---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, \"Hippo!\"…"
description: "\"Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, \"Hippo!\" Which I thought was a little late. ~Carter Kane\" — Rick Riordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg"
---

#  Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, "Hippo!" Which I thought…

![“Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, &quot;Hippo!&quot; Which I thought was a little late. ~Carter Kane” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg)

> “Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, "Hippo!" Which I thought was a little late. ~Carter Kane”

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character shouts “Hippo!” late, causing humor.

**In simple terms:** Late shout of “Hippo!” is funny.

Key Takeaway

Timing matters for comedy.

Themes

humor timing character interaction

Mood

lighthearted amusing

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

- classroom
- team projects
- live performances
- improvisation

Key Concepts

narrative comedy dialogue miscommunication

Questions to Reflect On

- How does timing affect comedic impact?
- What makes a joke land?

A Different Perspective

Late jokes can miss the mark.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Carter kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carter-kane/)

## Related quotes

> [Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, "Hippo!" Which I thought was a little late. She stumbled toward me over the rocking deck, the tip of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-which-i-thought-was-a-little/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“It was guarded by a few demons, but most of Set's forces were running towards our boat, screaming and throwing rocks (which tended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-was-guarded-by-a-few-demons-but-most-of-set-s-forces-were-running/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“I opened my backpack and checked my supplies: some enchanted rope, my curved ivory wand, a lump of wax for making a magical shabti…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-opened-my-backpack-and-checked-my-supplies-some-enchanted-rope-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“This was a few weeks ago," Annabeth said. "Percy told me a crazy story about meeting a boy our near Moriches Bay. Apparently this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/this-was-a-few-weeks-ago-annabeth-said-percy-told-me-a-crazy-story/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [For an absurd moment, I wondered if Ammit devoured the hearts of wicked cows, and if he liked the beefy taste. - Carter Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/for-an-absurd-moment-i-wondered-if-ammit-devoured-the-hearts-of/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Awkward. Sorry." "Don't be," Sadie said. "I'll rather enjoy bashing my brother's face in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/awkward-sorry-don-t-be-sadie-said-i-ll-rather-enjoy-bashing-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [WARNING: The following is a transcript of a digital recording. In certain places, the audio quality was poor, so some words and phrases represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/warning-the-following-is-a-transcript-of-a-digital-recording-in/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [ “Not long," Zia said. "I wanted to talk to you before \[Carter and Amos\] come back." \[Sadie\] raised an eyebrow. "About Carter? Well, if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/not-long-zia-said-i-wanted-to-talk-to-you-before-carter-and-amos-come/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Sadie was still a kite. "You can turn back now," I told her. She tilted her head and regarded me quizically. She let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/sadie-was-still-a-kite-you-can-turn-back-now-i-told-her-she-tilted/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“As of this moment,' Sadie growled, 'my brother's name is Punching Bag. Seems he hasn't been telling me everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/as-of-this-moment-sadie-growled-my-brother-s-name-is-punching-bag/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Bast crouched down and began making weird chittering noises. Uh-oh. She was imitating birds. I'd seen enough cats do this when they were stalking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/bast-crouched-down-and-began-making-weird-chittering-noises-uh-oh-she/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [If a person cast no shadow at all, he couldn't be alive. His existence became meaningless.Execrating Apophis by destroying his shadow would cut his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/if-a-person-cast-no-shadow-at-all-he-couldn-t-be-alive-his-existence/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“It's hard to describe the feeling. And I knew from Horus's memory that this kind of union was very rare-like the one time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-hard-to-describe-the-feeling-and-i-knew-from-horus-s-memory-that/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [My name is Carter Kane. I'm fourteen and my home is a suitcase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/my-name-is-carter-kane-i-m-fourteen-and-my-home-is-a-suitcase/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Yes, an actual full-sized camel. If you find that confusing, just think how the criosphinx must have felt. Where did the camel come from,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/yes-an-actual-full-sized-camel-if-you-find-that-confusing-just-think/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More by Rick Riordan

> [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

[Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, \"Hippo!\" Which I thought was a little late. ~Carter Kane",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Riordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-which-i-thought-was-a-little-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-which-i-thought-was-a-little-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/rick-riordan-27_behinds_somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-whi_1320333.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, \"Hippo!\" Which I thought was a little late. ~Carter Kane” — Rick Riordan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rick Riordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Somewhere behind me, Zia yelled, \"Hippo!\"...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-which-i-thought-was-a-little-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/somewhere-behind-me-zia-yelled-hippo-which-i-thought-was-a-little-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
