History Main / PromiseMeYouWontX

** {{Subverted}} in "Lisa The Greek"; when Homer asks her to promise not to get mad, she responds that she ''always'' does whenever he has her make that promise.

** {{Subverted}} in "Lisa The Greek''; when Homer asks her to promise not to get mad, she responds that she ''always'' does whenever he has her make that promise.

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* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', Sousuke forgot to bring Chidori's notebook, and he promised her that she must not panic no matter how bad the situation is. Instead, she went into an UnstoppableRage.
* In ''Manga/BoardingSchoolJuliet'', Persia asks Inuzuka to close his eyes while, unbeknownst to him, she gives him [[TheLadysFavor her necklace]]. He breaks this promise the instant he feels her getting close to him (to be fair, he ''is'' a teenager).

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* ''Film/TheSixthSense'': Cole and his mother are having a conversation about a pendant of her mother's. Cole's mother is sure Cole's taking the pendant. She tells him, "I promise I won't get mad," and she asks him if he took the pendant. He tells her no -- as he tells her every time. And naturally, she gets angry with him.
* Subverted in ''Film/WakingNedDevine'': Finn asks Maggie to read some of her poetry (actually, greeting card texts) to him. She makes him promise not to laugh... and then breaks into laughter after her own first word.

* Near the climax of M. Night Shyamalan's ''Film/TheVillage'', right before Edward Walker shows his daughter Ivy [[spoiler: the monster costumes they keep in the shed]]: "Do your very best not to scream."
* In ''Film/PulpFiction'', Mia Wallace calls Vincent out on asking her not to be offended by a question, saying that if she promises not to be offended and then ''is'' offended, he'll have forced her to break a promise.

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[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]
* Subverted in ''Series/TheITCrowd''. After a masseur kissed Roy on the arse, he was about to tell Moss but first made him promise not to laugh. Afterwards, Moss is disgusted that Roy would think he'd find it funny.

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[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:VisualNovels]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* * ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': During the end stages of [[Recap/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPowerS5E05SaveTheCat saving Catra]] Entrapta says this to save everyone.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Braceface}}'', "Leap of Faith" (last episode), "promise me you won't panic" (or "freak out", or something similar) when Alden tells Brock he's fallen back in love with Sharon.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Lisa The Greek", subverted (see quote).

'''Optimus:''' [sees Sentinel - as a head, victim of the Headmaster, and burst into hysterical laughter]\\

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' combines this trope with ImplausibleDeniability.
-->'''Dr. [=McNinja=]:''' You can '''talk?'''\\
'''Motorcycle:''' Promise you won't be upset?\\
'''Dr. [=McNinja=]:''' Yes.\\
'''Motorcycle:''' Yes.
* ''Webcomic/ScaryGoRound'': When last seen in the year 2032, [[http://scarygoround.com/?date=20171221 Future-Scout Jones had just extracted a promise from her stepmother and defense lawyer, Shelley Winters, not to get mad at what Scout was about to say.]] We don’t know what followed, but as Scout was, or should have been, about to confess to illegally [[TimeTravel travelling through time]] in order to [[StableTimeLoop attempt repeatedly]] to prevent Shelley from marrying Scout’s father, ''mostly by trying to murder Shelley,'' even the good-hearted and {{weirdness|Magnet}}-hardened Shelley may have had a little difficulty keeping to the letter of that promise.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe'' has a support conversation between Eliwood and Hector, where Hector's thinking of a dream he had and Eliwood asks him to share it. His response before doing so: "Laugh and I'll kill you."

'''Entrapta:''' [Screech of triumph]Great! Hey, Darla!

[[AC:WebComics]]

-->--''TheSimpsons'', "Lisa The Greek"

Sometimes Character B is Character A's friend; they may try to unsuccessfully stifle the laugh. If they're TheRival (or The {{Jerkass}}) then they'll probably just be in peals of laughter. "Promise me you won't laugh" isn't the only scenario, though; sometimes it's substituted with "you won't scream", "you won't panic", "you won't get mad" or something similar. Almost every time the person goes back on the promise. Beginning to be subverted more and more often in the style of ''TheSimpsons'' quote at the top of the page, or by someone saying "I'm not promising anything till I hear what you say."

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' combines this trope with ImplausibleDeniability [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=47&issue=15]].

* ''Series/{{Castle}}''. Beckett uses this to pull a BaitAndSwitch on Castle, after agreeing to a private showing of her Nebula 9 cosplay costume. Castle agrees not to laugh, lusting instead as [[TheissTitillationTheory Beckett shows him some leg]] from behind the door. Then she leaps out wearing a hideous alien mask, so the laugh is on Castle.
* ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'', in the first season's final episode, Lucifer promises Chloe he will let her go alone [[spoiler: to save Trixie]]. Being the devil he is, "his word is his bond". Though, he still goes to help her, since he didn't say anything about following.

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}} book ''Discworld/GoingPostal'', Moist von Lipwig reveals his BoxedCrook backstory to Adora Belle Dearheart, including the fact that he was the crook whose forgeries got her fired from her previous job at a bank. He first makes Adora promise not to make any sudden movements, because "I think that in a few seconds you'll try to kill me." Played with in that Adora ''does'' hold to this promise, with some reluctance.

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', Sousuke forgot to bring Chidori's notebook, and he promised her that she must not panic no matter how bad the situation is. Instead, she went into UnstoppableRage.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SharkTale'': Lenny makes Oscar promise not to laugh before telling him how he's different from other sharks. He's a vegetarian. While Oscar does snort for a split second, he takes a deep breath and more or less manages to keep his promise. Lenny even lampshaded the trope before he told Oscar his secret:
-->'''Lenny''': "Not gonna laugh?" Well, that's just what you say. And then what happens once I tell you? You laugh.

'''Bloodnok:''' The plane...the plane. Ooo! Ooo heavens!\\

->'''Homer:''' All right, Marge, I'll tell you, but first you have to promise you will not get mad.
->'''Marge:''' I promise I ''will'' get mad, because I always do when you make me promise I won't.

-->'''Character A:''' I need some advice from you.
-->'''Character B:''' Shoot.
-->'''Character A:''' Promise me you won't laugh, okay?
-->'''Character B:''' Okay then.
-->'''Character A:''' How do I get rid of this rash in the shape of lovehearts on my left buttock?
-->'''Character B:''' Bwahahahaaha!
-->'''Character A:''' You promised you wouldn't laugh!
-->'''Character B:''' Sorry dude, I didn't mean to.

-->'''Character A:''' What happened?
-->'''Character B:''' Trust me, [[YouDoNOTWantToKnow you don't want to know.]]
-->'''Character A:''' No really, tell me.
-->'''Character B:''' *insert gross/inappropriate/silly/ridiculous story here*
-->'''Character A:''' ... you were right. I didn't want to know.

--> '''Maid Marian:''' Robin, promise you won't go.
--> '''Robin Hood:''' All right, I promise you won't go.
--> '''Maid Marian:''' Thank you.
--> '''Ahchoo:''' But wait a minute, Robin, didn't you just...
--> '''Robin Hood:''' Cool it...
--> '''Ahchoo:''' Chilled.

-->'''Bloodnok:''' The plane...the plane. Ooo! Ooo heavens!
-->'''Seagoon:''' What's up?
-->'''Bloodnok:''' Look - if I tell, promise you won't blow up?
-->'''Seagoon:''' I promise.
-->'''Bloodnok:''' I forgot to order it.
-->'''GRAMS:''' Explosion.
-->'''Bloodnok:''' You promised!

-->'''Sentinel:''' I need you to come to my position. And promise me one thing - that you won't laugh!
-->'''Optimus:''' [sees Sentinel - as a head, victim of the Headmaster, and burst into hysterical laughter]
-->'''Sentinel:''' You promised you wouldn't laugh!
* In ''WesternAnimation/SharkTale'', Lenny makes Oscar promise not to laugh before telling him how he's different from other sharks. He's a vegetarian. While Oscar does snort for a split second, he takes a deep breath and more or less manages to keep his promise.
** Lenny even lampshaded the trope before he told Oscar his secret:

* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' combines it with ImplausibleDeniability [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=47&issue=15]].
-->'''Dr. [=McNinja=]:''' You can '''talk?'''
-->'''Motorcycle:''' Promise you won't be upset?
-->'''Dr. [=McNinja=]:''' Yes.
-->'''Motorcycle:''' Yes.

** In one of the original Tracy Ullman shorts, Bart gets all of his hair cut off at the barbers. He comes home wearing a bag on his head, and makes the family promise not to laugh when he takes it off. Natually, they guffaw hysterically when he does.

* ''VisualNovel/{{Kanon}}'', [[spoiler:That's one way to reunite with your NotQuiteDead girlfriend...]]
* ''Lightnovel/FullMetalPanic'', Sousuke have forgot to bring Chidori's notebook, and he promised her that she must not panic no matter how bad the situation is. Instead, she went into UnstoppableRage

* ''Film/{{Casper}}'', (1995 movie) has Casper muffle Kat and explain his position as a friendly ghost, and offered to un-muffle her if she promised not scream. Of course as soon as she could speak again, she screamed.

* ''TheGoonShow'': In the episode "Shangri-La Again", Major Bloodnok is supposed to have obtained an aeroplane to fly the Embassy staff to safety:

* ''FireEmblem'' has a support conversation between Eliwood and Hector, where Hector's thinking of a dream he had and Eliwood asks him to share it. His response before doing so: "Laugh and I'll kill you."

* ''{{Braceface}}'', "Leap of Faith" (last episode), "promise me you won't panic" (or "freak out", or something similar) when Alden tells Brock he's fallen back in love with Sharon.
* ''TheSimpsons'', "Lisa The Greek", subverted (see quote).
** In one of the original Tracy Ulman shorts, Bart gets all of his hair cut off at the barbers. He comes home wearing a bag on his head, and makes the family promise not to laugh when he takes it off. Natually, they guffaw hysterically when he does.
* ''TransformersAnimated'', Return of the Headmaster:

** Lenny even lampshaded the trope before he told Oscar his secret

* ''{{Kanon}}'', [[spoiler:That's one way to reunite with your NotQuiteDead girlfriend...]]

-->'''Lenny''': "Not gonna laugh?" Well, that's just what you say. And then what happens once I tell ya? You laugh.

** Lenny even lampshades it before he tells Oscar his secret

** Lenny even lampshades it before he tells Oscar his secret

-->-''TheSimpsons'', "Lisa The Greek"

-->'''Homer:''' All right, Marge, I'll tell you, but first you have to promise you will not get mad.
-->'''Marge:''' I promise I ''will'' get mad, because I always do when you make me promise I won't.

* ''TheSixthSense'': Cole and his mother are having a conversation about a pendant of her mother's. Cole's mother is sure Cole's taking the pendant. She tells him, "I promise I won't get mad," and she asks him if he took the pendant. He tells her no -- as he tells her every time. And naturally, she gets angry with him.
* Subverted in WakingNedDevine: Finn asks Maggie to read some of her poetry (actually, greeting card texts) to him. She makes him promise not to laugh... and then breaks into laughter after her own first word.
* RobinHoodMenInTights: Maid Marian pleads with Robin not to enter the archery contest that she knows is a trap. Of course, the promise of facing an undefeated archer is too tempting for Robin Hood.

* Near the climax of M. Night Shyamalan's TheVillage, right before Edward Walker shows his daughter Ivy [[spoiler: the monster costumes they keep in the shed]]: "Do your very best not to scream."
* In ''PulpFiction'', Mia Wallace calls Vincent out on asking her not to be offended by a question, saying that if she promises not to be offended and then ''is'' offended, he'll have forced her to break a promise.
* In ''Young Frankenstein'', the doctor asks his assistant Igor (pronounced eye-gor) to tell him whose brain they put in the monster. After the doctor promises not to get angry (even emphasizing the "not") Igor tells him it was "Abby somebody. Abby Normal I think". The doctor then attempts to strangle him.