Basic Trope: A character is asked to take a number while waiting in line. The number is much larger than the already-called number.
- Straight: At Trope Co., Bob is asked to take a number. His number is 81, but the receptionist calls for number 4.
- Exaggerated:
- Bob's number is 18274017207.
- The receptionist calls for number -274.
- Downplayed: The receptionist calls for number 63.
- Justified: Trope Co. is extremely busy.
- Inverted: Bob is the only one for service in Trope Co., so the receptionist calls for number 81 immediately after he takes it.
- Subverted:
- Bob groans at the number he's given, but the receptionist happens to call for his number right away.
- There are 6 receptionists, #4 is called by one of the 90-minutes-on-average receptionist, whereas Bob has a 5-minutes-on-average issue.
- Double Subverted:
- But Bob realises that he was holding his number upside-down.
- There is only one receptionist for the 5-minutes-on-average issues, currently dealing with #11, he still has to wait ~4 hours.
- Parodied:
- Bob's ticket has ∞ written on it.
- Bob waits a long time for his number, then the receptionists announces that Trope Co. is closed for today right after she announces Bob's number.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted:
- Trope Co. doesn't have this system.
- Bob is the only client in the waiting line, so he is asked to come through immediately.
- Enforced: The producers needed to get Bob the Strong out of the story to let Alice learn to depend on herself.
- Lampshaded: "I'm surprised they haven't run out of numbers."
- Exploited: Bob steals someone else's number.
- Defied: The machine is out of numbers.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed: Unfortunately, Bob leaves after waiting too long for his number to be called.
- Reconstructed: Fortunately for the company, the objects Bob wishes to ascertain are of too much personal value to wait for another day. Bob waits a little longer, and his number is called Just in Time.
Welcome to Trope Co.. Please take a number and we'll serve you shortly.
