Radio]]: [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' has pirate Samuel say the line: "Permit me, I'll explain in two words: we propose to marry your daughters."
** This being G&S, the director often has fun with it. One production has it rendered as "We propose-to-marry-your-daughters" (with the pirate counting the words on his fingers, and being surprised when he reaches six) while another has three separate pirates deliver two words each.
* [[Zeroth Law of Trope Examples|Romeo and Juliet]] Act 2, Scene 2
{{quote|'''JULIET''': Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
Line 262 ⟶ 234:
'''Padraic:''' "Splinter group?" Splinter group's two words. }}
=== Web Comics ===
* In [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2001-01-31 this] ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'' strip, Captain Tagon is telling the woman who is technically his boss, to move. "Why are you issuing orders to me, Tagon?" "Two words: Bomb on Board."
=== Web Original ===
* The internet reviewer Benzaie does this for amusement value, where he will sum up a game in two words, at least one of the words being four or five words all squished together; For example, he sums up the [[Sega Genesis]] adaptation of ''Bram Stoker's Dracula'' as "Two words: [[Castlevania]]ripoff withagaymusic!" For additional comical effect, he can still mangle his description somehow even if it '''is''' just two words: "Two words: Abo Nus!"
* In the ''[[Homestar Runner]]'' short [http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail110.html "for kids"], Strong Bad reacts to seeing Homsar's TV show for preschoolers:
{{quote|'''Strong Bad:''' I've got two words for the children that are raised on that crap: HELD BACK. REPEATING THE THIRD GRADE. LOW STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES. [[Lampshade Hanging|I GUESS THIS WAS MORE THAN TWO WORDS]].}}
=== Western Animation ===
* ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' use this:
{{quote|"I have two words for you: Mouthwash."}}
** Cosmo prefaces 99% of what he says with this, and most of the time, it's WAY more than 2 words.
Line 289 ⟶ 262:
* In ''[[Total Drama Island|Total Drama Action]],'' when the castmates have to vote off two of their competitors at once:
{{quote|'''[[Dumb Blonde|Lindsay:]]''' (''In confessional'') Two words: [[Make-Out Kids|Bridgette and Geoff!]]}}
* In Disney's ''[[Hercules (
* ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'':
{{quote|[[SpongeBob]]: What brought you here?
Patrick: Two words: Na-chos. }}
* [[Horsemen of the Apocalypse|Pestilence]] in [[Squidbillies]]:
{{quote|One word: Apocalyptic horseman, fool!}}
=== Real Life ===
* Legendary [[Malaproper]] and studio head Sam Goldwyn (the "G" in "MGM") is alleged to have responded "In two words: Im-Possible!" to a proposal he didn't like.
Line 304 ⟶ 275:
[[Category:Stock Phrases]]
[[Category:This Trope Name References Itself]]
[[Category:
| |||