List of references (Sniper)

Due to the comedic style of Team Fortress 2 and Valve's humor, the game includes references, usually in a humorous fashion. There are many sources, including games, movies, and music; even jokes that have developed within the game and its community have been included. Below are references specific to the Sniper class, which often refer to marksmanship, Australia, hints towards New Zealand, or the Jarate weapon.

Achievements

Australian Rules Dominate an enemy Sniper.

Australian rules football is a football variant played between two teams of 18 players outdoors on large oval-shaped grass fields (often modified cricket fields), with a ball in the shape of a prolate spheroid. It is also commonly referred to as Australian rules, Aussie rules, football, footy, or AFL (although AFL is the name of the elite national league, not the sport).

Beaux and Arrows Kill a Heavy & Medic pair with the bow.

This is a play on "bow and arrows." A "beau," "beaux" being the plural, is defined as either a boyfriend or a dandy, and is pronounced similarly to "bow."

Be Efficient Get 3 kills with the Sniper Rifle without missing a shot.

The Sniper's "standards" are very similar to those of the United States Marine Corps: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." The requirements for this achievement reference the scene in Meet the Sniper where the Sniper kills a Soldier, a Medic, and a Pyro in quick succession.

Be Polite Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you doffing your hat.

The Sniper's "standards" are very similar to those of the United States Marine Corps: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." The requirements for this achievement reference the scene in Meet the Sniper, where the Sniper doffs his hat after stabbing a Spy with the Kukri.

Consolation Prize Get backstabbed 50 times.

A consolation prize is given to those who do not win an event but are deserving of some recognition.

Dead Reckoning Kill an enemy with an arrow while you're dead.

Dead reckoning is the process of estimating one's current position based upon a previously determined location and an estimate in speed and course over time.

De-sentry-lized Destroy 3 Engineer sentry guns.

This is a play on decentralized, the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people or citizens.

Dropped Dead Kill a Scout in midair with your Sniper Rifle or the Huntsman.

Someone who is said to have "dropped dead" has died very suddenly and without warning.

Enemy at the Gate Kill an opponent within the first second of the round.

Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 war film set during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. The film's title is taken from William Craig's 1973 book Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad, which describes the events surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad. It is based on a duel mentioned in the book that developed between a Soviet sniper and his German rival as they stalk each other during the battle.

Friendship is Golden Extinguish a burning teammate with your Jarate.

This is a reference to the value of friendship - in this case, the act of throwing a jar of (golden) urine to extinguish a burning teammate, thus resulting in a double-entendre.

Have a Plan Capture the flag in CTF.

The Sniper's "standards" are very similar to those of the United States Marine Corps: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." This achievement is a reference to the last of said standards given in Meet the Sniper.

Jarate Chop Jarate and then kill 3 enemies with your Kukri.

This is a play on the popular term "karate chop," which refers to a knifehand strike in karate.

Jarring Transition Use Jarate to reveal a cloaked Spy.

A jarring transition is a sudden and often painful transition, as is what the Spy experiences when his location is revealed after being hit with Jarate.

Jumper Stumper Kill a rocket or grenade-jumping enemy in midair with your Sniper Rifle or the Huntsman.

A stump-jump plough is a plough invented in South Australia in the late nineteenth century. Romper Stomper is a 1992 film about Australian neo-Nazi skinheads starring Russell Crowe.

Kill Everyone You Meet Kill 1000 enemies.

The Sniper's "standards" are very similar to those of the United States Marine Corps: "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet." This achievement is a reference to the last of said standards given in Meet the Sniper.

Kook the Spook Kill 10 Spies with your Kukri.

The Kukri is pronounced "kook-kree," and "spook" is slang for a spy.

My Brilliant Career Top the scoreboard 10 times on teams of 6 or more players.

My Brilliant Career is a 1901 novel by Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, one of the significant Australian writers of her time. The popularity of the novel in Australia and the perceived closeness of many of the characters to her own family and circumstances caused Franklin a great deal of distress. They led her to withdraw the novel from publication until after her death.

Not a Crazed Gunman, Dad In a single life, kill 3 enemies while they are achieving an objective.

This is a reference to an argument the Sniper has over the phone in Meet the Sniper.

Number One Assistant Score 5 Assists with the Jarate in a single round.

"Number One" is a euphemism for urine, which Jarate is implied to be.

Parting Shot Headshot an enemy player the moment his invulnerability wears off.

A parting shot is a final statement in an argument or conversation. The term itself is an English corruption of the term Parthian shot, referring to the ancient Parthians who would fire arrows on horseback while retreating.

Pincushion Hit an enemy with 3 arrows, without killing them.

A pincushion is a small pillow used to hold sewing needles.

Rain on Their Parade Jarate an enemy and the Medic healing him.

To "rain on someone's parade" is to ruin a monumental moment or significant event.

Robbin' Hood Take down an intelligence carrier with a single arrow.

Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times, but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" and fighting against injustice and tyranny. He is famed for his use of the bow and arrow, which is referenced with the Sniper's Huntsman longbow and the Larrikin Robin hat.

Rode Hard, Put Away Wet Jarate an enemy that you're dominating.

A reference to the old saying which implies someone looks like they've had a hard time. There is also a Left 4 Dead 2 achievement of the same name, for riding a survivor into a Spitter's acid patch as the Jockey.

Saturation Bombing Jarate 4 enemy players with a single throw.

Saturation bombing is a term interchangeable with carpet bombing, a process where a large section of land is bombed by aircraft. Saturation also refers to the discoloration of a character's model and view when hit by Jarate.

Self-destruct Sequence Headshot 10 enemy Snipers.

This is a process where a machine deactivates and destroys itself.

Shafted Stab an enemy with an arrow.

Someone who has been "shafted" is treated harshly or ignored. It is also rude slang for penetration during sex.

A shaft is also the body of an arrow.

Shock Treatment Kill a spy whose backstab attempt was blocked by your Razorback.

Shock treatment is a process where an electric shock is applied for torture or psychological treatment.

Shoot the Breeze Kill a fully invisible Spy in a single hit.

To "shoot the breeze" is an idiom of having a relaxed conversation. In this case, the Spy can make himself invisible, and the Sniper is shooting the "breeze" (an invisible Spy).

Socket to Him Headshot an enemy Demoman.

This is a play on "Sock it to him," a phrase of encouragement in a fight. This is also a play on the eye socket, for the Demoman has only one eye remaining in his right socket.

The Last Wave Provide an enemy with a freezecam shot of you waving to them.

The name of the achievement refers to a 1977 Australian film called The Last Wave, which follows the story of a Sydney lawyer defending five Aborigines in a ritualized taboo murder.

Triple Prey In a single round, get a kill with 3 different weapons.

This is a pun on "triple play", the act of making three outs in the same play in baseball.

Trust Your Feelings Get 5 kills with the Sniper Rifle without your scope.

This is a reference to Obi-Wan's line "Trust your feelings, Luke," in Star Wars as Luke takes his critical shot at the Death Star. The achievement's icon references the computer visualization of the Death Star trench run in the scene. Both this scene and the achievement require the characters not to use any assistance in their shots.

Überectomy Kill a Medic that is ready to deploy an ÜberCharge.

The suffix -ectomy stands for "surgical removal of," so this is literally "removal of Über."

William Tell Overkill Pin an enemy Heavy to the wall via his head.

Swiss patriotic folk hero William Tell is reputed to have been an expert crossbowman who once hit an apple balanced on the head of his son with a crossbow bolt. The William Tell Overture is the overture to the opera William Tell composed by Gioachino Rossini. There has been repeated use of this overture in the popular media, most famously as the theme music for the radio and television show The Lone Ranger.

Weapons

Bazaar Bargain

The Bazaar Bargain is based on the jezail, a type of musket that was commonly used in the Middle East. While the quality and manufacture of such weapons differed widely, a common feature of these weapons lay in their use of rifled barrels and a heavily curved stock, the former of which gave them a great advantage in range and accuracy over the smoothbore firearms that were commonly used up until the mid-19th century.
"Bazaar" is a Persian word for a large market where goods are sold. Bazaars can be found across the world, though they are most common in the Middle East, primarily in Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Bushwacka

The Bushwacka references the knife that Mick "Crocodile" Dundee uses in the popular film Crocodile Dundee.

Classic

The Classic is based on the Sniper Rifle from Team Fortress Classic but fitted with a longer barrel and a laser sight.

Darwin's Danger Shield

The Item's name is a reference to the city of Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. Crocodiles are commonly found near the city.

Hitman's Heatmaker

Hitmen usually use silencers on their rifles to muzzle their firing sounds to remain undetected.

Huntsman

Huntsman spiders are a family of similar species. Huntsman spiders are fast and excel at hunting prey (the weapon has both of these traits, being quick to draw and intended for mobile snipers)

Low Profile SMG

To keep a "low profile" is to try and achieve an objective while remaining undetected. A profile is a side view of a person's body or face, which is why the gun is covered in silhouettes of the Sniper.

Lumber From Down Under Sniper Rifle

Lumber is another term for wood, which is what this weapon appears to be made of. "The Land From Down Under" is another name for Australia and New Zealand, the latter being Sniper's actual birthplace.

Machina

This weapon gets its name from the Latin phrase "deus ex machina" (literally meaning "god out of the machine"), which is a term used to describe a convenient plot device that abruptly appears out of nowhere and solves all of the problems the protagonist may be facing. This is derived from Greek and Roman plays, where an actor playing God would come down on a moving platform to help, hinder, or provide exposition on a situation.

Razorback

Razorback is a term used in America and Australia to describe a wild boar.

Shahanshah

Shahanshah is Persian for "King of Kings," the title of Iran's rulers during the Sassanid.

Shot in the Dark Sniper Rifle

A "shot in the Dark" is a guess taken without any prior knowledge or a confident answer. It also refers to the dark color of the Sniper Rifle.

Team Sprayer SMG

A "team player" is a person that will sacrifice a goal of theirs for the good of the team as a whole. It is also a play on the term "spray and pray" where a person fires their weapon without looking, hoping to hit a shot.

Thunderbolt Sniper Rifle

A thunderbolt doesn't exist due to thunder being a sound. It is a product of the confusion surrounding the differences between thunder and lightning. It may refer to the Apple Thunderbolt. The Sniper Rifle is a bolt-action rifle that has load a bullet into the chamber after each shot.

Cosmetic items

Anger

This resembles the Anger appearance set worn by Resistance members in Brink.

Bushman's Bristles

Many of the other classes, mostly Spy, refer to Sniper as a "bushman". Bushman is slang for anyone that spends an abundance of their time outdoors. A common name for Australian and New Zealand men 'going bush.'

The Camper Van Helsing

Abraham Van Helsing was the protagonist of the famous novel Dracula.

The name of this item set is a portmanteau of "Van Helsing" and "camper van", referring to the Sniper's preferred mode of transport.

Champ Stamp

The name is a reference to the term "Tramp stamp," referring to a tattoo that a woman places on her lower back.

Crocodile Smile

The necklace is similar to the one used by film character Michael "Crocodile" Dundee in the film Crocodile Dundee.
A crocodile smile is a description of a person who feigns innocence and harmlessness but is secretly planning malicious deeds.

Flamingo Kid

This is based on the Gunslinger's hat from the game Super Monday Night Combat.

Garlic Flank Stake

In traditional folklore, vampires are repelled by garlic and can be killed by a wooden stake driven through the heart, making the two items essential tools for vampire hunters.

This Item's name is a pun on flank steak, a cut of meat often seasoned with garlic or other spices.

Hawk-Eyed Hunter

This hat was modeled after the hat the Spy wears in Team Fortress Classic.

Holy Hunter

The small cross and silver bullets tucket into the rim of this hat are references to the traditional folklore that vampires are repelled by crosses, and silver bullets can kill werewolves.

Itsy Bitsy Spyer Is that a miniature Spy in your pocket, or are you just happy to OH GOD STOP HITTING ME!

The name is derived from the popular nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider".
The description is derived from a famous quotation by American actress Mae West, known for her double entendres.

Larrikin Robin

Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times, but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" and fighting against injustice and tyranny. He is often portrayed wearing a hat almost exactly like the Larrikin Robin.

Larrikinism is an Australian term for mockery of authority, appropriate for a hat styled after a famous outlaw.

Lone Star

This hat is designed to resemble the character Lonestar from Awesomenauts. Both the character's name and the hat's name are derived from the state of Texas' nickname "The Lone Star State," which comes from the fact that the state flag has only one star on it.

Marksman's Mohair

A "marksman" is someone with a perfect aim. "Mohair" is a silk-like fabric made from the hair of the Angora goat. It is known to be durable, having a high luster and a high sheen as well.

Mislaid Sweater

Missing Piece

These items are based on Wally (or Waldo in the US and Canada) from the Where's Wally/Waldo? children's puzzle book series. The goal of these books is to find a hidden Wally in different pictures, a humorous comparison to playing against a Sniper.

Mutton Mann

It looks similar to the sideburns of Ebenezer Scrooge from the Christmas story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Outback Intellectual Argyle. Pipe-smoking. Individually, they make you look like an idiot. Together, they make you look smart AND stylish! Just like Umberto Eco!

Umberto Eco was an Italian writer mostly known for his novels, who also studied Medieval æsthetics.

Professional's Ushanka

This is a reference to the Sniper continually calling himself a professional.

Silver Bullets

Silver bullets are alleged to be the only way to kill a werewolf, while the only way to kill a vampire is a wooden stake hammered into the heart. Vampire hunters also traditionally wore high collars to protect from vampire bites to the neck.

Sniper's Snipin' Glass

This resembles the scope worn by Sniper, also known as Kardel Sharpeye, in Dota 2.

Trophy Belt

The Trophy Belt is a reference to the hat worn by the main character Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee in the film Crocodile Dundee, who also popularized the "rugged bushman" Australian stereotype.

Your Worst Nightmare This bandanna will teach you to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. Like another billy goat.

The description is a reference to a scene in the film First Blood, while the hat is based on the hairstyle of the film's main character, John Rambo.

Responses

Dominating a Medic

"What's up, Doc? Heh, heh, heh!"

This line is the signature catchphrase of Bugs Bunny, a popular Looney Tunes cartoon character.

Other Responses

"God save the queen!" - at round start or during SMG taunt

"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms. It is the national anthem of the United Kingdom. It is also the second and royal national anthem for New Zealand. One of two national anthems of the Cayman Islands and the royal anthem of Australia, Canada, the Isle of Man, Belize, Jamaica, and Tuvalu.

"Now this is a knife!" - after using the "battle cry" voice command while holding an unlockable melee weapon

This line references a famous scene from the film Crocodile Dundee.

"Outta my way, outta my way! Can't you see he's trying to kick my butt?!" - running from Saxton Hale in the Vs. Saxton Hale gamemode

This line is spoken in the episode "The Bully" from the animated series SpongeBob SquaprePants by the titular character as he tries to alert citizens about Flats the Flounder wanting to beat him up, only for them to mistake an old man as the assailant.

Media

Meet the Sniper

"Boom, headshot."

The phrase "Boom, headshot" is a reference to the catchphrase of the character FPS Doug in the online comedy series Pure Pwnage.

The bobble-head on the Sniper's dashboard in Meet the Sniper is a caricature of the Civilian as he appears in the original Team Fortress Classic.

The road sign at the beginning of the video bears the in-game icon for a headshot.

The music that plays throughout Meet the Sniper appears to be a homage to the theme of 1973 film Magnum Force, the second of the Dirty Harry movies. The video itself carries a strong early 70s theme.

The bus that drives by at the end of the video has "BLUDOG" on the side, a reference to the Greyhound Lines bus service.

The Billboard in the background reads, "FOAD: Camping Fun, All year round!" This is both a reference to the "camping" style of gameplay snipers employ and the internet initialism FOAD (Fuck Off And Die), often aimed at snipers in various online games by disgruntled players.

The general theme of Meet the Sniper may be a reference to the film Kenny, which is based on the life of an Australian plumber. Similarities between the two include the fact that they are being interviewed in their car for a good portion of their videos, their parents do not approve of their line of work, as well as similarly spoken lines.

Jarate Comics

• For the original April Fools Jarate announcement, the advertisement features 100% Made in New Zealand (despite showing an Australian flag and map) and broadly parodies Karate ads seen in old comic books.
• The comic The Insult, in which the Sniper learns Jarate, is a reference to an old comic book ad by Charles Atlas, a developer of bodybuilding techniques, whose advertisements were once a staple of comic books.
  • The kicking of gravel takes the place of kicking sand in the Muscle Beach Bum trope.
• A later comic, Hey Sniper!, featuring the use of Jarate, but promoting the High Five! taunt, is also a parody of similar Charles Atlas ad, Hey Skinny!.

Comparison
Charles Atlas Comic	Jarate Comic
Charles Atlas Comic	High Five!/Jarate Comic