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* In an episode ofn ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioWorld'', Hip and Hop do this when they promise to King Koopa that they won't attend school. Of course, King Koopa finds out the hard way.
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* In an episode ofn of ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioWorld'', Hip and Hop do this when they promise to King Koopa that they won't attend school. Of course, King Koopa finds out the hard way.
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* In an episode ofn ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioWorld'', Hip and Hop do this when they promise to King Koopa that they won't attend school. Of course, King Koopa finds out the hard way.
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* At one point in Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/{{Rage}}'', the school-shooting protagonist is negotiating/toying with a school official over an intercom, and threatens to shoot one of his listening classmates if the official asks him any questions. As he says this, he holds up his crossed fingers for the viewers to see. And he [[spoiler: means it; when the official finally slips up, the protagonist fires a shot into the floor.]]
* In his short story "At Loose Ends", the humorist PatrickMcManus relates an instance where his childhood friend Crazy Eddie Muldoon was made to uncross his fingers when forced into a promise, so he crossed his toes instead.
* In his short story "At Loose Ends", the humorist PatrickMcManus relates an instance where his childhood friend Crazy Eddie Muldoon was made to uncross his fingers when forced into a promise, so he crossed his toes instead.
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[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]
* ''{{Garfield}}'' crossed his ''toes'' [[http://www.garfield.com/comics/vault.html?yr=1996&addr=961218 while making a promise]].
[[/folder]]
* ''{{Garfield}}'' crossed his ''toes'' [[http://www.garfield.com/comics/vault.html?yr=1996&addr=961218 while making a promise]].
[[/folder]]
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* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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* In an episode the ValentinesDayEpisode of ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover. makeover.
* At the end of the ''CampLazlo'' episode "Dirt Nappers", after Camp Kidney gets their diet back, Sampson promises not to use his vacuum cleaner again. As he and Lazlo walk into the sunset, we see him crossing his fingers with one hand and holding his vacuum in the other.
* At the end of the ''CampLazlo'' episode "Dirt Nappers", after Camp Kidney gets their diet back, Sampson promises not to use his vacuum cleaner again. As he and Lazlo walk into the sunset, we see him crossing his fingers with one hand and holding his vacuum in the other.
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* In {{The A-Team}}episode "A Nice Place to visit" Amy makes the team promise they'll wait for her and keep out of trouble. They all promise with their fingers crossed with the exception of Murdock who forgets. He's reluctant to break his promise until BA drags him off with them. In a later episode "Sheriffs of Rivertown" BA has to swear on the Bible and tries to do so with his fingers crossed until Face catches him and emphasises it's the Bible.
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* In an episode of ''EdEddNEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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* In an episode of ''EdEddNEddy'', ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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* Mentioned on ''Series/{{ER}}'':
-->'''Kerry:''' Did you even '''take''' the Hippocratic Oath?
-->'''Romano:''' I had my fingers crossed.
-->'''Kerry:''' Did you even '''take''' the Hippocratic Oath?
-->'''Romano:''' I had my fingers crossed.
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* ''GetALife'': Chris does this to Gus in the episode ''1977 2000''. [[CloudCuckooLander Then he realizes he has no idea how to uncross his fingers, and consults a pull-down wall chart labeled "How to Cross and Uncross your Fingers" for step-by-step instructions.]]
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[[folder: Web Comics]]
* In ''Webcomic/ChasingTheSunset'', [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Myrhad]] does this for a coerced promise:
-->'''Leaf:''' Myrhad? When you vowed to cease your evil ways and nevermore trouble innocents... why did you have your toes crossed?\\
'''Myrhad:''' Ummm... well... you never know?
[[/folder]]
* In ''Webcomic/ChasingTheSunset'', [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Myrhad]] does this for a coerced promise:
-->'''Leaf:''' Myrhad? When you vowed to cease your evil ways and nevermore trouble innocents... why did you have your toes crossed?\\
'''Myrhad:''' Ummm... well... you never know?
[[/folder]]
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typo
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* In an episode of ''EdEddnEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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* In an episode of ''EdEddnEddy'', ''EdEddNEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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* In an episode of ''EdEddnEddy'', Marie and Lee cross their fingers behind their backs while promising May a gorgeous makeover.
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** In Julie Dawn Cole's memoir, she mentions that she did that in-character as Veruca, and the director wasn't familiar with the gesture and had to have it explained. Once he was told, he insisted on a close-up of it.
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* {{Subverted|Trope}} in one episode of ''Series/ILoveLucy''. In it, Ricky forces Lucy to take a vow. Lucy, with one arm behind her back, begins saying the vow, but then Ricky pulls her arm out to reveal her crossed fingers, and separates them.
to:
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in one episode of ''Series/ILoveLucy''. In it, Ricky forces Lucy to take a vow. Lucy, with one arm behind her back, begins saying the vow, but then Ricky pulls her arm out to reveal her crossed fingers, and separates them. them.
* In ''{{Series/Rome}}'', Vorenus' daughter Vorena (who thinks Vorenus killed her mother) makes the sign of the horns gesture behind her back when they're dining together. Vorenus used the same gesture when cursing his children after her wife killed herself and the way Vorena uses it basically means the same as if she had crossed her fingers: she doesn't mean any of the compliments she says to her father.
* In ''{{Series/Rome}}'', Vorenus' daughter Vorena (who thinks Vorenus killed her mother) makes the sign of the horns gesture behind her back when they're dining together. Vorenus used the same gesture when cursing his children after her wife killed herself and the way Vorena uses it basically means the same as if she had crossed her fingers: she doesn't mean any of the compliments she says to her father.
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-->'''Michael''': We had a deal!
-->'''Larry''': What can I say? I had my fingers crossed behind my back!
-->'''Larry''': What can I say? I had my fingers crossed behind my back!
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--> '''Chandler''': Well, Joey, I wrote a little song today. It's called: Get Up.
--> '''Joey''': All right! You can have the chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Really!
--> '''Joey''': Oh my, would you look at that! (holds up crossed fingers)
--> '''Joey''': All right! You can have the chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Really!
--> '''Joey''': Oh my, would you look at that! (holds up crossed fingers)
to:
--> '''Chandler''': '''Chandler:''' Well, Joey, I wrote a little song today. It's called: Get Up.
-->'''Joey''': '''Joey:''' All right! You can have the chair.
-->'''Chandler''': '''Chandler:''' Really!
-->'''Joey''': '''Joey:''' Oh my, would you look at that! (holds up crossed fingers)
-->
-->
-->
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-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, remember when I was little, we'd always planned my dream wedding and you always promised to... you know, well, keep Dad from ruining it?
-->'''Marge:''' ''(crossing her fingers)'' Oh, don't worry, honey, I guarantee your father will behave.
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, it's a picture phone.
-->'''Marge:''' ''(looking at her fingers)'' This? This? Oh, no, I've just got a touch of the rheumatiz.
-->'''Marge:''' ''(crossing her fingers)'' Oh, don't worry, honey, I guarantee your father will behave.
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, it's a picture phone.
-->'''Marge:''' ''(looking at her fingers)'' This? This? Oh, no, I've just got a touch of the rheumatiz.
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[[/folder]]
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* ''{{Jem}}'': Techrat did it while telling the Misfits how "safe" his gimmick in "The Jem Jam - Part 2" was.
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* In the Warners' catoon ''Sniffles Bells The Cat'', the end scene has Sniffles the mouse launch into a tremendous epic of how he demanded the local cat wear the bell he had, going into details even as the viewers see how he's got two sets of fingers crossed behind his back.
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* In the Warners' catoon cartoon ''Sniffles Bells The Cat'', the end scene has Sniffles the mouse launch into a tremendous epic of how he demanded the local cat wear the bell he had, going into into details even as the viewers see how he's got two sets of fingers crossed behind his back.
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* In the Warners' catoon ''Sniffles Bells The Cat'', the end scene has Sniffles the mouse launch into a tremendous epic of how he demanded the local cat wear the bell he had, going into details even as the viewers see how he's got two sets of fingers crossed behind his back.
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* ''KissyFur'': In one episode, Lenny constantly [[SchoolBully bullied other kids]] for their lunches. Near the end, he saw himself in a pinch where he needed their help and they only agreed when he promised he'd no longer bully them. The next day, he broke his promised and, when called out on it, he claimed he had his fingers crossed when he made it. [[spoiler:Fortunately, they'd learned how to use the strength of numbers against him]].
to:
* ''KissyFur'': In one episode, Lenny constantly [[SchoolBully bullied other kids]] kids for their lunches. Near the end, he saw himself in a pinch where he needed their help and they only agreed when he promised he'd no longer bully them. The next day, he broke his promised and, when called out on it, he claimed he had his fingers crossed when he made it. [[spoiler:Fortunately, they'd learned how to use the strength of numbers against him]].
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* ''KissyFur'': In one episode, Lenny constantly [[SchoolBully bullied other kids]] for their lunches. Near the end, he saw himself in a pinch where he needed their help and they only agreed when he promised he'd no longer bully them. The next day, he broke his promised and, when called out on it, he claimed he had his fingers crossed when he made it. [[spoiler:Fortunately, they'd learned how to use the strength of numbers against him]].
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* ''Literature/TheNightOfWishes'': Early in the book, there's an illustration of Beelzebub and Tyrannia where Beelzebub does the finger cross behind his back and Tyrannia is implied to be doing the same. That was the first clue to their ChronicBackstabbingDisorder.
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* [[GreenLantern G'Nort's]] archenemy Scarlet Skier did it when granted a parole.
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'': Peggy tried this in the very first episode but Stanley caught on.
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* Hermes on ''{{Futurama}}'' crossed two digits of his new extensible robot-arm when he promised he wouldn't get any more cybernetic upgrades.
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[[quoteright:314:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LyingFingersCross_5797.png]]
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A new trope image. Feel free to challenge it if you happen to know a better image.
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[[quoteright:314:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/LyingFingersCross_5797.png]]
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** And when he promises to turn Shaggy back into a human if he wins the race, his fangs ''really do cross!''
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* In ''YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Kaiba does this when saying that he loves his brother Mokuba. Joey notices and points it out, causing Kaiba to... change his finger sign somewhat.
to:
* In ''YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Kaiba does this when saying that he loves his brother Mokuba. Joey notices and points it out, causing Kaiba to... [[FlippingTheBird change his finger sign somewhat.
somewhat]].
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[[AC:WebAnimation]]
* In ''YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Kaiba does this when saying that he loves his brother Mokuba. Joey notices and points it out, causing Kaiba to... change his finger sign somewhat.
* In ''YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'', Kaiba does this when saying that he loves his brother Mokuba. Joey notices and points it out, causing Kaiba to... change his finger sign somewhat.
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----
to:
!!Examples
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Sometimes when a character is forced to make a vow, oath, promise, gesture, etc. they don't actually mean, they will cross their index and middle fingers in a way hidden to the character they're talking to but visible to the audience, to show they're actually lying. Most often the person will have their crossed fingers held behind their back, but off to the side, under a table, or somewhere else hidden is also possible.
TruthInTelevision, of course, which is the reason why it works as a visual cue, often in the form of AnInsert. There's a number of guesses out there as to why it became a common gesture for lying, but the general idea is that it somehow either protects you from the consequences of lying or absolves you from being held to your word to begin with.
It can also be used as an OutOfCharacterAlert, both in-universe and RealLife, to signal to other people that a statement or gesture was made under coercion or otherwise insincerely.
----
[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* In ''ComicBook/ReidFlemingWorldsToughestMilkman'', Reid tells Mr. O'Clocke, "us bald guys gotta stick together". When Crabbe notices he has his fingers crossed behind his back and accuses him of lying, Reid admits that he's not actually bald. "I get my hair cut this way." Mr. O'Clocke finds that very flattering.
* When Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} had an intercompany {{Crossover}}, Supes asked Spidey to turn himself over to the police after their adventure since he was wanted at the time. Spidey shook on it but had his fingers crossed behind his back.
[[AC:{{Film}} - Animation]]
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime The Land Before Time VI: Journey Through The Mists]]'', after Littlefoot left with Ali to the Land of Mists, Littlefoot's grandparents warn Cera and the others not to go to the Land of Mists. Cera and the others do this while saying that they won't go there, but because Cera and Spike are both quadrupedal dinosaurs (a Triceratops and Stegosaurus, respectively), [[ItMakesSenseInContext they do this with their hind feet, while Ducky and Petrie play this straight.]]
* [[TerribleTrio Lock, Shock, and Barrel]] from ''Film/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' do this after Jack Skellington tells them to leave [[BigBad Oogie Boogie]] out of their plot to capture Santa Claus.
* This was played with in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'', where Dracula claims that he had his fangs crossed after promising to let Shaggy and friends go.
* In the {{Disney}} short ''[[MiscellaneousDisneyShorts Ben And Me]]'', Ben Franklin does this while shaking hands with his good friend, Amos Mouse, after promising not to play another trick on him, which led to Ben's famous discovery of electricity.
[[AC:{{Film}} - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/TheTrumanShow'', Truman's wife doing this covertly in their wedding picture tips him off to TheMasquerade.
* In ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', when Wonka gives the kids Everlasting Gobstoppers and makes them promise not to tell another living soul about them, Veruca crosses her fingers behind her back.
[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* The protagonist of Bavarian author Ludwig Thoma's ''Lausbubengeschichten'' does this with crossed fingers behind his back, after he played a prank on the village priest, who makes him swear an oath he didn't do it. He claims he learned this trick from his uncle, [[TakeThat who's in the Bavarian parliament]].
[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* ''Series/LoisAndClark'': In the first season finale, Clark does this while telling Lois that when he said that he loved her (in the penultimate episode) he didn't mean it, he was lying to get her to not marry Lex.
* Referred to in ''Series/BurnNotice'', when Larry, the corrupt spy that Michael is temporarily forced to work with, kills the guy they're supposed to be kidnapping.
-->'''Michael''': We had a deal!
-->'''Larry''': What can I say? I had my fingers crossed behind my back!
* ''HomeAndAway'':
** One episode has Irene take Olivia with her to go on the run to prevent her evil grandmother from becoming her legal guardian. Barry catches up with Irene, tells her what she's doing is stupid, so they go back to her house where a meeting was meant to be taking place with the grandmother and a social worker. When they get back to the house, Irene comes up with a cover story that she went out shopping with Olivia and the car got a flat tyre. Olivia is asked if Irene's story is true and she nods. The viewer then sees her fingers are crossed behind her back.
** Another episode has Leah apologise to Ryan after falsely accusing him of wrecking her wedding dress. Ryan says that he accepts Leah's apology, but then we see he has his fingers crossed behind his back.
* ''{{Series/Friends}}'', the episode "The One Where No One Is Ready": Joey and Chandler are having a very long argument about who gets to sit on a chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Well, Joey, I wrote a little song today. It's called: Get Up.
--> '''Joey''': All right! You can have the chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Really!
--> '''Joey''': Oh my, would you look at that! (holds up crossed fingers)
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in one episode of ''Series/ILoveLucy''. In it, Ricky forces Lucy to take a vow. Lucy, with one arm behind her back, begins saying the vow, but then Ricky pulls her arm out to reveal her crossed fingers, and separates them.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Played with on ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''. When [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick promise Mr. Krabs not to play on the fishing hooks, Patrick claims he had his fingers crossed. [=SpongeBob=] then points out that he has no fingers.
* TheJoker from ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' does this in an episode when making a deal with his nano-tech clone--who does it as well. No points for guessing how the deal went.
* An episode of ''Make Way For WesternAnimation/{{Noddy}}'' has Dinah Doll tell Gobbo that she knows he's lying because his fingers are crossed, and that goblins cross their fingers when they lie.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Lisa's Wedding, when Lisa and Marge talk through a video phone:
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, remember when I was little, we'd always planned my dream wedding and you always promised to... you know, well, keep Dad from ruining it?
-->'''Marge:''' ''(crossing her fingers)'' Oh, don't worry, honey, I guarantee your father will behave.
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, it's a picture phone.
-->'''Marge:''' ''(looking at her fingers)'' This? This? Oh, no, I've just got a touch of the rheumatiz.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Fight Fighters", Mabel makes a promise to Grunkle Stan and puts on a sweater with a hand doing the "Scout's honor" gesture on the front. When she turns her back to the fourth wall we see the back of her sweater has a hand with its fingers crossed.
----
TruthInTelevision, of course, which is the reason why it works as a visual cue, often in the form of AnInsert. There's a number of guesses out there as to why it became a common gesture for lying, but the general idea is that it somehow either protects you from the consequences of lying or absolves you from being held to your word to begin with.
It can also be used as an OutOfCharacterAlert, both in-universe and RealLife, to signal to other people that a statement or gesture was made under coercion or otherwise insincerely.
----
[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* In ''ComicBook/ReidFlemingWorldsToughestMilkman'', Reid tells Mr. O'Clocke, "us bald guys gotta stick together". When Crabbe notices he has his fingers crossed behind his back and accuses him of lying, Reid admits that he's not actually bald. "I get my hair cut this way." Mr. O'Clocke finds that very flattering.
* When Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} had an intercompany {{Crossover}}, Supes asked Spidey to turn himself over to the police after their adventure since he was wanted at the time. Spidey shook on it but had his fingers crossed behind his back.
[[AC:{{Film}} - Animation]]
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTime The Land Before Time VI: Journey Through The Mists]]'', after Littlefoot left with Ali to the Land of Mists, Littlefoot's grandparents warn Cera and the others not to go to the Land of Mists. Cera and the others do this while saying that they won't go there, but because Cera and Spike are both quadrupedal dinosaurs (a Triceratops and Stegosaurus, respectively), [[ItMakesSenseInContext they do this with their hind feet, while Ducky and Petrie play this straight.]]
* [[TerribleTrio Lock, Shock, and Barrel]] from ''Film/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' do this after Jack Skellington tells them to leave [[BigBad Oogie Boogie]] out of their plot to capture Santa Claus.
* This was played with in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndTheReluctantWerewolf'', where Dracula claims that he had his fangs crossed after promising to let Shaggy and friends go.
* In the {{Disney}} short ''[[MiscellaneousDisneyShorts Ben And Me]]'', Ben Franklin does this while shaking hands with his good friend, Amos Mouse, after promising not to play another trick on him, which led to Ben's famous discovery of electricity.
[[AC:{{Film}} - Live Action]]
* In ''Film/TheTrumanShow'', Truman's wife doing this covertly in their wedding picture tips him off to TheMasquerade.
* In ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', when Wonka gives the kids Everlasting Gobstoppers and makes them promise not to tell another living soul about them, Veruca crosses her fingers behind her back.
[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* The protagonist of Bavarian author Ludwig Thoma's ''Lausbubengeschichten'' does this with crossed fingers behind his back, after he played a prank on the village priest, who makes him swear an oath he didn't do it. He claims he learned this trick from his uncle, [[TakeThat who's in the Bavarian parliament]].
[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* ''Series/LoisAndClark'': In the first season finale, Clark does this while telling Lois that when he said that he loved her (in the penultimate episode) he didn't mean it, he was lying to get her to not marry Lex.
* Referred to in ''Series/BurnNotice'', when Larry, the corrupt spy that Michael is temporarily forced to work with, kills the guy they're supposed to be kidnapping.
-->'''Michael''': We had a deal!
-->'''Larry''': What can I say? I had my fingers crossed behind my back!
* ''HomeAndAway'':
** One episode has Irene take Olivia with her to go on the run to prevent her evil grandmother from becoming her legal guardian. Barry catches up with Irene, tells her what she's doing is stupid, so they go back to her house where a meeting was meant to be taking place with the grandmother and a social worker. When they get back to the house, Irene comes up with a cover story that she went out shopping with Olivia and the car got a flat tyre. Olivia is asked if Irene's story is true and she nods. The viewer then sees her fingers are crossed behind her back.
** Another episode has Leah apologise to Ryan after falsely accusing him of wrecking her wedding dress. Ryan says that he accepts Leah's apology, but then we see he has his fingers crossed behind his back.
* ''{{Series/Friends}}'', the episode "The One Where No One Is Ready": Joey and Chandler are having a very long argument about who gets to sit on a chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Well, Joey, I wrote a little song today. It's called: Get Up.
--> '''Joey''': All right! You can have the chair.
--> '''Chandler''': Really!
--> '''Joey''': Oh my, would you look at that! (holds up crossed fingers)
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in one episode of ''Series/ILoveLucy''. In it, Ricky forces Lucy to take a vow. Lucy, with one arm behind her back, begins saying the vow, but then Ricky pulls her arm out to reveal her crossed fingers, and separates them.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Played with on ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''. When [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick promise Mr. Krabs not to play on the fishing hooks, Patrick claims he had his fingers crossed. [=SpongeBob=] then points out that he has no fingers.
* TheJoker from ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' does this in an episode when making a deal with his nano-tech clone--who does it as well. No points for guessing how the deal went.
* An episode of ''Make Way For WesternAnimation/{{Noddy}}'' has Dinah Doll tell Gobbo that she knows he's lying because his fingers are crossed, and that goblins cross their fingers when they lie.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Lisa's Wedding, when Lisa and Marge talk through a video phone:
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, remember when I was little, we'd always planned my dream wedding and you always promised to... you know, well, keep Dad from ruining it?
-->'''Marge:''' ''(crossing her fingers)'' Oh, don't worry, honey, I guarantee your father will behave.
-->'''Lisa:''' Mom, it's a picture phone.
-->'''Marge:''' ''(looking at her fingers)'' This? This? Oh, no, I've just got a touch of the rheumatiz.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Fight Fighters", Mabel makes a promise to Grunkle Stan and puts on a sweater with a hand doing the "Scout's honor" gesture on the front. When she turns her back to the fourth wall we see the back of her sweater has a hand with its fingers crossed.
----
