...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger!
- 123 statements
- 22 feature instances
- 18 referencing feature instances
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | type |
FeatureClass | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | label |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | page |
InstantMarksmanJustSqueezeTrigger | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | comment |
The use of guns is, of course, a standard of certain genres, and many a trope has been dedicated to analyzing their use and the various Stock Phrases that they bring. In this case, you have two characters: one is an experienced marksman, and one is inexperienced. At some point in the story, the need for the inexperienced individual to use a gun comes along. Sometimes the training takes place on a simplified Shooting Gallery, perhaps during a montage of some type. It may also work as a moment for the relationship between the two characters to be showcased: sometimes as parent and offspring, sometimes as mentor and student. During this scene, the inexperienced shooter is having difficulty hitting their targets. At this point, the experienced marksman approaches, and gives one piece of advice: "Don't pull the trigger. Squeeze the trigger." Sometimes this particular stock phrase is followed up by further advice, the most common being a breathing method (such as "take a deep breath"). Often, this advice is shown as the only thing the novice needed, as they now hit the targets with relative ease. This is, of course, partially Truth in Television: many novice shooters do yank on the trigger and thus pull their gun way off. But it's not the sole barrier between a novice and an elite sniper. Fortunately, much like real life, most movie shooting happens at ranges of 50m or less, where the main barrier to hitting something is simply remembering to aim at all. With that particular low barrier to entry, movie style coaching is probably sufficient, at least to ensure you don't shoot yourself. (It is worth noting, without *some* form of coaching, most people will copy their shooting style from what they see in film and TV. The problem with that is that ACTORS certainly don't need to be carefully aiming when they pull the trigger, and may in fact be hamming up things like recoil for dramatic effect) A subtrope of Instant Expert. |
|
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | fetched |
2023-04-12T08:30:21Z | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | parsed |
2023-04-12T08:30:21Z | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to BigBad: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to ImprobableAimingSkills: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to NonActionGuy: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to PlayedWith: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheMovie: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | processingComment |
Dropped link to ZigZaggedTrope: Not an Item - FEATURE | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_261c8d3f | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_261c8d3f | comment |
In The Simpsons, Marge is shown how to shoot by former neighbor Ruth Powers in Marge on the Lam. Ruth tells Marge to squeeze the trigger, although she does not mention the part about not pulling the trigger. Marge does show immediate skill as a marksman. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_261c8d3f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_261c8d3f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Simpsons | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_261c8d3f | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_48ed41c8 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_48ed41c8 | comment |
In Pocahontas, John Smith gives the inexperienced Thomas advice on how to handle his gun, including a gentle reminder to "keep both eyes open". This becomes an Ironic Echo when Thomas shoots Kocoum. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_48ed41c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_48ed41c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Pocahontas | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_48ed41c8 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_49ff762 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_49ff762 | comment |
Jack teaches Gwen how to fire a gun in the second episode of Torchwood. She becomes an expert after that one session. Oh, and Gwen is a cop who has never handled a firearm. Justified, as she was only a PC (constable), who are not issued guns. Possibly justified in that we're never really sure how long the session goes on for (possibly hours), and some people do have a natural gift. |
|
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_49ff762 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_49ff762 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Torchwood | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_49ff762 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_5c4f8aab | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_5c4f8aab | comment |
Cowboys & Aliens had a similar line from Meacham when he teaches the shopkeeper how to shoot. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_5c4f8aab | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_5c4f8aab | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Cowboys & Aliens | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_5c4f8aab | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6089983e | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6089983e | comment |
This happens in The Mountie when Grayling is teaching Cleora how to shoot. Her first shot misses the target by about a foot. After showing her how to squeeze, her next shot hits. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6089983e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6089983e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Mountie | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6089983e | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_618bd2c9 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_618bd2c9 | comment |
In Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, the Marlboro Man says "Squeeze the trigger, Harley. Don't yank it, it's not your dick. Squeeze it." In this case, however, there's no training taking place; the Marlboro Man is making a snarky comment on Harley's piss-poor shooting skills. Later, when the two eponymous heroes are facing the Big Bad and his legion of bulletproof henchmen, Marlboro Man says it again as sort of crash course training: "Don't yank. Don't pull. Squeeze." The trope is partially averted in this case, though, because no matter how many times he hears this advice, Harley Davidson's gun skills never get better. |
|
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_618bd2c9 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_618bd2c9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_618bd2c9 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_68ff28c8 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_68ff28c8 | comment |
Averted in the first Silent Hill game. Harry, who's never handled a gun before, is given one by policewoman Cybil Bennett. Her instructions are pretty terrible and do not include this advice. She even says, "Before you pull the trigger..." which of course is the wrong way to manipulate a trigger. Calling Harry a mediocre shot is being charitable. The scene can be seen here, where Cybil dives pretty deep into Artistic License – Gun Safety. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_68ff28c8 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_68ff28c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Silent Hill (Video Game) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_68ff28c8 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6cdec540 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6cdec540 | comment |
Horrifically averted in Transformers: More than Meets the Eye. Swerve is told that he must take down a crazed Fortress Maximus with the large riveter gun he has. Swerve freaks out and explains that he's not trained in weapon combat and is a horrible shot. Rodimus tells him to do it anyway (apparently being a firm believer in this trope). Swerve misses his target and ends up shooting Fort Max's hostage instead. He survives, but is in a coma for the next few issues. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6cdec540 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6cdec540 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Transformers: More than Meets the Eye (Comic Book) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_6cdec540 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_7e55e435 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_7e55e435 | comment |
Bangkok Dangerous, or, at least, the American version of the movie, has a scene in which Joe (Nicolas Cage) gives this advice to his student Kang. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_7e55e435 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_7e55e435 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Bangkok Dangerous | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_7e55e435 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_92a56bcb | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_92a56bcb | comment |
In the Masters of Horror episode "The Screwfly Solution", this advice is given from mother to daughter, with the usual effect. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_92a56bcb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_92a56bcb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Masters of Horror | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_92a56bcb | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a32fb846 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a32fb846 | comment |
Strictly averted in Violence™: The Roleplaying Game of Egregious and Repulsive Bloodshed (a dark satire of hack-n-slash RPGs). Player characters are not allowed to have a Handgun Skill greater than 10 because they're not professional marksmen. Any exceptions must be justified to the GM. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a32fb846 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a32fb846 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Violenceâ„¢: The Roleplaying Game of Egregious and Repulsive Bloodshed (Tabletop Game) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a32fb846 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a346e791 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a346e791 | comment |
In one episode of NUMB3RS, Charlie, in order to understand how a criminal sniper operates in the field, tries to learn what shooting a gun feels like because his usual math-heavy approach was failing to give him the whole picture. After struggling with a rifle in the shooting range, Don gives Charlie a few pointers; relax his hands, fire the shot in-between breaths, etc. It works; Charlie's next shot is a lot closer to the bullseye, and his prediction on where the suspect will set up his sniper nest is off by only one window. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a346e791 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a346e791 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| NUMB3RS | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_a346e791 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_b2edd00b | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_b2edd00b | comment |
In Zombieland, Tallahassee gives this bit of advice to Little Rock, something that comes in handy later when she and Wichita are under attack by a horde of zombies. Little Rock, a 12 year old, had brandished firearms before this, but had not fired except into the air while brandishing. She was unable to hit a large vase with a long arm at twenty yards, a feat which would be considered laughably easy by most youth shooting programs. As soon as she hears Tallahassee's advice, she hits the target, playing this trope straight. Also, Tallahassee's advice is more focused on having her relax, calm down, and take her time while aiming down the sights. And she never displays any amazing feats of marksmanship, so this makes for a comparatively realistic example. |
|
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_b2edd00b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_b2edd00b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Zombieland | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_b2edd00b | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_c6cbbf0e | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_c6cbbf0e | comment |
A similar scene occurs in the 2016 version as well, this time with Robicheaux giving the advice to take it slow ("you can't pull it slow enough!") to an entire line of townsfolk, who promptly continue to miss every single target. This time, Faraday suggests they should polish their rifles in the hopes the glint will scare off the enemy forces. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_c6cbbf0e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_c6cbbf0e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Magnificent Seven (2016) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_c6cbbf0e | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ccf875f7 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ccf875f7 | comment |
Used in the Criminal Minds episode "L.D.S.K.", wherein resident geekboy Reid is trying to pass his firearms qualification test, and resident sharpshooter Hotch is giving him lessons, telling him "front sight, trigger press, follow through". Hotch also mentions the "squeeze, don't pull" advice. Reid fails his test twice, even with Hotch's help, but proves his competence in the climax of the episode, where he gets a perfect headshot to the UnSub via Hotch's distraction gambit and his spare gun. He went on to joke that he was actually aiming for the leg (or at least, we think it was a joke). | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ccf875f7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ccf875f7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Criminal Minds | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ccf875f7 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_cf7c1158 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_cf7c1158 | comment |
Punisher: War Zone. Frank Castle mistakenly shoots an undercover Fed, and finds himself at gunpoint from the distraught widow. He advises her to aim at his heart and squeeze the trigger—in this case they're at point blank range so it's done to show Castle's willingness to face death for what he has done. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_cf7c1158 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_cf7c1158 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Punisher: War Zone | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_cf7c1158 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e41a0753 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e41a0753 | comment |
Played with in an episode of Ultimate Force when Henno gives a pistol to an ambassador he is protecting with the titular instructions. However, he then reveals he was actually suggesting a suicide method. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e41a0753 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e41a0753 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Ultimate Force | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e41a0753 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e694aadb | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e694aadb | comment |
Duty Calls: Early in the novel, Cain, Jurgen, and snack-seller Zemelda Cleat are pinned down by ambushers. When Zemelda picks up a fallen weapon, Cain gives her a one-sentence lesson in weapon handling. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e694aadb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e694aadb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Ciaphas Cain | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e694aadb | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e735e9e0 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e735e9e0 | comment |
Somewhat averted in Dead Winter. After Liz headshots the wrong zombie, Alice gives her the usual "squeeze the trigger" advice. She fires again...and hits a vending machine. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e735e9e0 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e735e9e0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Dead Winter (Webcomic) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_e735e9e0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ea15127e | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ea15127e | comment |
Leon gives this advice to Mathilda in The Professional, allowing her to hit her target on the first try, with a paintball rifle from a rather long distance too. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ea15127e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ea15127e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Professional | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_ea15127e | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f18fe36a | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f18fe36a | comment |
Inverted in the video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, right in the beginning when Drake hands Elena (a journalist) a pistol. His advice is "Just point...and shoot," which is something one would only expect to hear from somebody who's never, ever held a gun in their life. | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f18fe36a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f18fe36a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (Video Game) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f18fe36a | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f71832a5 | type |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f71832a5 | comment |
Stephen Sondheim's Assassins sets this to music in "The Gun Song", which, apart from doing exactly what it says on the tin, contains the line: | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f71832a5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f71832a5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Assassins (Theatre) | hasFeature |
Instant Marksman: Just Squeeze Trigger! / int_f71832a5 |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
Copyright of DBTropes.org wrapper 2009-2013 DFKI Knowledge Management. Imprint. - Thanks to Bakken&Baeck for hosting. Contact.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.