These are the "Mad-Libs" tropes. Each of these tropes is a basic concept + one element that changes (represented by "X" or a similar placeholder). For Title Tropes, such as Character Name and the Noun Phrase, this is simply a matter of filling in the blank(s). For Stock Phrases, this becomes [structure of the phrase] + X, where X = [any word].
In a way, these are quintessential tropes, as easy storytelling devices. Fill in the blank, and BAM! instant recognition.
Compare Snowclones, the trope-naming equivalent of these Stock Phrases.
Not to be confused with "X" Makes Anything Cool or Let X Be the Unknown.
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Categories:
Plot/Characterization Tropes that follow this pattern
- Attack of the 50-Foot Whatever: The story has a giant (something) going on a rampage.
- Attack of the Killer Whatever: Some mundane object suddenly becomes lethal.
- A Boy and His X
- How the Character Stole Christmas: A Whole-Plot Reference to How the Grinch Stole Christmas! where X is the protagonist.
- In Case of X, Break Glass
- No True Scotsman
- Start X to Stop X
- Theatre Phantom
- Throne Made of X
- Weapon of X-Slaying
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?
- X Must Not Win
- X on a Stick
Title Tropes and Naming Conventions that follow this pattern
- Adjective Animal Alehouse
- The Adjectival Man
- The Adjectival Superhero
- Advanced Tech 2000
- Age of Titles
- American Title
- Artist and the Band: A music act is named after a main artist, while the other members are portrayed as a backing band.
- Ballad of X
- Captain Colorbeard: A pirate has a name referring to what kind of beard they have.
- Captain Superhero: A superhero whose codename begins with "Captain".
- The Case of...
- Character Name and the Noun Phrase
- The Crime Job
- Descriptiveville
- A Dog Named "Cat": Naming an animal of one species after a different species.
- A Dog Named "Dog": Naming an animal its species.
- A Dog Named "Perro": Naming an animal after a term for its species in another language.
- A Dog Named "Woof": Naming an animal after the sound it makes.
- Egopolis: A city is named after its ruler or founder.
- Enter Eponymous
- Episode Finishes the Title
- The Eponymous Show
- The Fantastic Trope of Wonderous Titles
- Foo Fu
- 4X: A subgenre of strategy games which involves four things using 4X as a shorthand, X-plore, X-pand, X-ploit, and X-terminate.
- Franken-X: A pastiche of Frankenstein's Monster is named a variant on "Frankenstein".
- The Full Name Adventures'
- The Great Whodini
- Hello, [Insert Name Here] (for a more active role in the substitution)
- iProduct
- I'm Mr. [Future Pop Culture Reference]
- The Joy of X
- Ladyella
- The Last Title
- The Legend of X
- A Lizard Named "Liz": A non-human has a name based on their species.
- Luke Nounverber
- Madame Fortune
- Made in Country X
- The Magnificent
- "Miss X" Pun
- Mister Descriptor
- A Mouse Named "Mozzarella": An animal is named after the food it eats.
- My Verbin' Noun
- Name and Name: The work's title consists of the names of the two main characters.
- Namedworld and Namedland
- Name McAdjective
- Name-Tron
- New Neo City
- The Notable Numeral
- The Noun and the Noun
- The Noun Who Verbed
- Noun Verber
- Operation: [Blank]
- Parodies for Dummies
- Person with the Clothing: A character is referred to by an item of clothing which identifies them.
- A Pig Named "Porkchop": An animal is named after the meat, food, or other animal products that could come from it.
- Protagonist and Friends
- Scandalgate
- Sesquipedalian Smith: A character has a fancy first name and a mundane surname.
- Sir Verb-a-Lot
- Something Blues
- The Something Force
- Somethingitis: The tendency for fictional illnesses to end with "-itis", even though the suffix actually means "inflammation" rather than "disease".
- Something-Nauts
- Something Person
- The Something Song
- Space "X"
- Spell My Name with a "The"
- Spoofs "R" Us
- The Talk Show with Host Name
- The Title Saga
- The Titling
- The Trope Kid
- Verbing Nouny
- Versus Title
- A Villain Named "Z__rg"
- The Von Trope Family: A character's surname has "Von" in front of it.
- Whatevermancy
- The X of Y
Stock Phrases that follow this pattern
- And This Is for...
- Crunchtastic
- Gonna Need More X
- Haven't You Seen X Before?
- Heh Heh, You Said "X" (when that exact phrase is used)
- Hit You So Hard, Your X Will Feel It!
- I Am the Noun
- I Am X, Son of Y
- If I Wanted X, I Would Y
- I Like My X Like I Like My Y
- I Love the Smell of X in the Morning
- I'm a Doctor, Not a Placeholder
- I've Got an X, and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!
- I Will Show You X!
- Mad Libs Catchphrase: A character has a catchphrase where certain parts are a different word every time it is spoken.
- "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name: A character jokingly claims that an attribute or quality is their middle name to emphasize that they are the right person for the job requiring said attribute or quality.
- Not Your Daddy's X
- [Popular Saying], But...
- Promise Me You Won't X
- Some of My Best Friends Are X
- So Was X
- That's What I Call "X"!
- The Three Certainties in Life (Death, Taxes, and X)
- The Trope Formerly Known as X
- Today, X. Tomorrow, the World!
- Together We Are X: Members of an ensemble introduce themselves first individually and then as a team.
- Trust Me, I'm an X
- [Verb] This!
- Went to the Great X in the Sky: A common euphemism for dying where the deceased person is said to have gone to "the great (insert place appropriate to the deceased's personality, habits, or interests) in the sky".
- What Did You Expect When You Named It ____?
- What Is This, X?
- What's an X Like You Doing in a Y Like This?
- What Would X Do?
- Where Is Your X Now?
- X Called; They Want Their Y Back
- X Meets Y
- You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious
- You Know What They Say About X...
- You Put the "X" in "XY"
- You Remind Me of X
- You Watch Too Much X