# What is the best throw away line **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474 "2004-07-16T20:04:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/1 "2004-07-16T20:04:56Z")
I’ve heard the term “throw away line” many times but I can not find a definition any where. As I understand it, its a comedic line in a movie or TV show that is not a punchline. Its thrown out there without any set up or build up. It may go against the usual conventions for timing a joke in a scene. Sometimes it is purposely _de_ emphasized. If you miss the line the scene will work just as well. The exact opposite of “I’ll have what shes having” from When Harry Met Sally. When its done right I think its one of the best techniques in comedy. Most of the time you get blugeoned over the head with punchlines. I’ll give one. In the Seinfeld episode _The Voice_ George’s company is trying to make him quit and he won’t budge. He is explaining the torture they are putting him through and he says matter of factly “Tomorrow they are putting in asbestos.” That line kills me everytime. If it was there as a punch line it wouldn’t work so well but as a throw away its perfect. In case you are scoring at [home](http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheVoice.htm) . Any more? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/2 "2004-07-16T20:27:43Z")
Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. Women should be obscene and not heard. Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms. From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it. Either this man is dead or my watch has stopped. -by Groucho Marx Bob Hope had a bunch, too. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/3 "2004-07-16T20:35:51Z")
I would put one-liners in a different category than throw-aways. Groucho is closer but Hope’s lines were mostly calculated and timed one-liners and punch-lines. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/4 "2004-07-16T20:36:13Z")
From _Ghostbusters_ “Shh! Listen! Do you smell that?” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/5 "2004-07-16T21:50:54Z")
[http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/throwaway](http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/throwaway) > [@](#): > > 1. spoken with deliberate underemphasis; as, a throwaway line in a play. I think this line of Sybil’s from _Fawlty Towers_ qualifies. She says it relatively quietly: > [@](#): > > Basil: (to Manuel) Let me tell you something. Depression is a very bad thing. It’s like a virus. If you don’t stamp on it it spreads throughout the mind, and then one day you wake up in the morning, and you…you can’t face life any more. > > Sybil: And then you open a hotel. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/6 "2004-07-16T23:37:22Z")
From a Calvin & Hobbes strip. I used to have it clipped out and hung on my wall. I wish I remembered more about the rest of the wording. PANEL 1: Calvin complains about babysitter, who hates him, coming tonight PANEL 2: More of same PANEL 3: CALVIN: She’ll probably put my head on a stake in the front yard as a warning to other kids she baby-sits! **HOBBES: I’m almost certain that would violate some zoning ordinance.** PANEL 4: Calvin doesn’t even hear Hobbes; Real punchline. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/7 "2004-07-16T23:43:45Z")
I’m partial to this exchange from “Office Space” – > [@](#): > > Peter: Before we go any further, all right, we have to swear to God, Allah, that nobody knows about this, all right? No family members, no girlfriends, nobody. > > Samir, Michael: Of course. Agreed. > > Lawrence: [from the next apartment through wall] Don’t worry, man! I won’t tell anyone about this either. > > Michael: Who the fuck is that? > > Peter: **Oh, don’t worry about him. He’s cool.** See, the bolded line is totally unfunny in writing, but the way Ron Livingston delivers it, with a wave of his hand, makes me laugh every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/8 "2004-07-17T01:01:29Z")
**Blackadder** Prince Ludwig the Indestructable: Well, if you excuse me, I have work to do. _Evil plots don’t just make themselves you know._ ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/9 "2004-07-17T01:03:29Z")
In the Futurama Xmas episode, Fry laments over his selfishness (paraphrased): _"Here I am, feeling sorry for myself like a pig, while Leela’s been all lonely, like a frog._" The analogy makes no sense, but it’s easy to miss. Also, in the superhero episode, when Leela tries to coax the professor into leaving the room: Leela: _Uh, professor, isn’t it time for your nap?_ Prof: _Yes, dammit!!!_ _falls asleep_ In Blazing Saddles, one of my favorites is: _“Don’t you realize that that man is a ni?”_ (especially the second time) ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/10 "2004-07-17T01:07:56Z")
kind of off topic, sorry: A friend of mine used to end essays on famous historical figures with the line “And he’s dead now.” …maybe you needed to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/11 "2004-07-17T05:44:35Z")
I think **toadspittle’s** example really captures the essence of the throwaway line. I don’t just think it’s an underplayed punchline; if you will, it’s an _underwritten_ punchline, a line so subtle and dry that you can easily miss it. I remember in particular an exchange from **Buffy** where someone said “I have this sixth sense; I can smell danger” and Giles responded, “That would be one of the five, actually.” ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/12 "2004-07-17T07:38:48Z")
Does these ones from _The Simpsons_ count? 1. Lisa is worried about taking second-place to the new student Allison, and imagines playing in a band of all second-besters: “And now, Avis Rent-A-Car is proud to present the second best band in America. Will you welcome Garfunkel, Messina, Oates, and Lisa singing their number two hit, Born to Runner-up.” The audience boos the band, then Lisa snaps out of the imagination sequence. But instead of commenting on how terrible that would be, she just says dryly, “Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?” 1. When the Simpsons go to Ichy & Scratchy Land, the writers employ the common device of using extraneous dialogue to explain the plot point of how their camera has disabled killer robots, then make fun of themselves: Lisa: “Dad! The flash must have scrambled their circuits.” Homer: “What are you, the narrator?” Seems like they used tons of throwaway lines on almost every episode. The Calvin & Hobbes thing that toadspittle mentioned is also used in _Doonesbury_ a lot. The big payoff punchline is immediately followed by a lesser punchline. It works really well if it’s not overdone. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/13 "2004-07-17T07:43:23Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > 1. When the Simpsons go to Ichy & Scratchy Land, the writers employ the common device of using extraneous dialogue to explain the plot point of how their camera has disabled killer robots, then make fun of themselves: > > Lisa: “Dad! The flash must have scrambled their circuits.” > Homer: “What are you, the narrator?” Similarly, in the Treehouse of Horror episode _Hell Toupee_ - the one where the dead Snake’s hair begins controlling Homer - near the end, as Homer tries to kill Bart, we get this: Lisa: “Of course! The hair must be controlling Dad-” Marge: “I think we all figured that out, Lisa.” ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/14 "2004-07-17T11:20:09Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I think **toadspittle’s** example really captures the essence of the throwaway line. I don’t just think it’s an underplayed punchline; if you will, it’s an _underwritten_ punchline, a line so subtle and dry that you can easily miss it. Perhaps my all-time favorite Throwaway: from _Ghostbusters_ scene with Bill Murray and a student who I always thought was Patrick Dempsey but imdb says it’s some other guy. Not Dempsey: I’m getting a little tired of this! Murray: Well, you volunteered didn’t you? We’re paying you aren’t we? Not Dempsey: Yeah, but I didn’t know you were going to be giving me electric shocks! Murray: I am trying to study the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability. Not Dempsey: The effect!? I’ll tell you what the effect is! It’s pissing me off!!! **Murray: Then maybe my theory is correct!** Not Dempsey: I’m outta here! You can keep the five bucks, I’ve had it! The intensity in the exchange really peaks with Not Dempsey’s “_It’s pissing me off!_”, which is a good laugh line in itself. I had been watching the movie for years laughing at “It’s pissing me off” and never noticed “Maybe my theory is correct”. Once I actually noticed it it immediately became one of my all-time favorite movie lines. Absolutely brilliant! To think that all along Venkman’s theory was simply that it would piss people off. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/15 "2004-07-17T11:27:19Z")
“The District Attorney is a Republican” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/16 "2004-07-17T11:46:31Z")
AbFab was full of throwaway lines. —Saffy informs Edina that the British Historical Society has been trying to reach her. Edina, preoccupied with something, grumbles, “Oh, it was that photo shoot…I only moved a couple of rocks; bloody Stonehenge…” —Edina wonders aloud why she’s “so fat”. Saffy reminds her that she eats too much, drinks too much and doesn’t exercise. “No, no, darling; it’s far more likely to be an allergy to something…” —Patsy is worried that she has a lump in her breast and asks Saffy to do the exam. Both are **very** uncomfortable during the procedure, not saying a word, until Saffy ventures, “So…it doesn’t look like there’s much rain coming in, does it.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/17 "2004-07-17T12:54:47Z")
The one that sticks out in my mind the most and that I repeat more than I should comes from **Dirty Work**. Norm’s walking his love interest home, discovers that her mother lives in an ill-fated apartment building, and realizes he needs to go. “You wanna come up for some coffee?” “No, no, I have to ahhhh…go…lift weights. _What?_” He’s a skinny, lanky guy, and the prospect of him lifting weights is so ridiculous that the sheer stupidity of the comment even catches him off guard. You have to watch it to get the full effect, but it’s fucking hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/18 "2004-07-17T18:57:32Z")
Typical early _Blake’s Seven_ dialogue, in a typical early _Blake’s Seven_ situation (the navigation computers have failed and the ship is about to be sucked down a gravitational vortex):- Avon: In the unlikely event that we get out of this - Blake: Yes? Avon: I’m finished. Staying with you requires a degree of stupidity, of which I no longer feel myself capable. Blake: Now you’re just being modest. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/19 "2004-07-17T19:38:07Z")
I’ll nominate a line from _Tootsie,_ one of our favorite movies, that apparently evaded Mr. S for years until I pointed it out to him: Dustin Hoffman, as Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor currently supporting himself as a waiter, is arguing with his agent (Sidney Pollack as George Fields) becaue the agent sent someone else up for a big part instead of him, because the director wanted a “name,” a known actor:: Michael: Oh, so Terry Bishop is a name? George: No, Michael Dorsey is a name. **When you want to send a steak back, Michael Dorsey is a name.** Slam! Yet subtle – to get it, you have to recall the brief scene of him at his waiter job. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474/20 "2004-07-17T19:40:36Z")
I have been told that Bert Lahr’s throwaway line (throwaway lion?) was the only ad lib allowed in WOO. “Funny weather we’re havin’, ain’t it?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-throw-away-line/255474.md?page=2)