Sign of the Apocalypse

A Stock Phrase when something particularly unexpected happens, usually following OOC Is Serious Business. For instance, "Alice just spoke, does anyone see four horsemen riding up?"

If it's someone saying the end is nigh if this thing happens, and then it does, see Cue the Flying Pigs. Often used to lampshade Dumbass Has a Point.

Not to be confused with Signs of the End Times, which is when you're literally seeing signs of the apocalypse.

Examples of Sign of the Apocalypse include:

Anime and Manga

• Rurouni Kenshin

Kaoru cooking? Is it a sign of the apocalypse?

Film

• Played with in Summerslam

Don't be ridiculous, it's not one of the signs of the apocalypse when he starts quoting Judy Garland. When he starts singing like Ethel Merman, then you've gotta worry.

• Buying the Cow

Mike, in a relationship? Isn't that one of the signs of the Apocalypse?

Literature

• The Dresden Files book Proven Guilty. Harry thinks:

I started to get annoyed, but was struck by the disturbing thought that if I did, I would be coming down on the same side of the situation as Charity, which might be one of the signs of the apocalypse.

Live Action Television

• The Nanny

Miss Fine and Miss Babcock walking arm in arm. Isn't that one of the biblical signs of the apocalypse?

• Rescue Me episode "Bitch".

Oh, sh*t. Sean Garrity readin' a book. That's the first sign of the apocalypse.

• Point Pleasant episode "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Choked"

Well, you're falling in love. It's not one of the 7 signs of the Apocalypse. ... Is it?

• Puppets Who Kill episode "Dash the Greeter"

My God, no more attention. This is like one of the signs of the Apocalypse.

• Smallville, unwittingly making a Pun:

Lois Lane: Clark Kent and Karaoke - isn't that a sign of the Apokolips?

• In the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer they point to the band playing in the Bronze (Nerf Herder, a song from whom also provided the theme tune throughout the series) as a sign of the Apocalypse. At the same time as a lot of rather more conventional signs of the apocalypse are occurring.
• Family Ties:

Alex: She's right. I'm wrong, and Mallory's right. The world is ending!

Newspaper Comics

• From Pearls Before Swine.

Rat: What is true happiness?...How does a dumb pig like you answer a question like that? Pig: I think happiness is finding an extra couple of french fries at the bottom of the bag. Rat: ...Pig made sense. The apocalypse is upon us.

Web Comics

• From Out There:

Chuck: Does this seem like a particularly awkward silence? James: Dude, Miriam's not saying anything. It's the end times, man.

• From Penny and Aggie, when the two leads put their 'Betty and Veronica' rivalry behind them and become friends:

"But it can't be the Apocalypse today, the Mayan calendar says..."

Western Animation

• Humorously used in an episode of The Fairly Odd Parents. Timmy gets an "A", which the other students panic thinking it's the end of the world since he's normally a terrible student.
• She Ra Princess of Power

Hordak: The end of the world is upon us, Grizzlor has had an idea!

• Justice League Unlimited, in the grand finale, when Flash learns that the Martian Manhunter is married:

"These are the end times."