Don't Ask: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
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[[File: |
[[File:t ask 9693.png|link=Sandra and Woo|frame]] |
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A [[Stock Phrase]] That comes up in several situations: |
A [[Stock Phrase]] That comes up in several situations: |
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# As a response to "How was your day?". Used this way, it implies that it's been a very bad day indeed. |
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# As a response to "How did ''that'' happen?". Used this way, it implies [[It's a Long Story]]. |
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# As a response to "How do ''you'' know that?". used this way, it implies a more detailed answer would provide [[Too Much Information]]. |
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# Before anybody could even ask when they see the character in something awkward. |
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Sometimes the statement is made preemptively, before the other person can even ask a question. Usually used to avoid recapping events the audience has already witnessed, or used to set up a [[Noodle Incident]]. |
Sometimes the statement is made preemptively, before the other person can even ask a question. Usually used to avoid recapping events the audience has already witnessed, or used to set up a [[Noodle Incident]]. |
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See also [[You Do NOT Want to Know]]. |
See also [[You Do NOT Want to Know]]. |
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Not to be confused with [[Hide Your Gays|"Don't ask, don't tell."]] |
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== Film == |
== Film == |
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* ''Arabesque'' |
* ''Arabesque'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Yasmin Azir''': This is like a recurring dream I used to have. |
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'''David Pollock''': How did it end? |
'''David Pollock''': How did it end? |
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'''Yasmin Azir''': Don't ask! }} |
'''Yasmin Azir''': Don't ask! }} |
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* ''As Good As It Gets'' |
* ''As Good As It Gets'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Carol Connelly''': How are you? |
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'''Simon Bishop''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Simon Bishop''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Heat]]'' |
* ''[[Heat]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Nate''': What happened out there? |
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'''Neil McCauley''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Neil McCauley''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Outlander ( |
* ''[[Outlander (film)|Outlander]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Wulfric''': This is where your ship went down? |
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'''Kainan''': That's right. |
'''Kainan''': That's right. |
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'''Wulfric''': In a lake? |
'''Wulfric''': In a lake? |
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'''Kainan''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Kainan''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''The Adventures of [[Young Indiana Jones]]: Daredevils of the Desert'' |
* ''The Adventures of [[Young Indiana Jones]]: Daredevils of the Desert'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Indiana Jones''': What happened? How did you get away from those Arabs? |
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'''Maya''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Maya''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[The Great Escape]]'' |
* ''[[The Great Escape]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|[Materials being used for escape clothes] |
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'''Bartlett''': Where in God's name did you get these? |
'''Bartlett''': Where in God's name did you get these? |
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'''Griffith''': Hendley. |
'''Griffith''': Hendley. |
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'''Bartlett''': Well, where did he get them? |
'''Bartlett''': Well, where did he get them? |
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'''Griffith''': Well, I asked him that. |
'''Griffith''': Well, I asked him that. |
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'''Bartlett''': What did he say? |
'''Bartlett''': What did he say? |
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'''Griffith''': "Don't ask." }} |
'''Griffith''': "Don't ask." }} |
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* ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'' |
* ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Teresa''': What are you doing here? |
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'''Jeremy''': Good question, but don't ask. }} |
'''Jeremy''': Good question, but don't ask. }} |
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* ''Trouble Man'' |
* ''Trouble Man'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Mr. T''': What's happenin', Willy? |
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'''Willy''': Don't ask. Also don't have daughters who marry schmuck husbands. }} |
'''Willy''': Don't ask. Also don't have daughters who marry schmuck husbands. }} |
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* ''[[Murder By Death]]'' |
* ''[[Murder By Death]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Milo Perrier''': ''(Bursts into the room wearing the dead butler's clothing)'' Don't ask me! |
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'''Dick Charleston''': What ''are'' you doing in the butler's uniform? |
'''Dick Charleston''': What ''are'' you doing in the butler's uniform? |
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'''Milo Perrier''': I said don't ask me! I don't know. It all happened too quickly! }} |
'''Milo Perrier''': I said don't ask me! I don't know. It all happened too quickly! }} |
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* From ''[[Legally Blonde]]'': |
* From ''[[Legally Blonde]]'': |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|''(Emmett staring at Elle as she stands in line to buy a computer, wearing a Playboy bunny outfit)'' |
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'''Elle''': Don't ask. |
'''Elle''': Don't ask. |
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'''Emmett''': Wasn't gonna. }} |
'''Emmett''': Wasn't gonna. }} |
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* From [[ |
* From [[Charlie's Angels]] |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|''(After Dylan arrives in a small motorcycle and clothes obviously too small for her)'' |
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'''Dylan''': ''(to Natalie and Alex)'' Don't ask. }} |
'''Dylan''': ''(to Natalie and Alex)'' Don't ask. }} |
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== Literature == |
== Literature == |
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* ''[[Harry Potter and |
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (novel)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Luna''': (''regarding her father'') He's always saying he'd believe anything of Fudge; I mean, the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! And of course he uses the Department of Mysteries to develop terrible poisons, which he secretly feeds to anybody who disagrees with him. And then there's his Umgubular Slashkilter — |
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'''Harry''': (''to Cho Chang'') Don't ask. }} |
'''Harry''': (''to Cho Chang'') Don't ask. }} |
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* In ''[[ |
* In ''[[Going Postal (Discworld)|Going Postal]]'' the Post Office has a long list of things not to ask about, [[Apron Matron|Mrs Cake]] is featured three times. Later when a Golem that used to work in a messenger service for an ancient empire is hired it turns out that the ancients also had a very similar list. The Goddess C'zol appears multiple times. Naturally [[Embarrassing First Name|Moist]] finds himself asking, only to be told "Do Not Ask!". |
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== [[Live |
== [[Live-Action TV]] == |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' episode "Wrecked" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Willow''': Magic wasn't all great. I won't miss the nosebleeds and the headaches and stuff. |
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'''Buffy''': There you go. |
'''Buffy''': There you go. |
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'''Willow''': Or keeping stinky yak cheese in my bra. Don't ask. }} |
'''Willow''': Or keeping stinky yak cheese in my bra. Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Castle]]'' episode "Home Is Where the Heart Stops" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Kate Beckett''': ''[shows her badge while wearing a slinky dress at the fancy charity ball]'' |
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'''Richard Castle''': Where was the badge? |
'''Richard Castle''': Where was the badge? |
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'''Kate Beckett''': [[Victoria's Secret Compartment|Don't ask.]] }} |
'''Kate Beckett''': [[Victoria's Secret Compartment|Don't ask.]] }} |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Farscape]]'' episode "I Shrink Therefore I Am" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Rygel''': There's a wrinkled old woman floating outside the forward portal. |
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'''John Crichton''': Whoa. Gigantic oops. [to D'Argo] Can you do me a favor? Pop outside the tier three treblin side hatch and haul Granny in. |
'''John Crichton''': Whoa. Gigantic oops. [to D'Argo] Can you do me a favor? Pop outside the tier three treblin side hatch and haul Granny in. |
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'''D'Argo''': Noranti is outside? |
'''D'Argo''': Noranti is outside? |
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'''John Crichton''': Yeah. Don't ask. }} |
'''John Crichton''': Yeah. Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Just Shoot Me]]'' episode "La Cage" |
* ''[[Just Shoot Me]]'' episode "La Cage" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Elliot DiMauro''': Nina, I told you I'd never work with Nikki Ellston. |
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'''Nina Van Horn''': I thought you said Mickey Rooney. |
'''Nina Van Horn''': I thought you said Mickey Rooney. |
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'''Elliot DiMauro''': Why would I say Mickey Rooney? |
'''Elliot DiMauro''': Why would I say Mickey Rooney? |
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'''Nina Van Horn''': Oh, that's right. ''I'' won't work with Mickey Rooney. Don't ask. }} |
'''Nina Van Horn''': Oh, that's right. ''I'' won't work with Mickey Rooney. Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Law |
* ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit|Law and Order Special Victims Unit]]'' episode "Taken" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Detective Tutuola''': He lives at 1634 Broadway. |
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'''Detective Munch''': Not unless he's one of the nuts lobbying for yet another extension of "Cats". That's the Winter Garden Theatre. ''[Fin gives Munch a look]'' Don't ask. }} |
'''Detective Munch''': Not unless he's one of the nuts lobbying for yet another extension of "Cats". That's the Winter Garden Theatre. ''[Fin gives Munch a look]'' Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Malcolm in |
* ''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Doctor''': ''[after Dewey's stomach is pumped]'' We didn't find any candles, but we did find some marbles. And the waistband to a pair of underpants. |
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'''Dewey''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Dewey''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[Monk]]'' episode "Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Capt. Stottlemeyer''': [singing "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone] |
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'''Natalie''': [comes in and sees Stottlemeyer at the mic] |
'''Natalie''': [comes in and sees Stottlemeyer at the mic] |
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'''Adrian Monk''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Adrian Monk''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[ |
* ''[[NCIS]]'' episode "Silver War" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|''([[Perky Goth|Abby]] hugs Bert, the stuffed hippo that farts)'' |
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'''Tony''': ''(to Ziva)'' Don't ask. }} |
'''Tony''': ''(to Ziva)'' Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Skins]]'' episode "Sid" |
* ''[[Skins]]'' episode "Sid" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Chris Miles''': Last night, man. Cool. Total blast. Everything you could ever want from an evening. Songs, choir girls, colourful costumes, fellatio, rabbits... |
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'''Maxxie''': Rabbits? |
'''Maxxie''': Rabbits? |
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'''Chris Miles''': Don't ask, man. }} |
'''Chris Miles''': Don't ask, man. }} |
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* ''[[Star Trek |
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "In the Cards" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Giger''': Where's the hydrosaline solution? |
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'''Jake Sisko''': We should have it soon. Nog just got the bear...Don't ask. }} |
'''Jake Sisko''': We should have it soon. Nog just got the bear...Don't ask. }} |
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* ''The [[Young Indiana Jones]] Chronicles'' episode "Palestine, October 1917" |
* ''The [[Young Indiana Jones]] Chronicles'' episode "Palestine, October 1917" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Indiana Jones''': Where have you been? |
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'''Rashid''': Don't ask. Next time, you play the dead man! }} |
'''Rashid''': Don't ask. Next time, you play the dead man! }} |
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== Music == |
== Music == |
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* "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" by [[Warren Zevon]], third verse: |
* "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" by [[Warren Zevon]], third verse: |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|''I met a girl at the Rainbow Bar'' |
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''She asked me if I'd beat her'' |
''She asked me if I'd beat her'' |
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''She took me back to the Hyatt House....'' |
''She took me back to the Hyatt House....'' |
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[spoken] I don't wanna talk about it... }} |
[spoken] I don't wanna talk about it... }} |
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== [[Video Games]] == |
== [[Video Games]] == |
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* ''[[Destroy All Humans]]! 2'' |
* ''[[Destroy All Humans!]]! 2'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Crypto''': This gas is noxious. Smells like Pox's underwear. Don't ask me how I know that.}} |
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== [[Web Animation]] == |
== [[Web Animation]] == |
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* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]: The Blood Gulch Chronicles'' episode "Have We Met?" |
* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]: The Blood Gulch Chronicles'' episode "Have We Met?" |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|''[Snip description of bizarre events involving time travel and a rocket launcher]'' |
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'''Church''': ''[to yellow Church]'' Well, what did you do? |
'''Church''': ''[to yellow Church]'' Well, what did you do? |
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'''Church''': Dude, don't ask. Trust me, it - it didn't work. }} |
'''Church''': Dude, don't ask. Trust me, it - it didn't work. }} |
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== [[Web Comics]] == |
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== Webcomics == |
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== [[Web Original]] == |
== [[Web Original]] == |
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* The Nostalgia Critic, at the end of his review of {{spoiler|''Casper''}} |
* The Nostalgia Critic, at the end of his review of {{spoiler|''Casper''}} |
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** It's exactly at the end of the video. {{spoiler|As he is exiting from the GMX expo. In a Ghostbuster suit. And he is completely soaked. Don't Ask.}} |
** It's exactly at the end of the video. {{spoiler|As he is exiting from the GMX expo. In a Ghostbuster suit. And he is completely soaked. Don't Ask.}} |
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== [[Western Animation]] == |
== [[Western Animation]] == |
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* ''[[101 |
* ''[[101 Dalmatians]]: The Series'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Rolly''': What things could a chicken possibly want? |
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'''Lucky''': Don't ask. }} |
'''Lucky''': Don't ask. }} |
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* ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' |
* ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''[[The Starscream|Starscream]]''': So, which [[Literal Split Personality|part of me]] did ''you'' come from? |
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'''[[Opposite |
'''[[Opposite Gender Clone|Slipstream]]''': [[You Do NOT Want to Know|Don't ask.]] }} |
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* [[Madagascar|Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]] |
* [[Madagascar|Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]] |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Elephant(with trunk tied in a knot)''': Don't ask. |
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'''Melman''': Ha, [[Gullible Lemmings|someone's]] [[Deadpan Snarker|been]] [[A Worldwide Punomenon|knotty]]. }} |
'''Melman''': Ha, [[Gullible Lemmings|someone's]] [[Deadpan Snarker|been]] [[A Worldwide Punomenon|knotty]]. }} |
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* ''[[Recess]]'' |
* ''[[Recess]]'' |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''T.J.''': My older brother used to play on Old Rusty. |
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'''Spinelli''': My mom used to play on Old Rusty! |
'''Spinelli''': My mom used to play on Old Rusty! |
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'''Mikey''': Heck, my Uncle Mary used to play on Old Rusty! |
'''Mikey''': Heck, my Uncle Mary used to play on Old Rusty! |
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'''Vince''': Your Uncle ''Mary''? |
'''Vince''': Your Uncle ''Mary''? |
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'''Gretchen''': [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|Don't ask.]] }} |
'''Gretchen''': [[Getting Crap Past the Radar|Don't ask.]] }} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Stock Phrases]] |
[[Category:Stock Phrases]] |
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⚫ |
Latest revision as of 00:06, 18 August 2023
A Stock Phrase That comes up in several situations:
- As a response to "How was your day?". Used this way, it implies that it's been a very bad day indeed.
- As a response to "How did that happen?". Used this way, it implies It's a Long Story.
- As a response to "How do you know that?". used this way, it implies a more detailed answer would provide Too Much Information.
- Before anybody could even ask when they see the character in something awkward.
Sometimes the statement is made preemptively, before the other person can even ask a question. Usually used to avoid recapping events the audience has already witnessed, or used to set up a Noodle Incident.
See also You Do NOT Want to Know.
Not to be confused with "Don't ask, don't tell."
Film
- Arabesque
Yasmin Azir: This is like a recurring dream I used to have. |
- As Good As It Gets
Carol Connelly: How are you? |
Nate: What happened out there? |
Wulfric: This is where your ship went down? |
- The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert
Indiana Jones: What happened? How did you get away from those Arabs? |
[Materials being used for escape clothes] |
Teresa: What are you doing here? |
- Trouble Man
Mr. T: What's happenin', Willy? |
Milo Perrier: (Bursts into the room wearing the dead butler's clothing) Don't ask me! |
- From Legally Blonde:
(Emmett staring at Elle as she stands in line to buy a computer, wearing a Playboy bunny outfit) |
- From Charlie's Angels
(After Dylan arrives in a small motorcycle and clothes obviously too small for her) |
Literature
Luna: (regarding her father) He's always saying he'd believe anything of Fudge; I mean, the number of goblins Fudge has had assassinated! And of course he uses the Department of Mysteries to develop terrible poisons, which he secretly feeds to anybody who disagrees with him. And then there's his Umgubular Slashkilter — |
- In Going Postal the Post Office has a long list of things not to ask about, Mrs Cake is featured three times. Later when a Golem that used to work in a messenger service for an ancient empire is hired it turns out that the ancients also had a very similar list. The Goddess C'zol appears multiple times. Naturally Moist finds himself asking, only to be told "Do Not Ask!".
Live-Action TV
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Wrecked"
Willow: Magic wasn't all great. I won't miss the nosebleeds and the headaches and stuff. |
- Castle episode "Home Is Where the Heart Stops"
Kate Beckett: [shows her badge while wearing a slinky dress at the fancy charity ball] |
- Farscape episode "I Shrink Therefore I Am"
Rygel: There's a wrinkled old woman floating outside the forward portal. |
- Just Shoot Me episode "La Cage"
Elliot DiMauro: Nina, I told you I'd never work with Nikki Ellston. |
- Law and Order Special Victims Unit episode "Taken"
Detective Tutuola: He lives at 1634 Broadway. |
Doctor: [after Dewey's stomach is pumped] We didn't find any candles, but we did find some marbles. And the waistband to a pair of underpants. |
- Monk episode "Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas"
Capt. Stottlemeyer: [singing "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone] |
- NCIS episode "Silver War"
(Abby hugs Bert, the stuffed hippo that farts) |
- Skins episode "Sid"
Chris Miles: Last night, man. Cool. Total blast. Everything you could ever want from an evening. Songs, choir girls, colourful costumes, fellatio, rabbits... |
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "In the Cards"
Giger: Where's the hydrosaline solution? |
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode "Palestine, October 1917"
Indiana Jones: Where have you been? |
Music
- "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" by Warren Zevon, third verse:
I met a girl at the Rainbow Bar |
Video Games
Crypto: This gas is noxious. Smells like Pox's underwear. Don't ask me how I know that. |
Web Animation
- Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles episode "Have We Met?"
[Snip description of bizarre events involving time travel and a rocket launcher] |
Web Comics
- Used verbatim in its 4th form in Laser Feet's 17th [dead link] comic.
Web Original
- The Nostalgia Critic, at the end of his review of Casper
- It's exactly at the end of the video. As he is exiting from the GMX expo. In a Ghostbuster suit. And he is completely soaked. Don't Ask.
Western Animation
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series
Rolly: What things could a chicken possibly want? |
Starscream: So, which part of me did you come from? |
T.J.: My older brother used to play on Old Rusty. |