History Main / ReusableLighterToss

* Used in KungFuHustle by the leader of the Axe Gang to set a woman and her son on fire to punish the denizens of Pig Sty Alley.

* On ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' the brothers use salt, lighter fluid, and a disposable Zippo so often this show might just be the TropeCodifier. They do this to [[KillItWithFire properly dispose]] of the creatures they kill so that they don't come back.

* One of the characters in ''Film/TwilightEclipse'' tosses a lighter on a dead vampire to burn her up completely.

But this trope doesn't just need a light, it needs a light that stays lit when you toss it. Disposable lighters do not stay lit by design. A cigarette, cigar, or flare just doesn't fit the scene. A match might go out before it lights the fire. The protagonist (or just as often antagonist) doesn't have to be a smoker, though [[SmokingIsCool they certainly can be]].

* Stig (Mark Wahlberg) tosses a Zippo lighter in a diner to start a fire [[spoiler: for a distraction]] at the beginning of ''film/TwoGuns''.

* Stig (Mark Wahlberg) tosses a Zippo lighter in a diner to start a fire [[spoiler: for a distraction]] at the beginning of the film.

* Stig (Mark Wahlberg) tosses a Zippo lighter in a diner to start a fire [[spoiler: for a distraction]] at the beginning of the film.

* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' Nick Fury tosses a Zippo to light up the remains of some evidence.

* In ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' Jake uses the cars cigarette lighter to light one of his cigarettes then [[RuleOfFunny tosses the lighter out the window]]. He seems unimpressed by Elwood's car. Elwood then proves the car has value via speed and Jake returns with the line [[{{Lampshaded}} "Fix the lighter."]]

But this trope doesn't just need a light, it needs a light that stays lit when you toss it. Disposable lighters do not stay lit by design. A cigarette, cigar, or flare just doesn't fit the scene. A match might go out before it lights the fire. The fact that the protagonist (or just as often antagonist) has a lighter on them has nothing to do with them smoking... or [[SmokingIsCool maybe it does]].

* The fifth season of ''Series/{{True Blood}}'': In the episode "Let's Boot and Rally," when Terry Bellefleur recalls his time in Iraq, there is a scene of him setting a pile of dead bodies on fire with a Zippo lighter.

* In the second to last episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' Fiona tosses a Zippo lighter like it is a simple match [[spoiler: to burn down Michael's mom's place.]]

* In the second to last episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' Fiona tosses a Zippo lighter like it is a simple match [[spoiler: to burn down Michael's mom's place.]]

* In ''Film/ShowdownInLittleTokyo'', Brandon Lee's character ends a fight that involves using the ''[[MirandaRights Miranda]]'' [[MirandaRights rights]] as TrashTalk by knocking his opponent into a vat, flicking on his lighter, saying "[[PreMortemOneLiner You have the right to be dead]]," and tossing the lighter in. It causes a violent explosion and [[StuffBlowingUp sets off a chain reaction throughout the factory they're in]].

* A clearly reusable lighter - something you would purchase for a smoker as a gift for example).

The main reason for this trope is about the mechanics of the device and how it can keep a flame while being tossed from the hand. While the character lighting the fire could use a disposable lighter, they would have to bend down to light the flammable item on fire, and that is just not cool looking. Often this trope is used for dramatic effect as well. While the character flicks open the lighter and snaps the flame into existence, he or she can do a bit of monologuing. At the end of the scene, they toss the lighter, the flames begin, and often this leads to someone's death by fire, or a very big explosion. Equally often a character will do an UnflinchingWalk as the flames rage behind them.

* Music/LLCoolJ tosses a [[BrandNameTakeover Zippo]] at a gas leaking stove to blow up a super smart shark in ''Film/DeepBlueSea''. [[PreMortemOneLiner I ate his bird.]]

Need a light?

This trope does.

But this trope doesn't just need a light, it needs a light that stays lit when you toss it. Disposable lighters do not stay lit by design. A cigarette, cigar, or flare just doesn't fit the scene. A match might go out before it lights the fire. The fact that the protagonist (or just as often antagonist) has a lighter on them has nothing to do with them smoking... or [[SmokingIsCool maybe it does]].

Often used for RuleOfCool or RuleOfDrama, this trope needs something to be tossed to light something else on fire. As mentioned, it is often not fitting of the scene for anyone to be smoking, or to have a tool of fire lighting that is actively disposable on them. So what do you do? [[BrandNameTakeover Zippo]] to the rescue! Zippo lighters have a distinctive design that was originally based on a similar Austrian lighter made by IMCO. It is "windproof" (as described by TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighter here]]) and uses a wick and oil to keep the flame lit until you close the top. They have been in use for decades, but this trope seems to be relatively new.

The main reason for this trope is about the mechanics of the device and how it can keep a flame while being tossed from the hand. While the character lighting the fire could use a disposable lighter, they would have to bend down to light the flammable item on fire, and that is just not cool looking. Often this trope is used for dramatic effect as well. While the character flicks open the lighter and snaps the flame into existence, he or she can do a bit of monologuing. At the end of the scene, they toss the lighter, the flames begin, and often this leads to someone's death by fire, or a very big explosion. Equally often a character will do an UnflinchingWalk as the flames rage behind them.

The main elements of this trope are:
* A clearly reusable lighter - something you would purchase for a smoker as a gift for example).
* A focus of some sort on the lighter - either by "camera" or character(s).
* A disposal of the lighter - no character reacting to the lighter being "thrown away" (unless of course it gets {{Lampshaded}}).

With these three basic elements this trope comes into play and you end up with a Reusable Lighter Toss for a cool/dramatic scene and possibly a lot of flaming chaos and/or death. [[UnflinchingWalk Exit our anti-hero/villain toward camera]]... [[{{Overcrank}} in slo-mo]].

This can often be a DeathTrope as it can result in a person being lit on fire. Usually a subtrope of RuleOfCool and can cross with RuleOfDrama.

Compare with CigarFuseLighting.

VaporTrail sometimes leads into this.

Can often end with ManOnFire or StuffBlowingUp

Please no RealLife examples.

'''Note: As a potential DeathTrope there may be spoilers ahead!'''
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!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In Franchise/{{Naruto}} anime, after Shikamaru managed to trap Hidan with lots of wires with explosive [[PaperTalisman Paper Talismans]] attached (above a giant hole), he deals the final blow by throwing his dead mentor Asuma's zippo lighter (as a RevengeByProxy), dealing nasty blow on Hidan's body and burying him. In the manga, he used a cigarette instead.
* Anime/FullmetalAlchemist: Weaponized by [[ColonelBadass Colonel Roy Mustang]]. After [[OurHomunculiAreDifferent Lust]] manages to wet his special ignition cloth gloves which he needs to use his [[PlayingWithFire fire alchemy]], Roy uses [[AlchemyIsMagic alchemy]] to separate hydrogen from water. When the room where Lust is has filled with hydrogen, Roy takes Havoc's lighter and throws it in causing a huge gas explosion. The lighter is of course ruined, and since it was a gift from his ex-wife, this even gets {{Lampshaded}} by Havoc afterwards.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film]]
* ''Film/DieHard2''. As the jet carrying the treacherous soldiers and General Esperanza takes off, John [=McClane=] gets onto the wing and opens a gas tank valve so the plane leaves a trail of aviation fuel. After he returns to the ground, he pulls out a lighter, ignites it and drops it on the gas trail. The flame runs up the trail to the gas tank and causes the gas to explode, destroying the jet. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJBoemNM3UU Watch it here]].
* ''Film/{{TheCrow}}''. The titular character tosses a reusable lighter after killing one of his targets for vengeance. The flames make a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB8uD8FaPXU crow outline]].

* In ''Film/{{KickAss}}'' it appears it will be played straight, but is averted at the last second due to the man holding the lighter getting shot. Then it is averted again when another person lights the fuel up but seems to hang on to the lighter. It is a bit hard to see however since the lights are out and the only source of light in the scene is gun fire! [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbuEujuirY Seen here]].
* Music/LLCoolJ tosses a [[BrandNameTakeover Zippo]] at a gas leaking stove to blow up a super smart shark in ''Film/DeepBlueSea''. [[PreMortemOneLiner I ate his bird.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* On ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' the brothers use salt, lighter fluid, and a disposable Zippo so often this show might just be the TropeCodifier. They do this to [[KillItWithFire properly dispose]] of the creatures they kill so that they don't come back.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Music]]
* In the music video for [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EM8T5K6d8 Another Day by Modestep]] the character having a GroundhogDayLoop tosses a [[BrandNameTakeover Zippo]] on a car about half way through the video.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Originals]]
* In the web short Film/DirtyLaundry the "[[Comics/ThePunisher main character]]" subverts this trope by leaving the lighter behind after dousing the villain in alcohol... then it is played straight by one of the villain's victims as she picks it up and tosses it on him.