Played with in an episode of Scrubs. A new intern thinks that the Janitor isn't tormenting her because they're friends, but it's quickly revealed that he just doesn't think she can take it. This greatly disturbs her.
Not an example of this trope (and also misses the punchline, which is that he did know she could take it, which is why he reserved a special torment for her by saying she couldn't).
Not an example of this trope (and also misses the punchline, which is that he did know she could take it, which is why he reserved a special torment for her by saying she couldn't).