History Main / TheCrocIsTicking

* Zaraki Kenpachi in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', arguably a predator, deliberately put bells on his hair to invoke this trope.

A subtrope of HellIsThatNoise, and a low-tech sister trope to SensorSuspense. Sister trope to ISophagus, may be related to WhyAmITicking. When someone tries to deliberately invoke this, it's WhoWillBellTheCat.

** The Soviet equivalent were the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Witches Night Witches]]: (female) pilots who flew bombing missions by gliding over the enemy lines at night, so the only sound heard was the engine while taking off, [[ParanoiaFuel then silence]].

A subtrope of HellIsThatNoise, and a low-tech sister trope to SensorSuspense. Sister trope to ISophagus, may be related to WhyAmITicking. When someone tries to deliberately invoke this, it's WhoWilLBellTheCat.

A subtrope of HellIsThatNoise, and a low-tech sister trope to SensorSuspense. Sister trope to ISophagus, may be related to WhyAmITicking

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* While the noise doesn't actually warn anyone, the sound of a victim's cell phone can be heard ringing from inside the ''[[SyFyChannelOriginalMovie Piranhaconda]]'' as it slithers through the jungle.

* ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In ''Triss'', a constant source of NightmareFuel is something that's only heralded by a sickly sweet smell, and causes even two certified badasses like Skipper and Log-A-Log to run like hell. It turns out to be three huge adders conjoined near their tails in early age near the tails, the smell coming from their decaying flesh.

* In Film/JurassicParkIII'', a ''Spinosaurus'' eats a man who's carrying a satellite phone. The phone is later heard ringing just before another attack, and again from a gigantic pile of dinosaur poop. [[GeniusBonus Bonus points]] since the ''Spinosaurus'' may have actually been the dinosaur equivalent of a crocodile.

* In WWII, the German Stuka dive bomber had so-called "Jericho Trumpet" sirens (known on this wiki as the StukaScream), driven by the propeller when diving. This let everyone know that ThoseWackyNazis were about to ruin your day, and that there was nothing you could do about it.

* In ''Film/KongSkullIsland'', when a Skullcrawler eats a camera. Just before it attacks again, the humans can not only hear the camera flickering, but they can see the flashes as well.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', a ''Spinosaurus'' eats a man who's carrying a satellite phone. The phone is later heard ringing just before another attack, and again from a gigantic pile of dinosaur poop. [[GeniusBonus Bonus points]] since the ''Spinosaurus'' may have actually been the dinosaur equivalent of a crocodile.

* This is invoked in both the Disney version of ''Disney/PeterPan'', and the live-action film ''Film/{{Hook}}''. Particular to ''Hook'', Peter and the Lost Boys taunt Captain Hook with a bunch of clocks, exploiting his deathly fear of them.

* One particularly tragic example was invoked in certain regions of India. "Untouchables" (people of "unclean" castes, such as garbage collectors or leatherworkers) were generally despised, and people feared that even interacting with them would corrupt one's spiritual energy. Therefore, when Untouchables left their segregated communities and entered areas with other people, they had to sound a wooden clapper to warn others to get out of the way.

* One particularly TearJerker-tastic example was invoked in parts of India. "Untouchables" (people of "unclean" castes, such as garbage collectors or leatherworkers) were generally despised, and people feared that even interacting with them would corrupt one's spiritual energy. Therefore, when Untouchables left their segregated communities and entered areas with other people, they had to sound a wooden clapper to warn others to get out of the way.

-->--'''Peter Pan''', ''Film/{{Hook}}''

* Throughout the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' games, the protagonists have radioes which emit static whenever monsters are near--though it's never clear when exactly will they pop up.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}},'' a second and a half before a Creeper explodes, you can hear the hiss of gunpowder igniting inside its body. This is especially scary because other than that hiss, Creepers are essentially silent. Meaning you have no warning other than a second and a half of hissing before the Creeper explodes, destroying you (or at best severely depleting your health) and whatever you were building at the moment.

* In WWII, the German Stuka dive bomber had attached the so-called "Jerico Trumpet" Sirens, Driven by the propeller when diving. This let everyone know that the Nazi war machine was about to ruin their day, and that there was nothing you could do about it.

* In ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', a predatory dinosaur eats a man who's carrying a satellite phone. The phone is later heard ringing just before it attacks, and again from a gigantic pile of dinosaur poop.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' has Elaine using this technique by giving a container of Tic-Tacs to an employee who sneaks up on her in inconvenient situations.

[[AC: Fan works]]
* In the ''{{Discworld}}'' tales of Creator/AAPessimal, any manifestation of the crocodile-headed Great God Offler is always accompanied by a muffled but audible ticking. Offler does not like to talk about this very much.

A subtrope of HellIsThatNoise. Sister trope to ISophagus, may be related to WhyAmITicking

[[AC: Fan works}}