History Main / TemptingFate

* "ThisIsNoTimeToPanic!" -- Something's going to [[YouCanPanicNow give you permission to panic]] real soon.

* ''VisualNovel/C14Dating'': Deandre, one of the love interests, is taking the eight-week field class during which the story takes place because he's missing a class worth of credits and mentions several times that he just needs a passing grade in the class to be done with his education and start working in an unrealted field. Only four weeks are required to pass the class, with the extra four being for people who are interested enough in the subject, want the work experience or need to retake the class. Guess how the narrative keeps Deandre around for second half of the game.

For the supertropes to this, see TropeTelegraphing and BeCarefulWhatYouSay. Compare SchmuckBait, InstantlyProvenWrong, SpeakOfTheDevil. Contrast the GodzillaThreshold for where things really ''can't'' get any worse and AlreadyTheCase where fate has acted before the tempting. See also TooGoodToBeTrue.

Subtrope of TropeTelegraphing and BeCarefulWhatYouSay. Compare SchmuckBait, InstantlyProvenWrong, SpeakOfTheDevil, ThreatBackfire, and TooGoodToBeTrue. Contrast the GodzillaThreshold (where things ''really'' can't get any worse) and AlreadyTheCase (where fate has acted before the temptation).

* "What difference does one more make?" -- They're a OneManArmy.

* "At least it's not raining." -- CueTheRain. If not [[ExactWords worse weather]].

* "Lucky me!" -- Enjoy your luck while it lasts... before [[NotMyLuckyDay you stop being lucky]].

** Robert Calvert's 1974 solo debut, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyBPXuWzHL0 Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters]]'', has several examples, being a satirical account of [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-104_Starfighter#German_service the Luftwaffe's controversial adoption of the]] F-104 Starfighter. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals Defence Minister Franz Josef Strauss]] [[TheBonzoDogBand (Vivian Stanshall)]] is mad with desire at resurrecting German air superiority, later being enticed by an American con man [[{{Music/Traffic}} (Jim Capaldi)]]. The latter sells the titular F-104 Starfighter Plane in bulk, refitting them as the "F-104G" (for Germany, as Strauss squees over). The F-104 was a fighter infamous for its safety record, quickly becoming known as ''Der Witwenmacher (The Widowmaker)'', with at least ''30%'' of the planes having crashed.

* TemptingFate/{{Radio}}

* TemptingFate/StandUpComedy

[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
* "Literature/HeartOfIceAndrewLang": A literal example. King Farda-Kinbras and Queen Birbantine were so happy together they defied fate to ruin their happiness. Fairy Gorgonzola, who was listening, got pissed at their arrogance, and took their daughter's heart away.

[[folder:Folklore]]
* Many professions have superstitions ''designed'' to avert and/or subvert this trope, such as stage performers' traditional well-wish of "Break a leg!" (because telling someone "You'll be fantastic!" is tempting fate), or sailors' reluctance to call "lifeboats" by that name (so Fate won't put its accuracy to the test).

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/AwesomeSeries'': In ''Metal Gear Awesome'', after being incinerated by lasers and blown up by mines, Snake mentions: "Oh gee whiz, I sure hope a tank doesn't totally come out of nowhere and OWN me!" Cue the tank totally coming out of nowhere and owning him.
* Wiz and Boomstick, the hosts of ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', proudly proclaim "It's over! It's finally over! We never have to hear about it again!" at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Superman}} VS [[Manga/DragonBall Goku]]'', one of the most widely requested fights of the series. Unfortunately for Ben and Chad, the voices of Wiz and Boomstick, and the rest of the crew, it quickly became (and still remains) the most hotly contested fight outcome in the shows history [[spoiler: because Goku was weaker than Superman by a factor of about 100]], so much that it became a running gag and one of the first episodes with a follow-up.
* In part 2 of ''WebAnimation/MetroidConfusion'', the two protagonists are blasted into space by a nuclear explosion. As they drift pointlessly through space on a piece of rock, the following exchange occurs:
-->'''Scythe:''' Look on the bright side. It could be worse.\\
'''Chiton:''' How could it possibly be worse? ''[rant detailing the situation they're in]''\\
'''Scythe:''' It could be raining.\\
'''Chiton:''' You idiot! It cannot rain in space!
''[cue the rain; in space]''
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioysRyKLNHI This thing is indestructible.]] [[spoiler:A train destroys the 2 sentries and dispenser.]] From ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'''s "Something Completely Different".
* ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'':
** It illustrates this concept with DC character Dr. Fate being offered cake.
** There's also the "''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' vs ''VideoGame/{{inFamous}}''", where Yahtzee declared both games to be equal and jokingly said that if the game studios want him to pick a winner, they'll have to send him their best images of the rival game's main character wearing women's lingerie. Much to his surprise and horror, [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/extra-punctuation/6228-Yahtzees-Prototype-vs-InFamous-Challenge they complied]].
--->'''Yahtzee:''' Thanks to Radical Entertainment and Sucker Punch Productions for being such good sports. You sick, sick fucks.
[[/folder]]

[[Web Original]]

* TemptingFate/NewMedia

* TemptingFate/WebOriginal

[[folder:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'':
** One segment [[https://wheelsms.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/calvin-hobbes-snowball-fight.jpg?w=645&h=457 has Calvin try and snowball Susie in the back]], only to miss with [[ATeamFiring every single one]]. After the barrage ends, Susie turns around to laugh at Calvin's throwing ability... and THAT'S when Calvin's aim finally pays off.
** In [[https://marcel-oehler.marcellosendos.ch/comics/ch/1988/10/198810.html another strip]], Calvin doesn't feel well in the middle of the night:
--->'''Calvin's Mom:''' Calvin probably just ate too much dessert. If he's going to get me up at this hour, he'd better ''really'' be sick.\\
''[[[VomitDiscretionShot Offpanel]], we see a massive "BAAARRFF" as she reacts in horror]''\\
'''Calvin's Mom:''' ''[[[SkywardScream Shouting to the heavens]]]'' I DIDN'T ''MEAN'' IT!
* ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' does it on multiple occasions:
** In one arc, Jason accidentally makes Eileen Jacobson fall in love with him [[ItMakesSenseInContext thanks to a poem he wrote for his mom]]. Then this happens:
--->'''Jason:''' Could anything be worse?! Could this situation possibly be any more dire?!\\
'''Huge crowd of students:''' JASON AND EILEE-EEN, SITTIN' IN A TREE... KAY-EYE-ESS-ESS-EYE-EN-GEE!\\
'''Jason:''' Boy, '''that''' question sure got answered in a hurry.\\
'''Eileen:''' I hope you don't mind, but I told a few of my friends.
** One week of strips revolves around Paige getting a surly Tamagotchi knock-off called a Tamagrouchy. Near the week's end, she sends it to Jason, who thinks he can reprogram it.
--->'''Paige:''' I figure it can't get any '''more''' annoying.\\
''[[GilliganCut (cut to upstairs)]]''\\
'''Tamagrouchy:''' (Beep) Feed me and give Jason $10.\\
'''Paige:''' I take that back, Peter.
** Jason and Paige try the so-called "super gum" invented by Marcus' uncle. With all the upsides, Paige has to ask, "Does this gum even '''have''' a downside?" while they're each blowing a monstrous bubble. They spend the next three strips stuck to each other.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' likes to play with this trope. If someone says things can't get worse, they will (usually with Garfield warning not to say it). However, if a character admits things could get worse, they get worse.
** The [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1981/10/25 October 25, 1981]] strip had Garfield invoke the old "sticks and stones" saying, only to then get hit by a dictionary, disproving the "words can never hurt me" part of the mantra.
** [[https://gocomics.com/garfield/2011/12/15 In December, 15, 2011,]] Garfield told a spider that was under a mistletoe to forget it and that he'd rather kiss a dog. Odie then showed up.
** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2000/04/09 At the beach, Jon tried to get the attention of a girl by screaming "Shark!"]]. He was trampled by everyone who ran away out of fear, was slapped by the girl and, when he said things couldn't get worse, a shark appeared.
** Jon sees a fly in his coffee cup in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2007/04/15 this strip]]. After the fly leaves, Jon asks "What could be more disgusting than that?!" Cue a swarm of flies setting up on and around his cup and treating it like their own beach resort.
** {{Exaggerated|Trope}} in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2014/07/27 this]] strip.
** Garfield wonders what the new year will bring [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2020/12/31 in the December 31, 2020 strip]]. Cue Jon telling Garfield that he just found a great new tofu recipe.
--->'''Garfield: Bring back the old year!'''
** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/04/10 Jon considers the world a dangerous place]] and prefers the safety of his own home.
--->'''[[GenreSavvy Garfield]]''' [[ThreeTwoOne 3... 2... 1...]]\\
''[crash]''\\
'''Jon:''' Oww!
** In [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/08/21 the August 21, 2021 strip]], Garfield boasts to the grumpy, chained guard dog that nothing can wipe the smile off his face.
--->'''Dog:''' I know what's '''really''' in cat food.\\
'''Garfield:''' ''[in a panicked expression]'' Don't tell me!
** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/09/26 The September 26, 2021 strip]] combines with trope with ExactWords. Garfield goes outside, sees a leaf from a tree turning orange, points at said leaf, and saying in a commanding tone: "I am '''not''' ready for autumn yet. Do '''not''' fall off that tree!" Cue ''all other leaves from that tree'' falling on top of him.
** In [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/10/10 the October 10, 2021 strip]], Jon tries to lure Garfield into consuming a pill hidden in a treat, so Garfield takes the treat on the plate Jon is ''not'' promoting to him, realizing too late that he fell for Jon's trick.
--->'''Garfield:''' ''[takes the treat on the plate and swallows it]'' I believe I'll have this one instead. Heh, heh, heh.\\
'''Jon:''' ''[with a sly grin]'' [[IronicEcho Heh, heh, heh.]]\\
'''Garfield:''' [[OhCrap I think I've just been had.]]
** Nermal asks Garfield in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/11/19 the November 19, 2021 strip]] what he would do if he could do anything in the world. The strip ends with Garfield throwing Nermal out -- ''through the door'' (with ImpactSilhouette on said door, to boot). Nermal addressing him as "chubs" doesn't endear himself to Garfield, if anything.
--->'''Garfield:''' [[LampshadeHanging He walked right into that one.]]
** In [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/12/26 the December 26, 2021 strip]], Liz pokes fun at the matching HomemadeSweaterFromHell that Jon, Garfield, and Odie receive from Jon's mother. She no longer finds it funny once Jon hands her [[HomemadeSweaterFromHell the matching sweater]] his mother made for ''her''.
** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/02/28 The February 28, 2022 strip]] has Jon claiming he can make Garfield smile, while Garfield dismisses him because [[HatingOnMonday it's Monday]]. Jon succeeds.
--->'''Jon:''' I bet I can make you smile.\\
'''Garfield:''' Nothing about a Monday can make me smile.\\
'''Jon:''' Tomorrow is Taco Tuesday.\\
'''Garfield:''' ''[with a toothy smile]'' Curse you, Jon Arbuckle!
** Upon weighing himself in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/14 the April 14, 2022 strip]], Garfield attempts to bribe the talking scale into lying about the result for him, but the scale refuses. Garfield promptly proves EveryManHasHisPrice by naming his bribe of choice, which gets the scale to oblige.
--->'''Garfield:''' If you give me a good number, I'll make it worth your while.\\
'''Scale:''' You can't bribe me!\\
'''Garfield:''' [[TwoWordsAddedEmphasis Two words: unlimited batteries.]]\\
'''Scale:''' Hellooooo, '''SKINNY!'''
* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' has a few where the universe often takes offense to a character's BadassBoast:
** In one arc, Linus gets a new hobby, drawing on air. Simply put, he traces things on air with his finger, and being a MrImagination, perceives it as art, one that costs no money and needs no materials. However, he enjoys it a little too much, saying "nothing can interrupt your work! Nothing, ''nothing!''" And then [[CueTheRain it starts to rain]].
** In another arc, Linus' hobby is building snowmen; he builds lots and ''lots'' of snowmen. However, he gets a little DrunkWithPower, and starts talking to them like a general leading an army. "I am your ''leader''!" he shouts to his "troops". "Stand behind me and you will be ''invincible''! Nothing can stop us, [[SkywardScream nothing, nothing,]] '''[[SkywardScream NOTHING!]]'''" And then the sun comes out and melts them all.
* ''ComicStrip/USAcres'':
** In the November 3, 1987 strip, Orson said even Lanolin couldn't ruin that day. She shouted "I just washed my car!" and [[CueTheRain it rained]].
** In the March 24, 1989 strip, Booker blows on a dandelion seed head, causing the seeds to disperse and fly away. The flower next to it laughs at the seed head, only to be plucked by Orson immediately afterwards.
** [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Booker asks Orson to make a story scary]] in the March 15, 1987 strip. Orson being MrImagination, it doesn't take long for Booker to change his mind.
** [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Booker encourages Wade to jump into a pool]] in the August 30, 1987 strip, telling Wade that his inner tube will keep him afloat. Once Wade jumps in, he slips right out of his inner tube and sinks, though he manages to save himself before drowning by drinking the pool water.
** In the April 9, 1986 strip, Orson finds a book of jokes and claims that he's in the mood for a good laugh. Upon opening the book, [[PieInTheFace he finds himself the target of a joke.]]
** In the November 13, 1986 strip, Orson warns Roy not to eat corn so close to the stove, but Roy dismisses him. It turns out to be popcorn, which promptly pops inside Roy's body, much to his discomfort.
--->'''Orson:''' I know it's popcorn.\\
'''Roy:''' Why didn't you warn me?!
** In the June 24, 1987 strip, Booker decides to do a cannon ball dive with a jump onto the springboard. It bounces him off in the direction from whence he came.
--->'''Sheldon:''' Whoops, backfired.
** Orson, after donning his "Power Pig" costume, declares himself leaping over barns in the August 22, 1987 strip. He ends up slamming into a wall of a barn.
** In the October 17, 1988 strip, Booker succeeds on getting onto a hammock. He claims "Victory!", only for the hammock to flip him off it.
** In the November 15, 1988 strip, Bo is excited to see the sunset, but Lanolin is not enthused, claiming sunrise and sunset always happen the same way. Cue the ensuing sunset taking place in a ''very unconventional'' way (i.e. turning out to be a flat disk and falling over after hitting the ground), which piques Lanolin's interest.
--->'''Bo:''' ''[yawns]'' Coming to bed, Lanolin?\\
'''Lanolin:''' Not tonight, Bo. This should be one interesting sunrise.
** Lanolin tells Roy to stop smirking in the June 14, 1988 strip, or else she'd slap it to the moon. [[BullyingADragon Roy, however, dismisses her.]] Bad move -- the strip ends with Roy's mouth landing on the moon.
** Possibly played with in the April 4, 1986 strip, in which Orson wonders where his food is, but a corn on a cob is thrown and hits him on the head before he even finishes the question.
** When Booker places a gigantic megaphone at Roy in the January 1, 1989 strip and claims "PrepareToDie, rooster!", Roy dismissively mocks him with "What are you going to do, cheer me to death?". Booker promptly throws a small snowball into the megaphone... which becomes big enough to cover most of Roy's body when it gets out of said megaphone.
** When Wade hears the sound of sleigh bells in the December 19, 1988 strip, he gets inside a chimney and looks upwards for Santa Claus. The strip ends with a large bag full of toys falling on top of him.
* In one ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' strip, [[PunnyName Pierce]] runs off a list of his many, many body piercings, including an impressive twelve earrings ''on each ear''.
-->'''Pierce:''' I defy anyone to find a way to attach more metal to my head.\\
''[[[GilliganCut cut to Pierce at an orthodontist appointment]]]''\\
'''Mr. Duncan:''' Pierce, you need braces.
[[/folder]]

* TemptingFate/{{Advertising}}

* TemptingFate/{{Folklore}}

* TemptingFate/{{Music}}
* TemptingFate/MusicVideos
* TemptingFate/MythologyAndReligion

* TemptingFate/ProfessionalWrestling

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' had a small bit of audience interaction, in which listeners could submit items for the Fantasy Costco to sell, provided they didn't already exist and weren't too broken to ever use. The only exception to this rule was the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Flaming Poisoning Raging Sword Of Doom]], an insanely powerful item submitted by an eight year-old fan that Griffin included in the game as a shout-out to said fan. Realizing the sword was a GameBreaker unlike any other, he stopped the party from getting their hands on it by pricing it at 60.000 gold, which is more than they'd ever be able to get in the game. However, he severely underestimated [[GuileHero Taako]], who exploited the game mechanics so badly that Garfield ended up giving him the sword for only 900 gold.[[note]]Taako found an item in the store worth 900 gold that didn't do anything, but allowed the owner to trade it with an NPC for their most valuable possession, provided the owner rolled a successful Persuasion-check. He bought that item, along with a book on skill checks that allowed him to gain advantage on one skill once a day. He then read up on Persuasion, went back to Garfield, and traded the item back to him in exchange for the sword.[[/note]]
* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' game of ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'', as soon as Todd says that "nothing will go wrong" when they fly into the Reaver territory, the lights go out and the screens start flashing. [[CommercialBreakCliffhanger Then they cut to commercial]].
* As episode seven of ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}'' begins, Alan and Cassidy realize that they were relatively unscathed after the last episode's fight, unlike Jake. Shannon the GM then writes something down ominously.
-->'''Shannon:''' Sounds to me like you were complaining you didn't get hurt enough!

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* The ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' supplement ''Draconomicon'' features a quote from a dragon hunter: "Dragons don't see very well in the dark. They don't hear so well, either." This is the lead-in to a section explaining that ''D&D'' [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]] have anything ''but'' poor senses; they tend to have high ranks in perception-related skills, have far better night vision than humans, can see in total darkness at a long distance, and can even use smell and hearing to discern the location of anything within a large radius. Unsurprisingly, the citation describes said dragon hunter as "the late Aylmer Dapynto".

[[folder:Toys]]
* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'', after the heroes have awoken Mata Nui and everyone is celebrating, Takanuva writes on [[CharacterBlog his blog]] about his hopes for a new era of peace. Hahli, on the other hand, has her doubts, but joins in the celebrations nonetheless, walking off into the distance, humming a song about hope for tomorrow. [[spoiler: And then the BigBad reveals he's taken over the universe. [[DownerEnding The end.]] At least, for that arc...]]

!!Example subpages

* [[TemptingFate/{{Film}} Films — Live-Action]]

* TemptingFate/{{Music Videos}}

!!Other examples:

[[folder:Asian Animation]]

* One segment of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' [[https://wheelsms.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/calvin-hobbes-snowball-fight.jpg?w=645&h=457 has Calvin try and snowball Susie in the back]], only to miss with [[ATeamFiring every single one]]. After the barrage ends, Susie turns around to laugh at Calvin's throwing ability... and THAT'S when Calvin's aim finally pays off.

--->'''Calvin's Mom''': Calvin probably just ate too much dessert. If he's going to get me up at this hour, he'd better ''really'' be sick.\\
''[[VomitDiscretionShot Offpanel]], we see a massive "BAAARRFF" as she reacts in horror)''\\
'''Calvin's Mom''': ''([[SkywardScream Shouting to the heavens]])'' I DIDN'T ''MEAN'' IT!

---> '''Paige:''' I figure it can't get any '''more''' annoying.\\

--->'''Garfield''': '''Bring back the old year!'''

--->'''[[GenreSavvy Garfield]]''' 3... 2... 1...\\
(crash)\\

--->'''Dog''': I know what's '''really''' in cat food.\\
'''Garfield''': (in a panicked expression) Don't tell me!

--->'''Garfield''': *takes the treat on the plate and swallows it* I believe I'll have this one instead. Heh, heh, heh.
--->'''Jon''': [[IronicEcho *with a sly grin* Heh, heh, heh.]]
--->'''Garfield''': [[OhCrap I think I've just been had.]]
** Nermal asks Garfield in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2021/11/19 the November 19, 2021 strip]] what he would do if he could do anything in the world. The strip ends with Garfield throwing Nermal out -- ''through the door'' (with ImpactSilhouette on said door, to boot).[[note]] Nermal addressing him as "chubs" doesn't endear himself to Garfield, if anything.[[/note]]
--->'''Garfield''': [[LampshadeHanging He walked right into that one.]]

--->'''Jon''': I bet I can make you smile.\\
'''Garfield''': Nothing about a Monday can make me smile.\\
'''Jon''': Tomorrow is Taco Tuesday.\\
'''Garfield''': *with a toothy smile* Curse you, Jon Arbuckle!

--->'''Garfield''': If you give me a good number, I'll make it worth your while.\\
'''Scale''': You can't bribe me!\\
'''Garfield''': [[TwoWordsAddedEmphasis Two words: unlimited batteries.]]\\
'''Scale''': Hellooooo, '''SKINNY!'''

--->'''Orson''': I know it's popcorn.\\
'''Roy''': Why didn't you warn me?!

--->'''Sheldon''': Whoops, backfired.

--->'''Bo''': *yawns* Coming to bed, Lanolin?\\
'''Lanolin''': Not tonight, Bo. This should be one interesting sunrise.

* In one ''{{ComicStrip/Zits}}'' strip, [[PunnyName Pierce]] runs off a list of his many, many body piercings, including an impressive twelve earrings ''on each ear''.
--> '''Pierce:''' I defy anyone to find a way to attach more metal to my head.\\
''[[GilliganCut (cut to Pierce at an orthodontist appointment)]]''\\

** As episode seven of ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}'' begins, Alan and Cassidy realize that they were relatively unscathed after the last episode's fight, unlike Jake. Shannon the GM then writes something down ominously.

* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' had a small bit of audience interaction, in which listeners could submit items for the Fantasy Costco to sell, provided they didn't already exist and weren't too broken to ever use. The only exception to this rule was the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Flaming Poisoning Raging Sword Of Doom]], an insanely powerful item submitted by an eight year-old fan that Griffin included in the game as a shout-out to said fan. Realizing the sword was a GameBreaker unlike any other, he stopped the party from getting their hands on it by pricing it at 60.000 gold, which is more than they'd ever be able to get in the game. However, he severely underestimated [[GuileHero Taako]], who exploited the game mechanics so badly that Garfield ended up giving him the sword for only 900 gold.[[note]]Taako found an item in the store worth 900 gold that didn't do anything, but allowed the owner to trade it with an NPC for their most valuable possession, provided the owner rolled a successful Persuasion-check. He bought that item, along with a book on skill checks that allowed him to gain advantage on one skill once a day. He then read up on Persuasion, went back to Garfield, and traded the item back to him in exchange for the sword.[[/note]]

* The ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' supplement ''Draconomicon'' features a quote from a dragon hunter: "Dragons don’t see very well in the dark. They don’t hear so well, either." This is the lead-in to a section explaining that [[OurDragonsAreDifferent D&D dragons]] have anything ''but'' poor senses; they tend to have high ranks in perception-related skills, have far better night vision than humans, can see in total darkness at a long distance, and can even use smell and hearing to discern the location of anything within a large radius. Unsurprisingly, the citation describes said dragon hunter as "the late Aylmer Dapynto."

* "Ha, you missed!" -- [[Film/MoonRaker Did I?]] It was either hit ExactlyWhatIAimedAt or a PrecisionGuidedBoomerang that will come back and strike you from behind/sideways.

* "Lucky me!" -- Enjoy your luck while it lasts...because you won't be anytime soon.

* "Ha, you missed!" -- Nope, they either hit ExactlyWhatIAimedAt or are PrecisionGuidedBoomerang that will come back and strike you from behind/sideways.

** Upon weighing himself in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/14 the April 14, 2022 strip]], Garfield attempts to bribe the talking scale into lying about the result for him, but the scale refuses. Garfield promptly proves EveryManHasAPrice by naming his bribe of choice, which gets the scale to oblige.

Tempting Fate is when a character says something that dares the universe to make things miserable for them, and the universe [[FinaglesLaw takes them up on the challenge]]. The character is often commenting on how they've hit RockBottom and how things couldn't possibly get any worse -- right before things ''do'' go FromBadToWorse. Conversely, they may talk about how things are absolutely perfect, only for their world to come crashing down five seconds later. Also watch out for a GilliganCut.

And sometimes tempting fate can get downright ''lethal''. The guy in the horror movie who wanders off on his own and tells his friends, "I'll be right back," probably isn't coming back. That guy in the war movie who [[FatalFamilyPhoto shows that picture of his family]] isn't going to see them again. That veteran cop in the action movie who's a few days from retirement [[{{Retirony}} isn't going to live to see it]]. This particular version of the trope is known as a DeathFlag.

Whether or not fate itself is ''really'' responsible depends on the work. Logically speaking, events outside your control do not conspire to happen at the ''exact'' moment when it would be most appropriate for them to happen. But sometimes you're way on the end of the SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate, and fate is a real entity that's listening to your words.

A particularly GenreSavvy character, on hearing fate-tempting words, will often react by saying, "YouJustHadToSayIt." There's a reason the EvilOverlordList has a ton of entries advising evil overlords not to say things like this.

* "Ha, you missed!" -- Nope, they hit ExactlyWhatIAimedAt.

* "After [[OneLastJob this]], I'm going to retire." -- {{Retirony}} dictates you won't live that long. If you do, then [[TenMinuteRetirement you won't stay retired]].

* "IWishedYouWereDead." -- BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor, because it's [[RhetoricalQuestionBlunder going to happen]], and you're [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone going to regret it]].

* "{{No man|OfWomanBorn}} can defeat me!" -- "[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings I am no man]]." Maybe [[SamusIsAGirl I'm a woman]]. Or maybe I'm not human at all.

Tempting Fate is when a character says something that dares the universe into making things miserable for them, and the universe [[FinaglesLaw takes them up on the challenge]]. Oftentimes, the character is commenting on how they've hit RockBottom and how things couldn't possibly get any worse -- right before things ''do'' turn FromBadToWorse. Conversely, they may talk about how things are absolutely perfect, only for their world to come crashing down five seconds later. Also watch out for a GilliganCut.

And sometimes tempting fate can get downright ''lethal''. For example, that guy in every horror movie who tells his friends "I'll be right back" before wandering off by himself is most assuredly ''not'' going to be back. Or that guy in every war movie who shows [[FatalFamilyPhoto that picture of his family]] to the others and expresses his hope to get through this and make it back home to them, which all but ensures that he ''won't'' make it. Or that veteran cop in every action movie who's just a few days away from {{Retir|ony}}ement, and thus doomed to be gunned down in his final case. This particular variant of Tempting Fate is known as a DeathFlag.

The fate-tempting words may be followed up by a friend saying "''YouJustHadToSayIt!''" Of course, whether fate really had a hand in it or not depends on the situation. After all, it's not like fate just magically materialized that guard ambushing you from nowhere, right? What matters is that events pre-planned or not conspire to make things terrible the moment such phrases are uttered.

For the supertropes to this, see TropeTelegraphing and BeCarefulWhatYouSay. Compare SchmuckBait, InstantlyProvenWrong, SpeakOfTheDevil. Contrast the GodzillaThreshold for where things really ''can't'' get any worse and AlreadyTheCase where fate has acted before the tempting. See also TooGoodToBeTrue.

And don't forget the EvilOverlordList, either.

* "At least it isn't raining." -- CueTheRain. Alternatively, [[ExactWords a worse type of weather will occur instead]].
* "At least X isn't here to see this." -- [[SpeakOfTheDevil X's cue to arrive]].
* "At least X still likes me." -- [[ConsolationBackfire Even X doesn't like him anymore.]]
* "But that's just a legend, right?" -- No, it isn't. [[AllMythsAreTrue It is very real.]] Oh, and it's [[RightBehindMe right behind you]], [[SwallowedWhole about to eat you]].
** In the same vein -- "There's no such thing as X!" -- Actually, [[SkepticismFailure there ''is'' such a thing as X]]. Oh, yeah, it's [[RightBehindMe right behind you]], [[SwallowedWhole about to eat you.]]
* "[[YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo But you said you would let them/me go!]]" -- "[[YouWillBeSpared Yeah,]] [[AvertedTrope about that,]] [[ILied I lied.]]" [[UnhandThemVillain Or, if the person in question of being let go is being dangled off of a cliff of other high spot, then they will quite literally be "let go" by being dropped.]]
** Of course. But [[ExactWords I didn't promise]] my [[TheDragon friend]] here wouldn't kill them, did I?
* "[[LetsSplitUpGang I'll be right back.]]" -- No, you won't (unless you're an ImplacableMan or a {{Determinator}}, and [[RasputinianDeath sometimes not]] [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill even then]]). [[Series/GameOfThrones George R. R. Martin]] is particularly fond of this.
* "I think I can take him." -- [[TooDumbToLive No, you can't;]] [[CurbStompBattle so, enjoy the taste of that curb.]]
* "IfWeGetThroughThis" -- At least one of you ''won't''.

* "NothingCanSaveUsNow!" -- Cue the BigDamnHeroes/[[BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork Villains]].
* "NoOneCouldSurviveThat" -- Could, would and did.
** "Did we get them?" -- As with the previous example, no, you didn't.
* "NothingCanStopUsNow" -- Can and will.
* "[[WesternAnimation/VeggieTales Nobody's ever gonna stand up to me again!]]" -- What about the big guy upstairs?
* "NothingExcitingEverHappensHere." -- Give it a minute.
* "ItWillNeverCatchOn." -- It will.
** "ThisIsGoingToBeHuge." -- [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]. It will not normally, unless someone subsequently says the above. Alternately, if it ''is,'' it might fall right on top of you.
* "[[HopeSpot It's perfectly safe here[=/=]You'll be safe with us]]!" -- It's an UnsafeHaven.
* "ItsProbablyNothing." -- No, it's not: it's ''definitely'' something. Which is probably nasty, behind you and [[SwallowedWhole about to eat you]].
** Related, "It's just your/my imagination." -- [[RealAfterAll It never is.]]

* "[[RockBottom Things couldn't possibly get any worse.]]" -- Things go FromBadToWorse.
** The simplest way to invoke this is pairing it with the CueTheRain example above.
* "Things can get worse because ''X'' could always happen!" -- SpeakOfTheDevil.
* "ThisIsNoTimeToPanic!" -- ''Start'' Panicking / YouCanPanicNow.
* "This place isn't a mess..." -- CueTheFallingObject.
* "You don't have the guts!" -- [[ThreatBackfire Yes he/she does.]]
* "You cannot hurt/beat me!" -- [[CurbStompBattle Can and will.]] ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Badly.]]'' [[TheManyDeathsOfYou And in many more ways than you can even think of.]]
** Alternatively, you're right. ''They'' cannot hurt you. [[ExactWords Unfortunately]], that does ''not'' mean that [[TheLancer some]][[TheDragon one]] (or [[EldritchAbomination something]]) else won't.
* "You can't handle my powers!" -- Watch them NoSell your alleged "powers" without even flinching. Bonus points if ''you'' can't handle ''their'' powers, or even better, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard if they use yours against you]].
* "SheIsNotMyGirlfriend!" -- Way to give the fanbase [[ShipTease ideas]]. Oh, and by the way, [[RightBehindMe she's right behind you]]. And she's none too pleased to hear what you just said.
* "SmiteMeOMightySmiter" -- Happy to oblige! (''[[UnsoundEffect SMITE]]!'')
* "WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong" -- Exactly what you ''don't'' want going wrong.
** And a common variation -- "How hard can it be?" -- A lot harder than you think.
* "Oh, come on, what are the chances of that happening? There's, like, [[MillionToOneChance a one in a million chance]]..."-- Bet on it happening.
* "You're gonna pay for that..." -- The most common response to ''this'' one (before [[ThreatBackfire the hero shows he doesn't believe it]]) is, [[ObligatoryJoke "Just send me the bill."]] DeadpanSnarker heroes ''[[UndeadHorseTrope never]]'' get tired of ''that'' one.
* "WhatDoesThisButtonDo" -- Screw ''everything'' up or blow it sky high, that's what! DontTouchItYouIdiot
* "[[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough Who would be stupid enough]] to fall for that SchmuckBait?" -- Someone ''is'' (singular) or they ''are'' (plural). Bonus points if the [[SelfFulfillingProphecy speaker]] [[TrapIsTheOnlyOption fell]] [[StupidityIsTheOnlyOption for it]].
* "YouAndWhatArmy" -- [[VerbThis That army.]] (This works best if spoken to a general, or a ''president'' -- i.e. someone who actually commands an army.) Alternatively, [[OneManArmy he/she doesn't need one.]]
* "[[SmiteMeOMightySmiter May God strike me down]] if I'm lying/wrong!" -- Cue the BoltOfDivineRetribution.
* "I am not going to do what you just said!" -- [[GilliganCut Yes, you are.]]
* "You missed!" -- [[ExactlyWhatIAimedAt I wasn't aiming at you!]] Alternatively, the [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang boomerang]] they just threw is about to pull a 180 and hit you in the back of the head.
* "ThisCannotBe!" -- It is, often followed immediately by a bad attack of CriticalExistenceFailure.
* "[[AndYourLittleDogToo I'll endanger your friends!]]" -- [[ThreatBackfire I don't like them, either.]]
** Alternatively, you've just bought yourself a ''world'' of pain.
* "IHaveYourWife!" -- YouCanKeepHer. In two days [[PityTheKidnapper you'll beg me to take her back]]. Alternatively, cue {{Unstoppable Rage}}-fueled RoaringRampageOfRescue.
* "[[UnwittingPawn I can't believe that idiot fell for my bullshit]]!" -- [[RightBehindMe S/he is right behind you]] or at least [[EngineeredPublicConfession listening in on you]].
* "S/he looks like a total wimp!" -- (S)he's a KillerRabbit, a BadassAdorable or a CuteBruiser. Or [[UpToEleven all three.]] Oh, yeah, and I forgot, [[RightBehindMe he/she is right behind you]]. [[BewareTheNiceOnes AND S/HE'S ABOUT TO]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis MESS.]] [[OneWingedAngel YOU.]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction UP.]]
* "Let a ''real'' expert handle this." -- Famous last words of TheWorldsExpertOnGettingKilled.
* "LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain" -- Cue people discovering what you didn't want to be spoken of.
* "YouWouldntShootMe!" -- [[BoomHeadshot *BOOM!*]] [[CallingYourAttacks Headshot!]] Alternatively, they don't have to; [[TechnicalPacifist there are plenty of methods they WOULD use]].
* "I'm going to retire after completing OneLastJob." -- [[{{Retirony}} Don't expect to survive the job.]] Alternatively, you DO survive the job and retire, only to [[TenMinuteRetirement come back out of retirement anyway]].
* "I'm just breaking balls!" -- You're going to get your ass kicked if you keep up that mouth, if not whacked.
* "I AM INVINCIBLE!" -- [[NotSoInvincibleAfterAll Right up until you said that, maybe.]]
* "[[BigNo Noooo!!]] The [[MeaningfulName ICARUS XCII]] was supposed to fly FOREVEEEEER!!!!" -- With that name, really?? [[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt What did you expect when you named it that]], [[WhatAnIdiot dummy?]]
* "This time I cannot miss!" -- Not only will you miss, you'll probably be [[HoistByHisOwnPetard killed by your own weapon]].
* "[[HomeByChristmas We'll have this war won in time for Christmas.]]" -- It's going to take a ''lot'' longer than you planned, if you even manage to win at all.
* "With these {{Death Trap}}s and EliteMooks in my lair, it is fool-proof. [[EvilGloating The Heroes can never reach me!]] [[EvilLaugh Muahahahahahaha!]]" -- Cue DungeonBypass. That ill-advised laugh also means they are just about to knock on the throne room door.
* "[[MajorInjuryUnderreaction Was that supposed to]] ''[[MajorInjuryUnderreaction hurt,]]'' [[MajorInjuryUnderreaction little man?!]]" -- {{P|unchPunchPunchUhOh}}ray [[SeeYouInHell you're]] [[YouAreAlreadyDead right.]]
* "The enemy is retreating!" -- They're actually circling around to flank you, [[DefensiveFeintTrap leading you back into a massive ambush]], or doing some other tactically nifty maneuver. Or they're finished [[WeNeedADistraction keeping you busy]] while another strike force carries out a mission that you're no longer in position to deal with. Alternately, they're getting out of the way before [[AlwaysABiggerFish something worse shows up]]. Take your pick; it's all ending badly.
* "Over my dead body!" / "You'll have it when you pry it from my cold, dead, lifeless fingers!" / [[GoThroughMe "You'll have to kill me first!"]] -- [[Webcomic/TheOrderOftheStick Terms accepted.]] *shot*
* "Now its power is ''mine''!!!" -- Seconds later, the villain is killed by the ArtifactOfDoom... Or, it takes them over and their power belongs to it. Whichever or both.
* "{{No man|OfWomanBorn}} can defeat me!" -- [[SamusIsAGirl "I AM NO MAN!"]] *[[ActionGirl Cue the]] CurbStompBattle*
** Alternately, [[EldritchAbomination your foe isn't even human]], and you just gave it the perfect excuse to [[SwallowedWhole eat you alive]].
* "[[AllAccordingToPlan Everything is going as planned.]]" -- Cue the SpannerInTheWorks and your plans are going right down the drain.
** Alternately, they ''are'' going as planned... [[OutGambitted just not the way 'you' planned]].
** Alternately, they ''are'' going the way ''you'' planned... better, even... [[GoneHorriblyRight unfortunately, that is NOT a good thing]].
*** [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Especially if what you wanted when making the earlier plan contradicts what you want now]].
* "IWishedYouWereDead" or [[RhetoricalRequestBlunder another]] [[PartingWordsRegret variant]]. -- BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor because when it happens [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone it will be your biggest regret.]]
* "YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive!" -- They do; you probably don't.
* "I can't WAIT to meet them! They're my greatest heroes!" -- Prepare to have [[BrokenPedestal that pedestal dashed from a great height]]. Or, less commonly, you just won't get to meet them.
* "There is no one else here" -- Cue someone entering the scene, possibly to kill you. Alternatively, you're about to find out ''why'' nobody else is there.
* Going into SarcasmMode for any reason -- the person your sarcastic snark was aimed at is SarcasmBlind, causing them to do exactly what you didn't want them to do.
* "[[BlasphemousBoast God Himself could not stop this from happening!]]" -- God loves a challenge; something ''will'' stop it at the worst moment possible.
* "IsThatTheBestYouCanDo" -- Nope, not by a looong shot.
* "Oh, it's you." -- At the NastyParty, you'll end up dead.
* "You wouldn't dare!" -- [[ThreatBackfire Would, could, and will.]]
* "I'd like to see you try it!" -- They'll do much more than "try".
* "Who's gonna make me?" -- This threat usually makes someone even ''more'' inclined to make you.
* "No matter what happens, don't do this." -- [[ForbiddenFruit The person always will.]] Unless, of course, [[ForbiddenChekhovsGun you later need them to for some reason]], in which case your previous instructions not to will be followed rigidly.
* "Yeah, right! You're crazy!" -- The [[CassandraTruth person wasn't crazy]] and [[TooDumbToLive you should have listened]].
* "I've got you all figured out." -- Nope. More like ''you're'' about to fall victim to a KansasCityShuffle and/or you're blind to CharacterDevelopment since you last met, what's actually BeneathTheMask, the possibility of ObfuscatingStupidity or just HiddenDepths. Whoops.
* "The boss will surely fire you for this mess!" -- The boss will instantly fall in love with the "mess", promote its creator and reprimand you for not thinking of it sooner. Or the boss will fire ''you'' for it instead.
** Alternatively, the boss dislikes the mess but ''less so'' than the [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong snitch who told him about it]] and gets reprimanded for "not being a team player."
* "I/We/They won't make that mistake again!" -- [[AesopAmnesia Oh yes you/they will]].
* "We didn't need that loser anyways!" -- Turns out you ''did'', and you've [[DividedWeFall set yourself up for failure]] by getting rid of them. Alternatively, if you're saying it to his/her face, ([[SpeakOfTheDevil or if they're eavesdropping]]) expect them to [[HeelFaceTurn join the]] [[FaceHeelTurn other side]] and make things utterly miserable for you.
* "I won't get [serious disease that's going around] because I got vaccinated last year/I'm the healthiest X in the world/I'm BornLucky/I never get sick/I come from a family line that never gets [disease]/I'm invincible/I have magic" -- you ''will'' [[SickEpisode get the illness]], and if it doesn't kill you it will at least make your talents void.
** A variant: "I'm not sick, it's just allergies", or "I'm not seriously ill, it's DefinitelyJustACold" -- even if you truly believe this and are not in denial, you probably are sick and it will come back to bite you.
* "X isn't invincible! I can beat X!" -- No, you can't, and you're about to [[CurbStompBattle witness firsthand]] [[OneManArmy just why]].
* "I can take care of myself!" -- You are now the bad guy's next target, and it ''will'' be too much for you to take on alone.
* "That was easy!" -- Hope you're prepared for the incoming EliteMook, final form, or second wave.
* "The volcano won't erupt, it's been dormant for centuries" -- [[ChekhovsVolcano it will erupt.]]
* "I've got him right where I want him!" -- Actually, he's got ''you'' right where he wants you.
* "I practically got away with this crime!" -- The [[LaserGuidedKarma laser will hit]] faster than you think, and even if it misses [[KarmaHoudiniWarranty that doesn't mean it would keep missing]] and if it does hit after a long time of being a KarmaHoudini it is often a long HumiliationConga.
* "You're trapped in here with us!" -- Expect a menacing reply of [[BadassBoast "No, YOU'RE trapped here with]] [[TheDreaded M]][[OneManArmy E]][[PersonOfMassDestruction ."]]
* "[[MuggingTheMonster Let's]] [[BullyingTheDragon bully this one person]], I know that he/she is an ExtremeDoormat." -- Pray that you're right [[TooDumbToLive because if you're wrong]] [[CurbStompBattle being sent to the curb]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown should]] [[ColdBloodedTorture be]] [[RasputinianDeath the]] [[NoKillLikeOverkill least]] [[FateWorseThanDeath of]] [[AndIMustScream your]] [[KilledOffForReal worries]].
* "At the first sign of trouble, we'll abort the mission." -- This guarantees that not only will the mission go south, but also that any attempt to abort the mission will fail -- either TheHero will disregard orders and press on or [[TigerByTheTail circumstances will trap him/her in the mission until he/she succeeds...or dies]].
* "I don't need your help!" -- [[CrossingTheBurntBridge You're gonna need their help]], and after you've eaten a huge serving of HumblePie. Just hope that they'll be willing to help you after being snubbed.
%%If you have time, please take time to put examples in alphabetical order. This page Administrivia/HowToAlphabetizeThings should help you with that.