Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Examples from Fainting wicks.
Added DiffLines:
* The ''WesternAnimation/PegPlusCat'' episode [[Recap/PegPlusCatS1E21TheSlopProblem "The Slop Problem"]]:
** Peg, who idolizes The Teens, pretends to faint to ham up how excited she is when they come over.
** When the Teens compliment Peg and Cat, they take turns pretending to pass out.
** Peg, who idolizes The Teens, pretends to faint to ham up how excited she is when they come over.
** When the Teens compliment Peg and Cat, they take turns pretending to pass out.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Georgiana, the heroine's sister in ''Webcomic/PennyBlackfeather'' pretends to faint so that everyone focuses on her and Penny can sneak out to do heroics.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Examples from Fainting wicks.
Added DiffLines:
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Brigitte fakes a faint as part of a WoundedGazelleGambit to get into Nazi headquarters in [[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS4E17TheKillingGame "The Killing Game"]].
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Bela pretends to faint in [[Recap/SupernaturalS03E06RedSkyAtMorning "Red Sky at Morning"]] to gain access to the upper levels of the museum.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Bela pretends to faint in [[Recap/SupernaturalS03E06RedSkyAtMorning "Red Sky at Morning"]] to gain access to the upper levels of the museum.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Example from Fainting wicks.
Changed line(s) 78 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], Sarah Jane has Queen Thalira pretend to faint in order to distract the Ice Warrior guarding the door to the throne room.
to:
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], Sarah Jane has Queen Thalira pretend to faint in order to distract the Ice Warrior guarding the door to the throneroom.room.
** In [[Recap/DrWhoS33E11TheCrimsonHorror "The Crimson Horror"]], Jenny pays a woman to cause a distraction. She obliges by pretending to faint.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], Sarah Jane has Queen Thalira pretend to faint in order to distract the Ice Warrior guarding the door to the throne
** In [[Recap/DrWhoS33E11TheCrimsonHorror "The Crimson Horror"]], Jenny pays a woman to cause a distraction. She obliges by pretending to faint.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Example from Fainting
Added DiffLines:
* ''Series/MagnificentCentury'': In the first episode, Hürrem pretends to faint, in order to get Süleyman to hold her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Example from Fainting
Added DiffLines:
* ''Series/{{Spellbinder}}'': Kathy constantly pretends to faint in the Land of the Immortals, since [[OfCorsetHurts her dress]] gives her an easy way to sell it, and it's the fastest way to meet with Dr Elvo.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Literature/TheScumVillainsSelfSavingSystemRenZhaFanpaiZijiuXitong'': If there's no way Shang Qinghua can avoid a situation or hide behind someone powerful, his next go-to action is to pretend to faint on the spot.
** When Mobei-Jun shows up at the opening of the Endless Abyss, he immediately flings Shang Qinghua into a tree, appearing to knock him out. Shen Qingqiu knows he's faking it as Shang Qinghua is actually a spy working for Mobei-Jun.
** As a disciple, he pretended to faint in front of Wei Qingwei to avoid having to come up with an excuse on the spot for what he'd been doing for the past few days and why he hadn't been slaughtered by Mobei-Jun like many of his fellow disciples.
** When Mobei-Jun shows up at the opening of the Endless Abyss, he immediately flings Shang Qinghua into a tree, appearing to knock him out. Shen Qingqiu knows he's faking it as Shang Qinghua is actually a spy working for Mobei-Jun.
** As a disciple, he pretended to faint in front of Wei Qingwei to avoid having to come up with an excuse on the spot for what he'd been doing for the past few days and why he hadn't been slaughtered by Mobei-Jun like many of his fellow disciples.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Example from unsorted list on Fainting, correct alphabetization.
* In Act II of ''Theatre/TheGirlOfTheGoldenWest'', the heroine throws a poker game by pretending to faint so she can [[VictoriasSecretCompartment stash her cards in her blouse]] and pull out a winning hand from her stocking.
Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
* In Act II of ''Theatre/TheGirlOfTheGoldenWest'', the heroine throws a poker game by pretending to faint so she can [[VictoriasSecretCompartment stash her cards in her blouse]] and pull out a winning hand from her stocking.
to:
* In Act II of ''Theatre/TheGirlOfTheGoldenWest'', the ''Theatre/{{Rebecca}}'': The heroine throws a poker game faints in court at the very moment her husband was about to [[AccuseTheWitness break under pressure]]. During the chaos that erupts, Ich can be seen exiting the scene ''walking out'' instead of being carried by pretending to faint so someone. Favell later [[LampshadeHanging sarcastically remarks]] that she can [[VictoriasSecretCompartment stash her cards in her blouse]] and pull out a winning hand has quickly recovered from her stocking.faint.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
A character pretends to lose consciousness in order to create a distraction, to get out of doing something they don't like or for some other reason.
to:
A character pretends to [[{{Fainting}} lose consciousness consciousness]] in order to create a distraction, to get out of doing something they don't like or for some other reason.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 96 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Visual Novels]]
to:
Changed line(s) 104 (click to see context) from:
[[folder: Web Original]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Doug Savage of ''WesternAnimation/ScienceCourt'' keeps doing this during the episode defining living things much to the annoyance of Judge Stone.
--> '''Judge Stone:''' [[ExpospeakGag Mr Savage, will you please refrain from feigning fainting?]]
--> '''Doug Savage:''' Huh?
--> '''Judge Stone:''' [[PigLatin Ixnay on the aintingfay.]]
--> '''Judge Stone:''' [[ExpospeakGag Mr Savage, will you please refrain from feigning fainting?]]
--> '''Doug Savage:''' Huh?
--> '''Judge Stone:''' [[PigLatin Ixnay on the aintingfay.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Improved context gleaned from crosswicking.
Changed line(s) 70 (click to see context) from:
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': As Cordelia is both pregnant ''and'' a FaintingSeer, she pretends to faint in order to stop Connor from leaving at a crucial moment.
to:
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': As In "Recap/AngelS04E13Salvage", Cordelia is both pregnant ''and'' a FaintingSeer, she pretends to faint in order to stop does her FaintingSeer act [[ManipulativeBitch when Connor from leaving at is about to walk out and take on Angelus]].
-->'''Gunn:''' Get her to the couch. (Fred, Gunn, and Lorne move Cordelia to acrucial moment.nearby chair)
-->'''Cordelia:''' (comes to) What happened?
-->'''Fred:''' You fainted.
-->'''Cordelia:''' Oh. You mean like this? (faints again)
-->'''Gunn:''' Get her to the couch. (Fred, Gunn, and Lorne move Cordelia to a
-->'''Cordelia:''' (comes to) What happened?
-->'''Fred:''' You fainted.
-->'''Cordelia:''' Oh. You mean like this? (faints again)
Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
* ''VisualNovel/MajotachiNoNemuri'': When Toshio was in the unnamed town (after he was there due to a car crash), officer Kawamura told him that he needed to head to the next town since the town has no inn. Toshio pretended to almost faint and says that it's from the shock of surviving the crash to hide the fact that he was in the town to investigate the death of his friend, Yoriko.
to:
* ''VisualNovel/MajotachiNoNemuri'': When After a car crash, Toshio was is in the an unnamed town (after he was there due to a car crash), officer town. Officer Kawamura told tells him that he needed needs to head to the next town town, since the this town has no inn. Toshio pretended pretends to almost faint faint, and says that it's from the shock of surviving the crash to hide crash. He's really hiding the fact that he was he's in the town to investigate the death of his friend, Yoriko.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Example from unsorted list on Fainting
Added DiffLines:
* In ''Series/{{MASH}}'' episode Recap/MashS6E5TheWinchesterTapes: Attempted by one Corporal Max "I-want-outta-this-rotten-stinking-Army" Klinger.[[note]]Major Winchester has just told him that he'd recently read about a man discharged from the Army for fainting.[[/note]] After hearing the usual symptoms preceding a faint, Klinger promptly emulates them. Winchester, not at all impressed, proceeds to correct Klinger by telling him that people usually fall ''forward'' when they faint. Klinger recovers, says that he was just testing, and [[LargeHam promptly does it again]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
!Examples
to:
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' In one comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and says
to:
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'': In one comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and sayssays, "And tell him to put some ketchup and pickle on it!"
Changed line(s) 39,40 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Near the end of the film, Elizabeth pretends to faint in order to distract the guards and give Jack Sparrow a chance to escape hanging. Its particularly effective because she had earlier actually fainted and fallen into the bay from that exact spot due to an [[OfCorsetHurts overly tight corset]].
** Elizabeth pulls one of these again in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy Jones heart inside it. It doesn't work..
** Elizabeth pulls one of these again in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy Jones heart inside it. It doesn't work..
to:
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Near the end of the film, Elizabeth pretends to faint in order to distract the guards and give Jack Sparrow a chance to escape hanging.Its It's particularly effective because she had earlier actually fainted and fallen into the bay from that exact spot due to an [[OfCorsetHurts overly tight corset]].
** Elizabeth pulls one of these again in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with DavyJones Jones' heart inside it. It doesn't work..work; they're all too caught up in the fight to even notice.
** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Near the end of the film, Elizabeth pretends to faint in order to distract the guards and give Jack Sparrow a chance to escape hanging.
** Elizabeth pulls one of these again in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy
Changed line(s) 42,43 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' Clark Kent pretends to faint as a cover-up for his BulletCatch in the alley.
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell to Garner sympathy from the board members who might listen to her secretary Tess (who's telling the truth about Katherine stealing her idea for a business merger) instead of her (who, as stated, is lying and claiming the idea was hers).
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell to Garner sympathy from the board members who might listen to her secretary Tess (who's telling the truth about Katherine stealing her idea for a business merger) instead of her (who, as stated, is lying and claiming the idea was hers).
to:
* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'': Clark Kent pretends to faint as a cover-up for his BulletCatch in the alley.
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell toGarner garner sympathy from the board members who might listen to her secretary Tess (who's telling the truth about Katherine stealing her idea for a business merger) instead of her (who, as stated, is lying and claiming the idea was hers).
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell to
Changed line(s) 61,62 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Watson:''' And the catalepsy!
-->'''Holmes:''' A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though I should hardly dare to hint as much to our specialist. It is a very easy complaint to imitate. I have done it myself.
-->'''Holmes:''' A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though I should hardly dare to hint as much to our specialist. It is a very easy complaint to imitate. I have done it myself.
to:
-->'''Holmes:'''
'''Holmes:''' A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though I should hardly dare to hint as much to our specialist. It is a very easy complaint to imitate. I have done it myself.
Changed line(s) 64 (click to see context) from:
* Milady de Winter from ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' pretends to faint while faking a suicide attempt in a British prison.
to:
* Milady de Winter from in ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' pretends to faint while faking a suicide attempt in a British prison.
Changed line(s) 75 (click to see context) from:
* In ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'', Cleo pretends to faint in "Under the Weather" to avoid the girls having to go out in the rain (as that would turn them into mermaids) unfortunately this starts a chain of events escalating until they end up in quarantine with the medical specialist's believing their dealing with a serious unknown illness.
to:
* In ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'', Cleo pretends to faint in "Under the Weather" to avoid the girls having to go out in the rain (as that would turn them into mermaids) unfortunately mermaids). Unfortunately this starts a chain of events escalating until they end up in quarantine with the medical specialist's specialists believing their they're dealing with a serious unknown illness.
Changed line(s) 78 (click to see context) from:
-->"Hope that hurt."
to:
-->"Hope that hurt.""\\
Changed line(s) 99 (click to see context) from:
* ''WebOriginal/TheProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': In one mission, Rartiy the miniature [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic draconequus]] pretends to faint when [[AmbiguousGender it]] sees Celestia, to be dramatic.
to:
* ''WebOriginal/TheProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': ''WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': In one mission, Rartiy Rarity the miniature [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic draconequus]] pretends to faint when [[AmbiguousGender it]] sees Celestia, to be dramatic.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
gushing about awesomeness doesn't go in trope examples; the trope example is just for explaining how the scene fits the trope
Changed line(s) 41 (click to see context) from:
* ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel1982'': Marguerite's uses this to get access to a note from the Pimpernel. It allows her to maneuver Sir Andrew into a situation where he thinks it is safe to read the note. With some ContrivedClumsiness and a little ObfuscatingStupidity, she not only ''reads'' the note, she makes him believe that she misconstrued what she read! What makes it even more awesome is that Sir Andrew mark is a close personal friend, who [[IdiotBall really should know better!]]
to:
* ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel1982'': Marguerite's Marguerite uses this to get access to a note from the Pimpernel. It allows her to maneuver Sir Andrew into a situation where he thinks it is safe to read the note. With some ContrivedClumsiness and a little ObfuscatingStupidity, she not only ''reads'' the note, she makes him believe that she misconstrued what she read! What makes it even more awesome is that Sir Andrew mark is a close personal friend, who [[IdiotBall really should know better!]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
what happens in the stage version goes in the Theatre folder
Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
* In ''Film/{{Chicago}}'', Roxie pretends to faint during her trial to play up her image as a tragic BrokenBird who was forced to kill in self-defense and drum up symapthy. This is a reference to the song "When Velma Takes the Stand" from [[{{Theatre/Chicago}} the stage version]], where Velma plans to do the same thing
to:
* In ''Film/{{Chicago}}'', Roxie pretends to faint during her trial to play up her image as a tragic BrokenBird who was forced to kill in self-defense and drum up symapthy. This is a reference to the song "When Velma Takes the Stand" from [[{{Theatre/Chicago}} the stage version]], where Velma plans to do the same thingsympathy.
Added DiffLines:
* ''Theatre/{{Chicago}}'': In the song "When Velma Takes the Stand", Velma rehearses what she'll do to gain the jury's sympathy when she's called to testify at her trial, which includes pretending to be overcome and then faint.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
* Exaggerated in the 2005 version of ''Film/FunWithDickAndJane''. As part of their bank robbery plan, Jane steps through the front door and dramatically sighs to the floor while Dick loudly cries, "Oh my gosh, this woman has fainted!", distracting everyone in the room. For added measure, Dick suggests a security guard [[DistractedByTheSexy "loosen her blouse to let her breathe"]] in order to steal his security card. The moment he's in the clear, Jane immediately rises to her feet, supposedly revived. Since this is a comedy, the lemming-like response is PlayedForLaughs.
to:
* Exaggerated in the 2005 version of ''Film/FunWithDickAndJane''. As part of their bank robbery plan, Jane steps through the front door and dramatically sighs to the floor while Dick loudly cries, "Oh my gosh, goodness, this woman has fainted!", distracting everyone in the room. For added measure, Dick suggests a security guard [[DistractedByTheSexy "loosen her blouse to let her breathe"]] in order to steal his security card. The moment he's in the clear, Jane immediately rises to her feet, supposedly revived. Since this is a comedy, the lemming-like response is PlayedForLaughs.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20,21 (click to see context) from:
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' In an Archie Comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and says
* {{ComicBook/Tintin}}:
* {{ComicBook/Tintin}}:
to:
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' In an Archie Comic, one comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and says
*{{ComicBook/Tintin}}:''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'':
*
Changed line(s) 24,25 (click to see context) from:
* ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX: After Barracuda is (finally) knocked out, Frank breaks one of his fingers to make sure it's not a feint. He ''still'' wakes up a few minutes later, until Frank kills him for good.
* In ''{{ComicBook/Violine}}'', Violine fakes fainting to allow her to warn her father about Muller waiting outside.
* In ''{{ComicBook/Violine}}'', Violine fakes fainting to allow her to warn her father about Muller waiting outside.
to:
* ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX: ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': After Barracuda is (finally) knocked out, Frank breaks one of his fingers to make sure it's not a feint. He ''still'' wakes up a few minutes later, until Frank kills him for good.
* In''{{ComicBook/Violine}}'', ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', Violine fakes fainting to allow her to warn her father about Muller waiting outside.
* In
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Exaggerated in the 2005 version of ''Film/FunWithDickAndJane''. As part of their bank robbery plan, Jane steps through the front door and dramatically sighs to the floor while Dick loudly cries, "Oh my gosh, this woman has fainted!", distracting everyone in the room. For added measure, Dick suggests a security guard [[DistractedByTheSexy "loosen her blouse to let her breathe"]] in order to steal his security card. The moment he's in the clear, Jane immediately rises to her feet, supposedly revived. Since this is a comedy, the lemming-like response is PlayedForLaughs.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* Fainting Maid in ''Literature/{{BridgeOfBirds}}'' uses this so often that she is named for it. Master Li turns it against her when her exact method of fainting ("Two steps backward, six to the left") is used to drop her down the same well she drowned her rival in.
to:
* Fainting Maid in ''Literature/{{BridgeOfBirds}}'' ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'' uses this so often that she is named for it. Master Li turns it against her when her exact method of fainting ("Two steps backward, six to the left") is used to drop her down the same well she drowned her rival in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*Fainting Maid in ''Literature/{{BridgeOfBirds}}'' uses this so often that she is named for it. Master Li turns it against her when her exact method of fainting ("Two steps backward, six to the left") is used to drop her down the same well she drowned her rival in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7ESideshowBobsLastGleamings Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming]]", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7ESideshowBobsLastGleamings "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E9SideshowBobsLastGleaming Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming]]", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
to:
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Sideshow "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7ESideshowBobsLastGleamings Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming", Gleaming]]", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
Changed line(s) 112 (click to see context) from:
[[/folder]]
to:
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 69 (click to see context) from:
* In the ''Series/FawltyTowers'' episode "Gourmet Night", Basil is forced to introduce a man named "Twitchen" to another man who had a facial tic. He frantically tries to get out of it, and eventually pretends to faint for a moment.
to:
* In the ''Series/FawltyTowers'' episode "Gourmet Night", "[[Recap/FawltyTowersS1E5GourmetNight Gourmet Night]]", Basil is forced to introduce a man named "Twitchen" to another man who had a facial tic. He frantically tries to get out of it, and eventually pretends to faint for a moment.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 106 (click to see context) from:
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' cartoon "Rabbit Punch", Bugs is on a boxing match. He says to the audience that he'll faint the Champ out of position; he walks over to the Champ, then faints, and when Champ looks down to see if he's okay, Bugs punches him with both fists.
to:
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' cartoon "Rabbit Punch", Bugs is on a boxing match. He says to the audience that he'll faint feint the Champ out of position; he walks over to the Champ, then faints, [[{{Pun}} faints]], and when the Champ looks down to see if he's okay, Bugs punches him with both fists.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 39 (click to see context) from:
* Elizabeth pulls one of these in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy Jones heart inside it. It doesn't work..
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 101 (click to see context) from:
* ''WebVideo/HomestarRunner'': In "A Folky Tale," Strong Sad tells a long-winded story to get out of gym class, then faints when it doesn't work. When Coach Z [[ItMakesSenseInContext dances away]] in a panic over having "killed the elephant man," Strong Sad lifts his head [[BreakingTheFourthWall to mention]] that he's pulled this before and that it always works.
to:
* ''WebVideo/HomestarRunner'': ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': In "A Folky Tale," Strong Sad tells a long-winded story to get out of gym class, then faints when it doesn't work. When Coach Z [[ItMakesSenseInContext dances away]] in a panic over having "killed the elephant man," Strong Sad lifts his head [[BreakingTheFourthWall to mention]] that he's pulled this before and that it always works.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''WebVideo/HomestarRunner'': In "A Folky Tale," Strong Sad tells a long-winded story to get out of gym class, then faints when it doesn't work. When Coach Z [[ItMakesSenseInContext dances away]] in a panic over having "killed the elephant man," Strong Sad lifts his head [[BreakingTheFourthWall to mention]] that he's pulled this before and that it always works.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) :
!!Splitting off FakeFaint from {{Fainting}} as part of an effort to fix the 9 way soft split that's on the page. See [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16132672100A07321600&page=1 this]] thread for reference.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
!!Splitting off FakeFaint from {{Fainting}} as part of an effort to fix the 9 way soft split that's on the page. See [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16132672100A07321600&page=1 this]] thread for reference.
A character pretends to lose consciousness in order to create a distraction, to get out of doing something they don't like or for some other reason.
People tend to notice when someone collapses. Often, they will try to help out. At the very least they try to determine the cause in order to protect themselves. People focused on the fainter tend to miss other things going on around them. The person who has fainted is almost certainly seen as harmless. These reactions are fairly easy to take advantage of:
* The DramaQueen wants some attention? A fake fainting spell is practically guaranteed to bring an entire bevy of helpers to her beck and call.
* Need to pull someone's attention away from something they are not supposed to notice? If you're the GuileHeroine, a faked faint will tend to get everyone focused on innocent little you, and away from the unlicensed dragon coming in for a landing.
* Can't figure out how to lift the MacGuffin off of Lord Evil? Since most people don't have much muscle control when they faint, perhaps that's the perfect cover for a pick-pocketing attempt...
Related to WeNeedADistraction.
Compare PlayingSick, PlayingPossum, PrankInjuries, ObfuscatingDisability, and FakingAmnesia.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* In the ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'' episode "Makkhi Makkhi!", Samosa distracts the angry mob away from him and the fly by pretending to faint after a failed "attempt" to fight off the fly with a flashlight.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' In an Archie Comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and says
* {{ComicBook/Tintin}}:
** After a bomb goes off, Tintin fakes being knocked out to be carried outside by paramedics, then evade capture.
** In "Flight 714 to Sydney", Rastapopoulos collapses while being marched through the jungle at gunpoint. Haddock isn't having any of it, and jabs a thorn into Rastapopoulos' backside to get him moving again.
* ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX: After Barracuda is (finally) knocked out, Frank breaks one of his fingers to make sure it's not a feint. He ''still'' wakes up a few minutes later, until Frank kills him for good.
* In ''{{ComicBook/Violine}}'', Violine fakes fainting to allow her to warn her father about Muller waiting outside.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films--Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': When Edith accidentally reduces Agnes's toy unicorn to dust, Agnes [[BreathHoldingBrat holds her breath to make Gru get her another one]]. She then falls backwards on the floor and the frustrated Gru relents. She then opens an eye while smirking a bit, implying that she faked it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films--Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/{{Chicago}}'', Roxie pretends to faint during her trial to play up her image as a tragic BrokenBird who was forced to kill in self-defense and drum up symapthy. This is a reference to the song "When Velma Takes the Stand" from [[{{Theatre/Chicago}} the stage version]], where Velma plans to do the same thing
* In ''Film/{{Dave}}'', the eponymous character performs one [[spoiler: after confessing to the President's illegal actions and exonerating the Vice President, during the joint session of Congress. It works because the President (whom he had been impersonating) had suffered a stroke earlier in the movie, and this was used as a means of swapping Dave with the real coma-bound President after he chose to come clean about the President's illegal activities.]]
* Possibly with Aunt Pittypat in ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', who swoons and weeps and wails over ''everything'', but keeps it together when her beloved niece is dying, the one time such behavior would have been justified, thus indicating that her previous hysterics have been an act.
* ''Film/KittyFoyle'' accidentally triggers the burglar alarm at the department store where she works. Realizing she's about to get fired, Kitty pretends to faint. This not only works, it also introduces her to her handsome doctor boyfriend when he tends to her.
* In ''Film/MenInBlackII'' [[MultipleHeadCase Scrad and Charlie]] pretend to collapse after seeing [[BigBad Serleena]] [[ShowSomeLeg flash her bra]] in order to create a distraction while she infests MIB headquarters.
*''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Near the end of the film, Elizabeth pretends to faint in order to distract the guards and give Jack Sparrow a chance to escape hanging. Its particularly effective because she had earlier actually fainted and fallen into the bay from that exact spot due to an [[OfCorsetHurts overly tight corset]].
* Elizabeth pulls one of these in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy Jones heart inside it. It doesn't work..
* ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel1982'': Marguerite's uses this to get access to a note from the Pimpernel. It allows her to maneuver Sir Andrew into a situation where he thinks it is safe to read the note. With some ContrivedClumsiness and a little ObfuscatingStupidity, she not only ''reads'' the note, she makes him believe that she misconstrued what she read! What makes it even more awesome is that Sir Andrew mark is a close personal friend, who [[IdiotBall really should know better!]]
* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' Clark Kent pretends to faint as a cover-up for his BulletCatch in the alley.
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell to Garner sympathy from the board members who might listen to her secretary Tess (who's telling the truth about Katherine stealing her idea for a business merger) instead of her (who, as stated, is lying and claiming the idea was hers).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Christine in ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'' pulls this one whenever a play would call for the heroine to faint, usually Monster or Emotional Faint situations. Agnes notes with considerable scorn that she even falls in such a way as to avoid hurting herself when she lands.
* In the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' novel ''Dragons of Spring Dawning'', when the elven princess Laurana is [[AttemptedRape threatened with rape]] by the [[TheEmpire Dragonarmy]] officer Bakaris, she pretends to faint, and then when he moves in to catch her, punches him hard in the stomach.
* ''Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries'': The students of SpySchool Mademoiselle Geraldine's are taught how to faint graciously, and the right times to do so.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Gilderoy Lockhart pulls a fake faint to try to steal a wand. It works too well, though.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' and its cinematic adaptation, Quirell pretends to faint when announcing the troll escape.
* ''Literature/JamesBond'', ''Literature/CasinoRoyale''. A {{mook}} threatens to shoot Bond with a silenced gun hidden in his cane unless he withdraws from the game, saying he'll be gone from the casino before anyone realises Bond hasn't just passed out. Instead Bond pretends to faint from the tension of the high stakes game, falling backward in his chair and knocking the weapon from the man's hands.
* In Kingsley Amis' ''Literature/LuckyJim'', Bill Atkinson faints loudly and dramatically during a public lecture in order to aid the lecturer's escape. It doesn't quite work, as the lecturer (and title character) faints for real seconds after.
* In ''Literature/TheMadKing'' by Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs, the heroine pretends to faint at her wedding to force a halt to proceedings and buy time after [[spoiler:realizing that the man walking up the aisle is not her beloved but his IdenticalStranger cousin]].
* ''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate'': At the beginning of the first book, after Alexia Tarabotti has killed a vampire who tried to attack her, she's about to leave the room when a bunch of young men come in. Forced to pretend that she's also just arrived and found the body, she promptly "faints", and stays resolutely fainted until the arrival of Lord Maccon, who wouldn't fall for it in any case.
* Literature/SherlockHolmes: Holmes is quite good at pretending to faint while on a case.
** In "A Scandal In Bohemia", Holmes (in disguise as a priest) fakes being knocked out during a fight so he can be brought into Irene Adler's house and learn where she keeps a compromising photograph.
** In "The Reigate Squire", Holmes is in the countryside on a medically-imposed break. He suffers a few nervous attacks, which turn out to have been faked so that he could search the house unobstructed (it almost gets him killed by the criminals when they catch him red-handed, but allows them to be caught as they're strangling him).
** In "The Resident Patient", a patient visiting a doctor fakes an attack of catalepsy to keep the doctor busy while his accomplice goes up to get at the titular resident patient ([[spoiler:a former criminal who gave evidence against them]]).
-->'''Watson:''' And the catalepsy!
-->'''Holmes:''' A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though I should hardly dare to hint as much to our specialist. It is a very easy complaint to imitate. I have done it myself.
* In ''Literature/SorcererConjurerWizardWitch'', the DiabolicalMastermind Zenf and one of the heroes have a meeting on neutral territory, at the end of which Zenf's female accomplice covers his departure by faking a faint, falling into the hero, and knocking him to the ground.
* Milady de Winter from ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' pretends to faint while faking a suicide attempt in a British prison.
* In ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows'', Mr. Toad pulls a prank on Ratty and Moley by asking, "Is it dark in here?!" and demanding a doctor and a lawyer before collapsing on the couch with his eyes shut.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': As Cordelia is both pregnant ''and'' a FaintingSeer, she pretends to faint in order to stop Connor from leaving at a crucial moment.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], Sarah Jane has Queen Thalira pretend to faint in order to distract the Ice Warrior guarding the door to the throne room.
* In the ''Series/FawltyTowers'' episode "Gourmet Night", Basil is forced to introduce a man named "Twitchen" to another man who had a facial tic. He frantically tries to get out of it, and eventually pretends to faint for a moment.
* In ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', Niles pretends to faint into a man's arms in the last of a long string of attempts to stop said man from throwing Frasier out of a party before he can seal an important deal vital to Niles and Frasier's latest FawltyTowersPlot.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Ygritte, Jon's ActionGirlfriend parodies swooning when he explains what it is to her.
* ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'': In one episode, Nina needs time to get a clue out of the hallway chandelier. To help distract Victor and Trudy, Amber pretends to faint and Nina runs to get everybody to help her, then gets the clue. As soon as Nina's done, Amber hops back up as if nothing ever happened.
* In ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'', Cleo pretends to faint in "Under the Weather" to avoid the girls having to go out in the rain (as that would turn them into mermaids) unfortunately this starts a chain of events escalating until they end up in quarantine with the medical specialist's believing their dealing with a serious unknown illness.
%%* Used as a distraction in ''Series/ICarly''.
* Doctor Cox does this an episode of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' to "demonstrate" how boring J.D.'s story is.
-->"Hope that hurt."
"Totally worth it!"
* Mr. Scott pulled off a brief Fake Faint to distract and help disarm an intellectually-empowered, yet still-not-all-that-bright female alien in the "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E1SpocksBrain Spock's Brain]]" episode of ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Theatre]]
* Creator/WilliamShakespeare play ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''. Done by Lady Macbeth in an attempt to draw suspicion away from her [[TheStarscream husband]]. Macbeth is being asked some ''very'' awkward questions about why he killed King Duncan's supposed assassins (instead of keeping them alive so they can tell who put them up to it). Her fainting diverts the attention of the questioner, and by the time everything is sorted out the king's sons have fled and Macbeth can put the blame on them.
* In Act I of ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro'', Susanna tries one of these, apparently to get [[SmugSnake her employer]] to leave her alone. Depending on the production, this may actually backfire if the Count decides to give her some air by loosening her clothes...
* In Act II of ''Theatre/TheGirlOfTheGoldenWest'', the heroine throws a poker game by pretending to faint so she can [[VictoriasSecretCompartment stash her cards in her blouse]] and pull out a winning hand from her stocking.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/MajotachiNoNemuri'': When Toshio was in the unnamed town (after he was there due to a car crash), officer Kawamura told him that he needed to head to the next town since the town has no inn. Toshio pretended to almost faint and says that it's from the shock of surviving the crash to hide the fact that he was in the town to investigate the death of his friend, Yoriko.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Rachel from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' pretended to faint after she heard that [[spoiler: Bam had died.]] [[spoiler: We know she's faking it because she killed him.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Original]]
* ''WebOriginal/TheProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': In one mission, Rartiy the miniature [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic draconequus]] pretends to faint when [[AmbiguousGender it]] sees Celestia, to be dramatic.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''WebVideo/DannyGonzalez'': Attempted and mocked. In a collaboration video with Ryan Trahan, the two of them went over some weird Wikihow articles. One of them was about "How to Pretend to Faint", and to demonstrate, Ryan repeatedly kept pretending to pass out, falling out of his chair multiple times.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AngelinaBallerina'': In one episode, Angelina is initially pleased to be in the school play but becomes nervous when she learns she will be suspended from the ceiling, particularly when she learns it'll only be by a single wire. She pretends to pass out so that her teachers will think she's sick, but gives herself away by winking at Alice before doing so.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' cartoon "Rabbit Punch", Bugs is on a boxing match. He says to the audience that he'll faint the Champ out of position; he walks over to the Champ, then faints, and when Champ looks down to see if he's okay, Bugs punches him with both fists.
* In the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Literature/MillyMolly'', the episode "B.B. Brown" has an episode where the eponymous boy is sharing his lunch with the girls. He jokingly warns them that it's contaminated with "boy germs", and Molly takes a bite and pretends to pass out from said germs. B.B. Brown takes a bite of banana and pretends to pass out as well.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': While Rarity does actually faint sometimes when she's highly emotional, she occasionally just pretends to in order to exaggerate.
* Princess Adora, in the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'', pulls off one of these to convince Skeletor and his cronies that she's a helpless, timid royal. [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Humiliations ensue]] for the poor creeps when the ruse is revealed.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS7E7DangerousDebt "Dangerous Debt"]], Trace Martez pretends to faint when confronted with the possibility of ElectricTorture, in order to steal the blaster of one of the guards holding her and escape.
[[/folder]]
A character pretends to lose consciousness in order to create a distraction, to get out of doing something they don't like or for some other reason.
People tend to notice when someone collapses. Often, they will try to help out. At the very least they try to determine the cause in order to protect themselves. People focused on the fainter tend to miss other things going on around them. The person who has fainted is almost certainly seen as harmless. These reactions are fairly easy to take advantage of:
* The DramaQueen wants some attention? A fake fainting spell is practically guaranteed to bring an entire bevy of helpers to her beck and call.
* Need to pull someone's attention away from something they are not supposed to notice? If you're the GuileHeroine, a faked faint will tend to get everyone focused on innocent little you, and away from the unlicensed dragon coming in for a landing.
* Can't figure out how to lift the MacGuffin off of Lord Evil? Since most people don't have much muscle control when they faint, perhaps that's the perfect cover for a pick-pocketing attempt...
Related to WeNeedADistraction.
Compare PlayingSick, PlayingPossum, PrankInjuries, ObfuscatingDisability, and FakingAmnesia.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* In the ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'' episode "Makkhi Makkhi!", Samosa distracts the angry mob away from him and the fly by pretending to faint after a failed "attempt" to fight off the fly with a flashlight.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' In an Archie Comic, Veronica informs Archie that she is on a diet -- and so is he if he wants to date her. But they were already on a date when she said this, and Archie, aghast at being forced to skip dinner, "faints from hunger" on the sidewalk. His friends quickly move to get some smelling salts from malt-shop-owner Pop Tate; upon hearing that Archie lifts his head and says
* {{ComicBook/Tintin}}:
** After a bomb goes off, Tintin fakes being knocked out to be carried outside by paramedics, then evade capture.
** In "Flight 714 to Sydney", Rastapopoulos collapses while being marched through the jungle at gunpoint. Haddock isn't having any of it, and jabs a thorn into Rastapopoulos' backside to get him moving again.
* ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX: After Barracuda is (finally) knocked out, Frank breaks one of his fingers to make sure it's not a feint. He ''still'' wakes up a few minutes later, until Frank kills him for good.
* In ''{{ComicBook/Violine}}'', Violine fakes fainting to allow her to warn her father about Muller waiting outside.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films--Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': When Edith accidentally reduces Agnes's toy unicorn to dust, Agnes [[BreathHoldingBrat holds her breath to make Gru get her another one]]. She then falls backwards on the floor and the frustrated Gru relents. She then opens an eye while smirking a bit, implying that she faked it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films--Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/{{Chicago}}'', Roxie pretends to faint during her trial to play up her image as a tragic BrokenBird who was forced to kill in self-defense and drum up symapthy. This is a reference to the song "When Velma Takes the Stand" from [[{{Theatre/Chicago}} the stage version]], where Velma plans to do the same thing
* In ''Film/{{Dave}}'', the eponymous character performs one [[spoiler: after confessing to the President's illegal actions and exonerating the Vice President, during the joint session of Congress. It works because the President (whom he had been impersonating) had suffered a stroke earlier in the movie, and this was used as a means of swapping Dave with the real coma-bound President after he chose to come clean about the President's illegal activities.]]
* Possibly with Aunt Pittypat in ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'', who swoons and weeps and wails over ''everything'', but keeps it together when her beloved niece is dying, the one time such behavior would have been justified, thus indicating that her previous hysterics have been an act.
* ''Film/KittyFoyle'' accidentally triggers the burglar alarm at the department store where she works. Realizing she's about to get fired, Kitty pretends to faint. This not only works, it also introduces her to her handsome doctor boyfriend when he tends to her.
* In ''Film/MenInBlackII'' [[MultipleHeadCase Scrad and Charlie]] pretend to collapse after seeing [[BigBad Serleena]] [[ShowSomeLeg flash her bra]] in order to create a distraction while she infests MIB headquarters.
*''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Near the end of the film, Elizabeth pretends to faint in order to distract the guards and give Jack Sparrow a chance to escape hanging. Its particularly effective because she had earlier actually fainted and fallen into the bay from that exact spot due to an [[OfCorsetHurts overly tight corset]].
* Elizabeth pulls one of these in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'' to try and keep the others from fighting over the chest with Davy Jones heart inside it. It doesn't work..
* ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel1982'': Marguerite's uses this to get access to a note from the Pimpernel. It allows her to maneuver Sir Andrew into a situation where he thinks it is safe to read the note. With some ContrivedClumsiness and a little ObfuscatingStupidity, she not only ''reads'' the note, she makes him believe that she misconstrued what she read! What makes it even more awesome is that Sir Andrew mark is a close personal friend, who [[IdiotBall really should know better!]]
* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' Clark Kent pretends to faint as a cover-up for his BulletCatch in the alley.
* ''Film/WorkingGirl'': Katherine fakes a dizzy spell to Garner sympathy from the board members who might listen to her secretary Tess (who's telling the truth about Katherine stealing her idea for a business merger) instead of her (who, as stated, is lying and claiming the idea was hers).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Christine in ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'' pulls this one whenever a play would call for the heroine to faint, usually Monster or Emotional Faint situations. Agnes notes with considerable scorn that she even falls in such a way as to avoid hurting herself when she lands.
* In the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' novel ''Dragons of Spring Dawning'', when the elven princess Laurana is [[AttemptedRape threatened with rape]] by the [[TheEmpire Dragonarmy]] officer Bakaris, she pretends to faint, and then when he moves in to catch her, punches him hard in the stomach.
* ''Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries'': The students of SpySchool Mademoiselle Geraldine's are taught how to faint graciously, and the right times to do so.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', Gilderoy Lockhart pulls a fake faint to try to steal a wand. It works too well, though.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'' and its cinematic adaptation, Quirell pretends to faint when announcing the troll escape.
* ''Literature/JamesBond'', ''Literature/CasinoRoyale''. A {{mook}} threatens to shoot Bond with a silenced gun hidden in his cane unless he withdraws from the game, saying he'll be gone from the casino before anyone realises Bond hasn't just passed out. Instead Bond pretends to faint from the tension of the high stakes game, falling backward in his chair and knocking the weapon from the man's hands.
* In Kingsley Amis' ''Literature/LuckyJim'', Bill Atkinson faints loudly and dramatically during a public lecture in order to aid the lecturer's escape. It doesn't quite work, as the lecturer (and title character) faints for real seconds after.
* In ''Literature/TheMadKing'' by Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs, the heroine pretends to faint at her wedding to force a halt to proceedings and buy time after [[spoiler:realizing that the man walking up the aisle is not her beloved but his IdenticalStranger cousin]].
* ''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate'': At the beginning of the first book, after Alexia Tarabotti has killed a vampire who tried to attack her, she's about to leave the room when a bunch of young men come in. Forced to pretend that she's also just arrived and found the body, she promptly "faints", and stays resolutely fainted until the arrival of Lord Maccon, who wouldn't fall for it in any case.
* Literature/SherlockHolmes: Holmes is quite good at pretending to faint while on a case.
** In "A Scandal In Bohemia", Holmes (in disguise as a priest) fakes being knocked out during a fight so he can be brought into Irene Adler's house and learn where she keeps a compromising photograph.
** In "The Reigate Squire", Holmes is in the countryside on a medically-imposed break. He suffers a few nervous attacks, which turn out to have been faked so that he could search the house unobstructed (it almost gets him killed by the criminals when they catch him red-handed, but allows them to be caught as they're strangling him).
** In "The Resident Patient", a patient visiting a doctor fakes an attack of catalepsy to keep the doctor busy while his accomplice goes up to get at the titular resident patient ([[spoiler:a former criminal who gave evidence against them]]).
-->'''Watson:''' And the catalepsy!
-->'''Holmes:''' A fraudulent imitation, Watson, though I should hardly dare to hint as much to our specialist. It is a very easy complaint to imitate. I have done it myself.
* In ''Literature/SorcererConjurerWizardWitch'', the DiabolicalMastermind Zenf and one of the heroes have a meeting on neutral territory, at the end of which Zenf's female accomplice covers his departure by faking a faint, falling into the hero, and knocking him to the ground.
* Milady de Winter from ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' pretends to faint while faking a suicide attempt in a British prison.
* In ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows'', Mr. Toad pulls a prank on Ratty and Moley by asking, "Is it dark in here?!" and demanding a doctor and a lawyer before collapsing on the couch with his eyes shut.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': As Cordelia is both pregnant ''and'' a FaintingSeer, she pretends to faint in order to stop Connor from leaving at a crucial moment.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS11E4TheMonsterOfPeladon "The Monster of Peladon"]], Sarah Jane has Queen Thalira pretend to faint in order to distract the Ice Warrior guarding the door to the throne room.
* In the ''Series/FawltyTowers'' episode "Gourmet Night", Basil is forced to introduce a man named "Twitchen" to another man who had a facial tic. He frantically tries to get out of it, and eventually pretends to faint for a moment.
* In ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', Niles pretends to faint into a man's arms in the last of a long string of attempts to stop said man from throwing Frasier out of a party before he can seal an important deal vital to Niles and Frasier's latest FawltyTowersPlot.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Ygritte, Jon's ActionGirlfriend parodies swooning when he explains what it is to her.
* ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'': In one episode, Nina needs time to get a clue out of the hallway chandelier. To help distract Victor and Trudy, Amber pretends to faint and Nina runs to get everybody to help her, then gets the clue. As soon as Nina's done, Amber hops back up as if nothing ever happened.
* In ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'', Cleo pretends to faint in "Under the Weather" to avoid the girls having to go out in the rain (as that would turn them into mermaids) unfortunately this starts a chain of events escalating until they end up in quarantine with the medical specialist's believing their dealing with a serious unknown illness.
%%* Used as a distraction in ''Series/ICarly''.
* Doctor Cox does this an episode of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' to "demonstrate" how boring J.D.'s story is.
-->"Hope that hurt."
"Totally worth it!"
* Mr. Scott pulled off a brief Fake Faint to distract and help disarm an intellectually-empowered, yet still-not-all-that-bright female alien in the "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E1SpocksBrain Spock's Brain]]" episode of ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Theatre]]
* Creator/WilliamShakespeare play ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''. Done by Lady Macbeth in an attempt to draw suspicion away from her [[TheStarscream husband]]. Macbeth is being asked some ''very'' awkward questions about why he killed King Duncan's supposed assassins (instead of keeping them alive so they can tell who put them up to it). Her fainting diverts the attention of the questioner, and by the time everything is sorted out the king's sons have fled and Macbeth can put the blame on them.
* In Act I of ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro'', Susanna tries one of these, apparently to get [[SmugSnake her employer]] to leave her alone. Depending on the production, this may actually backfire if the Count decides to give her some air by loosening her clothes...
* In Act II of ''Theatre/TheGirlOfTheGoldenWest'', the heroine throws a poker game by pretending to faint so she can [[VictoriasSecretCompartment stash her cards in her blouse]] and pull out a winning hand from her stocking.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/MajotachiNoNemuri'': When Toshio was in the unnamed town (after he was there due to a car crash), officer Kawamura told him that he needed to head to the next town since the town has no inn. Toshio pretended to almost faint and says that it's from the shock of surviving the crash to hide the fact that he was in the town to investigate the death of his friend, Yoriko.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Rachel from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' pretended to faint after she heard that [[spoiler: Bam had died.]] [[spoiler: We know she's faking it because she killed him.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Web Original]]
* ''WebOriginal/TheProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': In one mission, Rartiy the miniature [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic draconequus]] pretends to faint when [[AmbiguousGender it]] sees Celestia, to be dramatic.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''WebVideo/DannyGonzalez'': Attempted and mocked. In a collaboration video with Ryan Trahan, the two of them went over some weird Wikihow articles. One of them was about "How to Pretend to Faint", and to demonstrate, Ryan repeatedly kept pretending to pass out, falling out of his chair multiple times.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AngelinaBallerina'': In one episode, Angelina is initially pleased to be in the school play but becomes nervous when she learns she will be suspended from the ceiling, particularly when she learns it'll only be by a single wire. She pretends to pass out so that her teachers will think she's sick, but gives herself away by winking at Alice before doing so.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' cartoon "Rabbit Punch", Bugs is on a boxing match. He says to the audience that he'll faint the Champ out of position; he walks over to the Champ, then faints, and when Champ looks down to see if he's okay, Bugs punches him with both fists.
* In the AnimatedAdaptation of ''Literature/MillyMolly'', the episode "B.B. Brown" has an episode where the eponymous boy is sharing his lunch with the girls. He jokingly warns them that it's contaminated with "boy germs", and Molly takes a bite and pretends to pass out from said germs. B.B. Brown takes a bite of banana and pretends to pass out as well.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': While Rarity does actually faint sometimes when she's highly emotional, she occasionally just pretends to in order to exaggerate.
* Princess Adora, in the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'', pulls off one of these to convince Skeletor and his cronies that she's a helpless, timid royal. [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Humiliations ensue]] for the poor creeps when the ruse is revealed.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming", Homer pretends to faint to get out of paying for expensive beers.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS7E7DangerousDebt "Dangerous Debt"]], Trace Martez pretends to faint when confronted with the possibility of ElectricTorture, in order to steal the blaster of one of the guards holding her and escape.
[[/folder]]
