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5[[quoteright:267:[[Franchise/{{Tintin}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tintin_can_explain.png]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:267:Think fast.]]
7
8->''"HEY, FRANK! Whaddaya say when your mom catches you in your room with a jar of peanut butter and the family dog?"''
9-->-- [[AudienceParticipation Audience member]] at ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''
10
11A character with a guilty conscience reacts to the appearance of an authority figure with a cry of "Wait! I can explain!" and launches into an explanation of how whatever-it-was wasn't their fault.
12
13Often, it turns out that the authority figure really wanted to talk to them about something else or is objecting to some [[HeyWait minor unrelated infraction]], and wouldn't even have known about whatever-it-was if they hadn't tried to explain.
14
15The next step in the evolution of this trope is also common: a parent will confront their kid in a vague way, and the kid will confess to whatever he or she has done. The parent either knew the kid was up to something, but had little idea of what the specifics were; or, the parent was just making a routine surprise inspection.
16
17Alternately, a phrase spoken by someone whose {{masquerade}}'s about to be blown who's about to make with some quick ClarkKenting to protect the secret.
18
19A DiscreditedTrope as the line is rarely played straight nowadays. And considering the number of times it's been parodied/subverted, it's well on its way to being a DeadHorseTrope. As such, a common subversion is for the character in question to deliver this line... then resignedly admit that no, actually they ''can't'' explain it.
20
21Often caused by the situation being NotWhatItLooksLike. See also the cousin trope NoodleIncident.
22
23----
24!!Examples:
25[[foldercontrol]]
26
27[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
28* Rika in ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' saying this in episode 24 when her grandmother gets the chance of seeing Renamon.
29* Mana in ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'' said this when her friend, Alice, caught her and Rikka's transformation.
30* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'': Keiichi to Satoko, during the Curse Killing Arc. Satoko arrives back on the scene just in time to see [[spoiler:Keiichi holding a bloody axe, with Rika's mutilated body on the ground next to him]]. Understandably, she's a little more than distressed at this. Keiichi proceeds to chase her and yell variations of this and NotWhatItLooksLike at her. [[spoiler:He really didn't do it. He was just holding the IdiotBall at the time]].
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Asian Animation]]
34* In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf: Joys of Seasons'' episode 4, Wolffy uses a variation of this phrase when Wolnie gets angry at him after she discovers her new cloak has a time bomb attached to it, which Weslie says was made by Wolffy:
35-->'''Wolnie:''' What on earth are you doing making a time bomb? Why are you trying to get rid of me?!
36-->'''Wolffy:''' I have a perfectly reasonable explanation.
37[[/folder]]
38
39[[folder:Comics]]
40* ''ComicBook/AltHero''. Captain Europa demands to know how Dynamique ended up a magazine covergirl when he specifically told her never to use her superhero outfit for commercial purposes. Dynamique says she can explain. Her explanation? She was offered a '''lot''' of money. Cue Captain Europa FacePalm.
41[[/folder]]
42
43[[folder:FanWorks]]
44* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' fanfic ''FanFic/OnceUponAFarmhouse'', Kirk says this word for word to Amanda when he realizes she caught him and Spock sneaking out. His explanation, however, is mostly, "It was my fault, not his."
45* In ''[[Fanfic/AftermathOfTheGames Integration]]'' Twilight learns that the human version of Bon Bon is named Sweetie Drops and tries to ask her about this. Bon Bon panics and makes a break for it, demonstrating her acrobatics and revealing she has Runes that let her resist magic before being caught by Twilight's guards. She has this reaction afterwards.
46* In ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/41986218 Home Movies]]'' (NSFW), Kairi finds a box marked "Sex Ed" and questions Sora about it. Sora recalls that Tidus gave it to him after he returned to the Destiny Islands after ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', supposedly to help him catch up on a Sex Ed class, but he never needed to open the box. When he does, it turns out to be a PornStash. Sora freaks out about opening it in front of Kairi and reflexively stammers "I can explain!", to which Kairi calmly points out that he just ''did'', and that he very obviously hadn't asked for it or known about it.
47[[/folder]]
48
49
50[[folder:Film — Animated]]
51* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' just after his treasonous plot against the Sultan has been revealed, Jafar tries saying "All this can be explained." Exactly ''how'' is a mystery for the ages, since absolutely no-one is willing to listen to him by that point.
52* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/{{Balto}}'': Upon being exposed as the dirty, callous liar he truly is, Steele tries to justify his actions, but the others won't have any of it and they storm out.
53-->'''Steele''': Okay, okay, I can explain. You see, you guys weren't there, so you don't--wait a minute, guys! Wait just a second! Please?\
54'''Random Dog''': GET LOST! (''they slam the door in Steele's face'')
55* In ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'', Baloo reluctantly gives in to Bagheera's insistence that Mowgli go back to the man-village. He walks off with Mowgli, who has no inkling as to what's going on. Then Baloo prematurely lets it slip and then tries to explain himself when Mowgli reacts in horror.
56-->'''Baloo:''' Look, Mowgli, I've been trying to tell you. I've been telling ''all morning'' to tell you: I've got to take you back to the man-village.\
57'''Mowgli:''' ''(horrified) The man-village?!''\
58'''Baloo:''' Now, look, kid, I can explain--\
59'''Mowgli:''' But-- But-- But you said we were partners!\
60'''Baloo:''' Now, believe me, I--\
61'''Mowgli:''' ''(pointing accusingly)'' You're just like... ''like old Bagheera!''\
62'''Baloo:''' ''(offended)'' Now just a minute! That's going too far!
63* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shaun the Sheep}} Movie'', Trumper tries to explain to the Farmer about his intention after almost succeeding in throwing Shaun to the quarry. This only ends up as a distraction as the Bull of the farm pushes Trumper on the other edge of the quarry.
64* ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'': When the Mitchells try to infiltrate PAL's base, she tries to flush them out by revealing what they truly think of each other, and she screens footage of Katie confiding in Aaron that she didn't mean it when she told her father she believed in him and was only manipulating him to get her future back. Rick is [[EtTuBrute horrified and betrayed]] upon hearing this, and all poor Katie can get out is "Dad, let me explain."
65* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateAvengers'' has Bruce Banner's plot of using the Super Soldier Serum on himself so he could control the Hulk has been discovered so he gives out this explanation before being pinned down by Nick Fury.
66[[/folder]]
67
68[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
69* The [[Film/Annie1982 1982]] and [[Film/Annie1999 1999]] film versions of ''Annie'' include the scene from the musical where Miss Hannigan defends herself regarding Annie's escape attempt, thinking that Grace Farrell came to the orphanage to investigate that incident.
70* Played for laughs in ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' where the 'explanation' turns out to be [[HurricaneOfExcuses a series of increasingly unlikely excuses]]. Amazingly enough they do the job and let the brothers make their escape.
71* ''Film/DarkShadows'': When Barnabas catches Dr. Hoffman giving herself a transfusion of his blood, she quotes this trope verbatim.
72* ''Film/TheDeparted'' when Maddy, the psychiatrist, finds out Sullivan working for Costello.
73-->'''Maddy''': You know, I thought I was the liar.
74-->'''Sullivan''': Hey, I can explain that!
75* Subverted in ''Film/IronMan1'' when Pepper walks in on Tony apparently being molested by robots:
76-->'''Tony Stark''': Let's face it, this [[NoodleIncident isn't the worst thing you've caught me doing.]]
77* ''Film/TheMask'':
78-->'''Stanley Ipkiss''': Wait, I can explain everything!\
79'''Lt. Kellaway''': Oh yeah? You can explain everything? ''[gets the rubber mask from the jacket]'' Explain ''this''.\
80'''Stanley Ipkiss''': Um...
81:: It should be noted, that was a ''fake'' mask the BigBad slipped into Stanley's jacket to make him look like a liar.
82* Said by [[Creator/TimCurry Dr. Frank N Furter]] in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' before he sings his final song ("I'm Going Home"). Unfortunately for him, Riff Raff and Magenta don't buy his story and promptly shoot him.
83* Subverted in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects'', where [[spoiler:Verbal's attempts to evade giving information to the police turn out to be an elaborate strategy to get the police to believe him when he actually does provide (wrong) information]].
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Literature]]
87* ''Literature/MakingMoney'' features Moist von Lipwig's first words to Lord Vetinari when he has been summoned as "look, I can explain." Vetinari's actually summoned him for something else entirely, but Moist does have to spend some time why there were mongooses in the posting boxes. (Someone had come up with the brilliant idea of SummonBiggerFish to take care of snakes, who were introduced to eat the toads, who were introduced to eat the snails, who were eating the glue on the postage stamps.)
88* In the ''Literature/HankTheCowdog'' book "The Case of the Measled Cowboy", Hank begins to rehearse his explanation to the woman of the house, Sally May, for the tremendous mess that he and her son made in her absence. Subverted in that he admits he can't get any farther than "I can explain."
89[[/folder]]
90
91[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
92* Much British humor (''Series/FawltyTowers'', ''Series/MrBean'', and ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'' being prime examples) is based on this sort of thing, although the three examples are set about it in different ways. Basil Fawlty comes up with an explanation that is even more unbelievable than the truth, Bean just pretends nothing is happening, and Bertie Wooster gets too nervous to explain.
93* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'':
94** When Sara Lance's ex-girlfriend Nyssa al Ghul of the League of Assassins turns up to [[{{Yandere}} claim her]], Sara starts to give this trope to her current lover Oliver Queen, only for Oliver (no stranger to [[DatingCatwoman complex relationships]]) to state that she doesn't have to--his only concern is for Sara's safety. At the end of the episode Sara tries to explain where [[BackFromTheDead she's been for the past six years]] to her sister Laurel, who cuts her off with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and GetOut
95** When Tommy Merlyn discovers Oliver is the Vigilante, the fact that his best friend is someone completely different from the man he'd known all his life, let alone a multiple murderer, makes him rather bitter. When Oliver offers to explain the how and why Tommy just cuts him off, saying he can no longer believe anything that Oliver says.
96* ''Series/{{Blackadder}}'':
97** ''Blackadder II'':
98*** "[[Recap/BlackadderS2E5Beer Beer]]" has a gag where Blackadder is entertaining his fiercely Puritanical aunt and uncle while simultaneously holding a drinking competition. Things seem to be going well, until one of the drunks (dressed as a monk) bursts into the room, vomits in the fireplace, and leaves, saying "Great booze-up, Edmund!" When asked if he can explain, Blackadder spends the next minute staring into space and working his jaw as he tries to come up with an explanation, then finally says "...Yes I can." And he does. Incidentally, the man really was a monk, although one of extremely ill repute. Considering that puritans couldn't stand monastical system, that probably didn't do Edmund any favours, either.
99*** Later in the same episode Blackadder returns to the room, completely 'faced, wearing a cardinal's hat, fake breasts and a feather up his bum. When his Aunt demands he explains himself, he just pauses a second and replies "....I ''can't''. Not just like that." However, he goes on to explain that he can't explain ''himself'', he is too complicated a person.
100** ''Blackadder Goes Forth'':
101*** In "[[Recap/BlackadderS4E3MajorStar Major Star]]", Blackadder assuming that his commanding officer has realized his glamorous showgirl is actually a "strapping six-footer from the rough end of the trenches":
102---->'''Blackadder:''' I can explain everything, sir!\
103'''Melchett:''' Can you, Blackadder? Can you?\
104'''Blackadder:''' Well... no, sir.
105*** And of course, he thinks Blackadder is saying he can't explain "the mystery of love" and he remains blissfully unaware that the woman he loves is one of his underlings.
106*** In "[[Recap/BlackadderS4E2CorporalPunishment Corporal Punishment]]", Blackadder has been reprieved from his death sentence by George's uncle, and then learnt that George and Baldrick got drunk and never actually ''asked'' his uncle to do so.
107---->'''Baldrick:''' I think I can explain, sir.\
108'''Blackadder:''' Can you, Baldrick?\
109''[{{Beat}}]''\
110'''Baldrick:''' No.
111* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': When Oz cheats on Willow in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E6WildAtHeart Wild a Heart]]", his attempt to explain gets a curt response from Buffy. "Now would be a good time for your [[TheStoic trademark stoicism]]."
112* ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'':
113** Whenever Doña Florinda assumes Don Ramón did or tried to do something to her son, she won't listen to whatever explanation he's got to offer.
114** Also, Don Ramón once told his daughter Professor Jirafales was coming to visit him. Her immediate reaction was loudly pleading him not to believe anything Professor Jirafales says. Don Ramón asked her what he'd say and she realized she spoke too much.
115* ''Series/{{Community}}'':
116** Jeff when noticed by one of his former lawyer buddies, has to come up with an explanation on the spot.
117--->'''Jeff:''' I can explain. I'm a teacher. Wait, that's worse than the truth. I'm a student.
118** Later in the same episode, Troy says it verbatim to a janitor who catches him in someone else's office. Then he plays for time by insisting "Let me explain!" to the still silent janitor, and then stands there awkwardly, unable to think of anything, until Annie comes in and chloroforms him.
119** Also, in the BottleEpisode, when everyone discovers [[ItMakesSenseInContext Abed's log of the girls' periods]] and begin to get distressed:
120--->'''Abed:''' I can explain! ''[beat]'' Oh, I thought you'd keep yelling over me. Okay, I can explain...[[note]]In keeping with the more realistic tone this set, his explanation is heard, and accepted to not have been malicious or intentional, and he is forgiven.[[/note]]
121* Subverted in ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' when Susan accuses her ex Patrick of filming them in bed together and keeping the video. Patrick responds with "I can explain.....Yes I did".
122* The ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'' pilot episode has this when the former caught the latter dressing up like a woman:
123-->'''Drake:''' Oh my God!\
124'''Josh:''' I can explain!
125* The opening skit of the 2006 MediaNotes/{{Emmy|Award}}s had host Creator/ConanOBrien wandering onto the sets of several TV shows. The final bit had him walking into an empty house, only to find himself in the middle of a "To Catch A Predator" segment and protesting to Chris Hansen, "This is very easy to explain."
126* ''Series/FatherTed'':
127** Inverted when Ted is caught with a stolen whistle and ''attempts'' to explain everything with a hastily-improvised sob story about a crippled boy attempting to train a horse to win the Grand National. He stops halfway through when Dougal reveals that they found out the real culprit while Ted was out of the room.
128** Played entirely straight, however, in "Are You Right There, Father Ted?", featuring the collector of Nazi memorabilia who has left his collection to Ted in his will for various farcical reasons - a collection Mrs Doyle has put up in the house, believing it to be the expected delivery of new furniture - just before Ted returns from the pub with the inhabitants of the island's Chinatown. Uses the seemingly common "I can explain everything... Actually, no, I can't" delivery.
129* ''Series/{{Forever|2014}}'': In "The Ecstasy of Agony" Jo comes to arrest a dominatrix only to find Henry "tied up" in her office. Henry executes this trope only for Jo to tell him he doesn't have to.
130* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': When Will and Carlton venture into Jazz's rough neighborhood and Carlton becomes "hip", Will dreams about him going home like this and declaring his intent to drop out of school. Will rushes in, feebly insisting, "I can explain", only to have Phil being strangling him.
131* ''Series/{{Friends}}''
132-->'''Phoebe:''' Oh my God, you're getting a massage? You never let me massage you!\
133'''Monica:''' Phoebe, I can explain! You see... God, I gotta get better at lying.
134* Almost a catchphrase for Major Nelson on ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie'', to the point where he once said, "I'm not sure what I did, sir, but I'm positive I have an explanation for it."
135* Blurted by Nate in an episode of ''Series/{{Leverage}}''. When his ex-wife finds him after he came to Kiev when he heard she was in trouble, he speaks this line. It's also used in the first season finale when his ex-wife finds out that he was spying on her. WordOfGod says that he used the phrase a lot during their marriage.
136* It happens in the ''Series/MacGyver1985'' episode "Partners". Flashing back to Mac's first adventure with Pete Thornton, the setup is that Mac has been asked to look after his friend Jack's cab (a cab that Jack [[CompanionCube regards as almost his own son]]). Sadly, one of the fares [=MacGyver=] picks up is Thornton, who leads him into a pursuit of the villain Murdoc, in the course of which, the car meets with an... incident. Then, [=MacGyver=] has to break the news to Jack, who decided he was going to sell the cab to buy a cargo aircraft...
137-->'''Jack Dalton:''' [=MacGyver=], this is me, this is Jack, this is your buddy. Give it to me straight. You know how important my cab is to me; it's my future. You scratched it, didn't you?\
138'''[=MacGyver=]:''' [[ExactWords Well, no... not exactly]].\
139'''Jack Dalton:''' Okay, a dent; you put a dent in it.\
140'''[=MacGyver=]:''' Listen, Jack--\
141'''Jack Dalton:''' I can live with a dent. Tell me it's a dent.\
142'''[=MacGyver=]:''' It's a little more than a dent. Mr. Thorton and I were riding in your cab chasing this woman, who was actually a man who had a guy with a bazooka waiting and he blew up your cab.\
143'''Jack Dalton:''' Hold it. Run that back. Run that by me again.\
144'''[=MacGyver=]:''' Um, Mr. Thorton and I were riding in your cab and we're chasing this woman...\
145'''Jack Dalton:''' No, no, no -- just the last part.\
146'''[=MacGyver=]:''' Two guys with bazookas blew up your cab.\
147'''Jack Dalton:''' They blew up my cab with a bazooka?\
148'''[=MacGyver=]:''' Two bazookas. But I can explain.\
149'''Jack Dalton:''' [[SarcasmMode Bazookas... you can explain bazookas]]?\
150''[[[SarcasmBlind MacGyver nods]]]''\
151''[{{Beat}}]''\
152'''Jack Dalton:''' [[SuddenlyShouting YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN BAZOOKAS!]]\
153''[Jack lunges out of his hospital bed to [[BerserkButton strangle]] [=MacGyver=], forgetting that he has two broken legs. It ends about as well as you'd expect.]''
154* In the ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode "The Heart Attack", George is in the hospital, thinking he's had a heart attack. After learning from the doctor that he didn't, [[ComedicSociopathy Jerry decides to mess with George]], leading to this:
155-->'''George:''' Kill me now. I'm begging you. Let's just get it over with. Be a pal. Just take the pillow and put it over my face.\
156'''Jerry:''' ''[nonchalant]'' Well, uh, what, kinda like this? ''[[[VorpalPillow forces the pillow down on George's face]]]''\
157'''George:''' WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY?! ''[Elaine walks in]''\
158'''Elaine:''' JERRY! ''[Jerry stops]''\
159'''Jerry:''' ''[mock guilt]'' Elaine... what are ''you'' doing here? ''[removes pillow]''\
160-'''George:''' Jerkoff.
161* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
162** Lex Luthor, in an attempt to convince a female friend that she deserves better, got her to a nightclub, where she found the man she is engaged with when he is supposed to be on a business trip. The guy says the line repeatedly. To quote a reviewer, "If you are just going to say that, it is clear that you can't explain s***."
163** When Chloe and Clark are both [[NotHimself not themselves]], they do some intense making out right under Lana's nose. When Chloe strips Clark, the [[spoiler:red kryptonite]] is removed and he is back to normal. He says this to Lana who slams the door in his face after NotWhatItLooksLike. He can't explain anyway as he must save Chloe before she get herself killed [[spoiler:as some parasite makes her dangerously impulsive]], and Clark can't tell Lana about the [[spoiler:red kryptonite]] anyway.
164** Lana once says this when Lex finds out she stole his car. There is absolutely nothing she could explain, really.
165** Jimmy says this when Chloe, who is at the time his girlfriend, walk in on [[Characters/SupergirlTheCharacter Kara]] and him alone but not doing anything suspicious. Chloe's paranoia is somewhat justified given her [[spoiler:meteor infection]].
166** Clark tells this to Lois when he "accidentally" left her in the rain for three hours.
167** And again in "Echo" when he didn't show up [[spoiler:for a date]].
168** And ''again'' in "Escape" when Lois caught him [[spoiler:in the shower with a naked Chloe]].
169* ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode "Upgrades". The protagonists are specifically told to remain on base by the general and promptly disobey their orders due to [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum their superpower-giving and super-stupid making armbands]]. This leads to the following exchange:
170-->'''General:''' Can you explain to me why several witnesses put you people at a restaurant in town last night?\
171'''[[AdventurerArchaeologist Daniel]]''' (interrupting Jack): Sir, I can explain everything! (Pauses) No, I can't.
172* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
173** A priest disturbs Sam as he's performing a séance in the church basement.
174---> '''Sam:''' I can explain… actually, no I can't.
175** A couple of Hunters discover Sam's role in starting the Apocalypse and declare they're going to blow his head off. Sam says he can explain, then flounders because he is in fact guilty as hell. So they kill him. [[DeathIsCheap Again.]]
176
177* ''Series/UFO1970'': Straker spends a lot of time away from home getting S.H.A.D.O up and running, but can't tell his wife what he's up to because his organisation is top secret and may [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade kill anyone who knows too much.]] His wife [[MistakenForCheating suspects him of having an affair]], and hires a private eye who photographs Straker with one of his BridgeBunnies. On being confronted with the 'evidence' and a demand for a divorce, Straker is so desperate he's willing to tell her everything, but she cuts him off by [[TooMuchInformation saying she doesn't want to know]], thinking he's referring to his non-existent affair.
178[[/folder]]
179
180[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
181* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' used this trope when Calvin's mother went for an interview with his teacher, Miss Wormwood. Calvin begins packing a suitcase to run away. When his mother comes back and tries to talk to him, she unknowingly {{Perp Sweat}}s him and he panics as he tries to explain what he thinks Miss Wormwood told her:
182-->'''Calvin's Mom''': Calvin, I...
183-->'''Calvin''': Yike! You're home! I didn't even finish pack...that is...um...lies! Everything Miss Wormwood said about me was a lie! She just doesn't like me! She hates little boys! It's not my fault! I'm not to blame! She told you about the {{noodle|Incident}}s, right? It wasn't me! Nobody saw me! I was framed! I wouldn't do anything like that! I'm innocent, I tell you!
184-->'''Calvin's Mom''': What noodles?
185-->'''Calvin''': Oh! Uh...noodles? Ha ha...you must have heard wrong. I didn't say noodles.
186* ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot''
187** In one strip Peter punches a guy at school for making a joke about Denise and is told his parents will be called:
188--->'''Peter''' (''worried''): Hi.
189--->'''Andy''': Peter, the school called me today.
190--->'''Peter''': Look, I know what you're going to say. Fighting is wrong. I know that. It was a momentary lapse. It won't happen again. I'll have to serve detention, but Mr. Krimpshaw says he may not put it on my permanent record. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was an idiot, all right?!
191--->'''Andy''': They called to say someone found your wallet.
192--->'''Peter''' (''thinking''): "Was" nothing.
193--->'''Andy''': Now, then. What's all this about a fight?...
194** In another instance, Peter, after his mother looks under his mattress and tells him she found something, insists that [[IReadItForTheArticles he reads the magazines there for the articles]] until she shows him that she found his baseball glove there.
195[[/folder]]
196
197[[folder:Radio]]
198* Parodied in ''Radio/{{Nebulous}}'', where Nebulous's underling's try to explain their attempted DyingDeclarationOfLove, but Nebulous simply shrugs the explanation off, saying "if you got drunk and indulged in foreplay, I'm sure you had a damn good reason."
199* In practically every episode of ''NavyLark'', CPO Pertwee is caught out ... exclaims, "I can explain!" ... and often does.
200[[/folder]]
201
202[[folder:Theater]]
203* ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'', the musical: Shortly after Annie's attempt to escape from Miss Hannigan's orphanage, a woman arrives and announces that she has been sent to talk to Miss Hannigan by the orphanage's board of directors. Miss Hannigan is in full self-justifying flight before the woman has a chance to explain that actually she's just come to see about borrowing one of the orphans.
204* ''Theatre/TheLionKing'': Most productions have Scar's last lines as this [[spoiler: before he's [[FamilyUnfriendlyDeath eaten alive by the hyenas]]]].
205[[/folder]]
206
207[[folder:Video Games]]
208* The trailer for ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''''s raid instance, Ulduar, has Rhonin meeting the human king Varian. However, Rhonin had also invited Thrall and Garrosh to meet with him. Problem is, Thrall and Garrosh show up earlier than expected and when the Varian and Thrall see each other, Rhonin reacts this way. He sounded suspiciously as if he was caught cheating on his wife.
209* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' manages to [[PlayedForDrama do this seriously]] as Paragon!Shepard insists that they can explain why [[spoiler:[[NotWhatItLooksLike they are holding three quarters of the Citadel Council at gunpoint during an active terrorist attack]].]]
210[[/folder]]
211
212[[folder:Webcomics]]
213* In ''[[http://tmi-comic.com/ Too Much Information]]'', when Ace (who occasionally [[TheAce live up to his name]]) is making out with a strappin' Scottish lass on the doorstep, and her grandmother walks in on them, his quick "I can explain!" is answered by a dry "Be fun tae see ye try..." before the CoolOldLady reveals that she's got no objections whatsoever.
214* In ''Webcomic/KevinAndKell'', Corrie [[AvertedTrope narrowly avoids falling into this twice]] regarding her being a sheep disguised as a wolf. When [[http://www.kevinandkell.com/2000/kk0909.html Fiona mentions that she knows her secret]]. Corrie assumes that Fiona knows her true species, and is about to remove her wolfskin when Fiona tells her that she actually "knows" that she's Ralph's daughter (which turns out to be true, unbeknownst to either). Later on, [[http://www.kevinandkell.com/2002/kk0110.html when the power goes out at a slumber party]], Fiona and Rhonda tell her she's hiding something, but before she can articulate an answer, they say that she's wearing ''Bruno's sheepskin'', (he sometimes wears her on his back, but later wears a skin made out of her wool).
215* ''Webcomic/NotInventedHere'': Desmond and Owen are caught in the middle of a wooded area, in a motor home, wearing hazard suits, surrounded by cough medicine containers. Fortunately, Desmond's explanation is taken as truth.
216* Nicky says this once he is discovered [[http://www.thewretchedoneswebcomic.com/?comic=page-138b burying two dead bodies]] in The Wretched Ones.
217* Subverted in ''Webcomic/NerfNow'', a chain of implausible events conspire to have Jane and newcomer Victoire (older sister of [[MsFanservice Anne-Marie]]) in their underwear, wrestling. Jane's girlfriend, [[OnlySaneMan Morgan]] senses [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling something is amiss]] and [[http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/2306 walks in on them.]] And, rather than jump to the obvious, but incorrect, conclusion, Morgan immediately (correctly) guesses they were fighting over the one good controller.
218--> '''Victoire:''' How did you know what happened??
219--> '''Morgan:''' C'mon, [[GenreSavvy this bullshit trope]] happens every time someone step [sic] too close to a girl in underwear.
220* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', during the non-canon Pokemon parody arc when trainer Charlotte comes across Nanase and Justin [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-17 hiding in the bushes naked.]] The audience, having read the previous comics, knows that Justin's Gracemander is drying everyone's wet clothes with her fire breath, but Charlotte draws the obvious conclusion. Either Nanase or Justin (it's unclear as the dialogue comes from off panel) says, "There are so many reasons this [[NotWhatItLooksLike isn't whatever it looks like!]]" In the [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-18 next strip]], they actually do explain themselves.
221* In ''Webcomic/SpyingWithLana'', one mission has Lana infiltrate a laboratory to steal a valuable catalyst being developed, which she accomplishes by sleeping with one of the scientists, Dr. Leskinen. The head of the laboratory, Dr. Makkinen, finds security tapes showing Lana and Leskinen having sex and figures everything out. Leskinen claims he can explain everything, only to restate what happened and gets demoted to janitor.
222-->'''Leskinen:''' You see, I brought her into the lab to have sex with her. Then at some point she must have stolen the catalyst.
223-->''[BeatPanel, cut to Leskinen being kicked the door while holding a mop and bucket]''
224-->'''Dr. Makkinen:''' While I'm cleaning up this mess, you can clean the lavatories, '''Janitor''' Leskinen!!
225-->'''Leskinen:''' I must have explained it wrong...
226[[/folder]]
227
228[[folder:Web Original]]
229* ''Website/TheOnion'' riffs on it [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/philandering-string-theorist-can-explain-everythin,5040/ with a pun]].
230* A high-rated comment from [[https://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=TDhJdGwPPx0 a YouTube upload]] of the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E3TheTicketMaster "The Ticket Master"]]:
231-->"When My mom walked in, I switched to my Porn tab because it was [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown easier to explain]]"
232* WebAnimation/ASDFmovie: [[spoiler:Episode 9 features a short of a woman cheerfully announcing her pregnancy to her girlfriend/wife. Her smile drops and she says the trope after noticing her lover's expression.]]
233* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Krilin tells Future Trunks that after being hit by so many strong people, he can tell when people are holding back. Specifically, [[spoiler:Perfect Cell]] and Trunks himself.
234-->'''Future Trunks''': ({{beat}}) Okay, I can explain.
235-->'''Krillin''': I don't think you can.
236[[/folder]]
237
238[[folder:Western Animation]]
239* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}''. In "The Boy Savior", Silco has to use this line while his PsychoForHire Jinx is jabbing him in the face with his own hypodermic needle, angry over how Silco failed to tell Jinx her sister was NotQuiteDead. Fortunately Silco is able to do so to her satisfaction.
240* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'':
241** Danny's response after the strange events of the FreeTheFrogs episode? "I can explain... [[SubvertedTrope actually, I really can't.]]"
242** When his family (mostly Jazz) comments on his odd behavior, Danny's Response is "ITS A LIE, [[BlatantLies I'M NOT]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial A GHOST!]]" Thankfully, Jazz just figured he'd gotten a girlfriend.
243* Twice in the episode "Prehibernation Week" of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', an ordinarily normal-looking fish is revealed to apparently wear Osh-Kosh overalls, a beanie, and a giant lollipop underneath his regular clothes (well, okay, the second time Sandy just ripped up a building from its foundation and revealed the fish in the kiddy clothes, but anyway). One short pause later, the fish responds with "Uhh, I can explain..."
244* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': The HalloweenEpisode featured Jake having a Halloween party and inviting both humans and magical creatures. Unfortunately, it was just when the Dragon Council decided it was his turn to make a surprise inspection.
245* In the ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'' episode "Dune Quixote", Aladdin finds himself kissing Sadira with Jasmine standing nearby. On impulse, he quickly starts to say he can explain before realizing that he ''can't'' explain. (Sadira had cast a spell on Aladdin that ended up going horribly wrong, trapping Aladdin in a bizarre fantasy, and only ending when he kissed Sadira, which Jasmine reluctantly allowed in order to get Aladdin back to normal.)
246* This was somewhat of a catchphrase for Jon Arbuckle in ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', as he was prone to being hated on by people for making catastrophic mistakes thus forcing Garfield to make everything right.
247* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', Jack is caught violating his curfew by his mother, June, and tries to explain that he is really a contact for an alien race engaged in a war on Earth. June [[CassandraTruth doesn't buy it]]. Later on, she's kidnapped by MECH and Airachnid, forcing Jack and Arcee to rescue her. As Jack is trying to free her, he says he can explain everything--then stops, and goes, "Wait, I already did."
248* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'': In "Send in the Clones", when the town confronts Jimmy about the stuff his clones had done.
249-->'''Jimmy:''' I can explain! ''(four hours later)'' …and that's what happened.
250* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
251** In "Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment" Homer smuggles beer during Prohibition by hiding it in bowling balls. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnELqa8vgj0 He invokes this trope]] when confronted by Marge.
252--->''I can explain Marge, please let me explain! Oh why won't you let me explain?!''
253** In "Bonfire of the Manatees", Marge prepares to leave Homer when she sees another one of his escapades, this being shooting a porno in the house, and says "I can explain." Marge stops to hear what he has to say, [[DiggingYourselfDeeper then leaves when Homer says it came about when he owed the mafia money]].
254* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': The first episode featuring [[MasterOfDisguise the Chameleon]] ends with Mary-Jane angry at Peter because "he" promised to come to her play and then stood her up.
255-->'''Peter:''' ''(chasing after her)'' Mary-Jane, wait! I can explain! Well - at least I ''think'' I can explain...OK, maybe I - maybe I ''can't'' explain, but...
256* In ''WesternAnimation/StormHawks'' episode [[VillainEpisode "Power Grab"]], Master Cyclonis leaves Ravess in charge of Cyclonia while she leaves on personal business, and when she gets back, almost every Cylonian commander- Ravess included- is stuck in a prison cell while Leugey is on the throne acting leader.
257-->'''Ravess:''' [[ThisIsGoingToSuck I can explain...]]\
258'''Cyclonis:''' [[LittleMissSnarker I'm sure. It's the one thing you're good at.]]
259[[/folder]]

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