KnowraChekhov's gunLinked fromLinked fromThe 7 pages that link to Chekhov's gun, each with the reason it gives.All 7Related 3Compared with 4Anton ChekhovCompared with: The familiar maxim contrasts with Chekhov’s own plays, where dramatic attention often falls on what never happens.ForeshadowingRelated: It describes the expectation that conspicuous details introduced early will matter later.Red herringCompared with: It captures the expectation that plot details pay off, which red herrings deliberately frustrate.MacGuffinCompared with: Unlike a MacGuffin, a Chekhov’s gun earns its place through later narrative payoff.The Cherry OrchardCompared with: The play resists tidy dramatic payoff, letting recurring details and sounds remain suggestive.Exposition (narrative)Related: An apparently incidental detail can convey background while preparing a later event.How I Met Your MotherRelated: Small clues and recurring objects can acquire significance across the series’ long timeline.