History Main / Ahem

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':

** [[BorrowedCatchphrase Ginny does an imitation of Umbridge's cough]] in ''Literature/OrderOfThePhoenix''. In fact, it's such a good imitation that those who heard her freak out at first before they find out it's her and laugh.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Marvin Grossberg from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' has a signature, exaggerated *Ah-HHHHEM!* from off-screen as one of his {{Catch Phrase}}s.

* ''{{WesternAnimation/Shrek}}'': Lord Farquaad has an EvilLaugh as he approaches the torture table that turns into this as the table is still set for someone of normal height.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Often done by Mr. Conklin. For example, when Miss Brooks accidentally telephones him in "Wake Up Plan".

* Creator/ABertramChandler's Commodore Grimes, being Horatio Hornblower InSpace, has his own VerbalTic, "Mphm".

* In ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' story arc ''ComicBook/ThePlagueOfTheAntibioticMan'': Iris Allen is going to meet with her husband ComicBook/TheFlash when she sees him talking to Lois Lane. Feeling a pang of jealousy, she coughs an "A-hem..." right behind them to draw their attention.

* Lampshaded in a ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' strip in which Charlie Brown desperately needs to clear his throat during a baseball game, but he knows that if he does, Lucy will think it's a commentary on the fact that she just struck out. Finally he can't hold out.

* The Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' at the beginning of the "Meet The Spy" Video when the briefcase is found. Followed by [[MemeticMutation "Gentlemen?"]]
* Done a few times throughout ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland''. There is one part in Chapter 5 when, after Guybrush thanks Morgan [[spoiler:for opening the Crossroads]], she gives out an "ahem", which, in the subtitles, is stated as "*clears throat*".

* In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', coughing and throat-clearing appear frequently as part of the game's mostly {{realistic diction|IsUnrealistic}}, written "*khm*" rather than "Ahem."

* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'':
** Omi is picked to stay behind from a Shen-Gong-Wu search to watch Dojo:
--->'''Omi:''' What!? Why must I stay and Raimundo go? He was the last to make it to apprentice, and nobody thought he would make it!\\
'''Raimundo:''' AHEM.\\
'''Omi:''' ...Uh- er- that is... except for me?
** Omi explicitly states "[[RightBehindMe You know, I'm standing right here.]]"
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'': After discovering that his [[spoiler: brother-in-law's girlfriend was an employee of one of the villains]], Doc says to him:
-->'''Doc:''' I'm sorry about Abbey.\\
'''Doyle:''' Thanks.\\
'''Doc:'''[[spoiler: I mean, if anybody in that relationship was gonna be secretly evil, I'd have put my money on-]]\\
''[his wife pokes him]''\\
'''Doc:''' ''[clears throat]'' Well, we'll leave it at "sorry".

* After discovering that his [[spoiler: brother-in-law's girlfriend was an employee of one of the villains]], [[WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays Doc]] says to him:

* In a short story where ComicBook/SheHulk argued a case before the supreme court, Titania called her out multiple times, and every call out was relayed to her by a clerk who prefaced the message with an "Ahem".

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': In "Karate Choppers", Mr. Krabs does this to get [=SpongeBob=]'s attention when he catches him using karate to make sandwiches at a picnic. [[MemeticMutation Hilariously]], he says it as "Bluhahe"

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': Often done by Mr. Conklin.