List of catchphrases in American and British mass media

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This is a list of catchphrases found in American and British english language television and film, where a catchphrase is a short phrase or expression that has gained usage beyond its initial scope. These are not merely catchy sayings. Even though some sources may identify a phrase as a catchphrase, this list is for those that meet the definition given in the lead section of the catchphrase article and are notable for their widespread use within the culture. This list is distinct from the list of political catchphrases.

In British culture

In American television

Catchphrases from events, interviews, and commercials are not included.

Notable catchphrases in British culture
Catchphrase Character/person Media source First appearance Notes
"Bernie, the bolt!" Bob Monkhouse The Golden Shot 1967 [1]
"Ooh, you are awful ... but I like you!" Dick Emery The Dick Emery Show 1963 [2]
"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment" Francis Urquhart House of Cards 1990
"Don't panic!" Lance-Corporal Jones Dad's Army 1968 [3]
"You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye!" Anne Robinson The Weakest Link 2000 [4][5]
"Fantastic!" Christopher Eccleston Doctor Who 2005 [6]
"Allons-y!" David Tennant Doctor Who 2006 [6][7]
"Would you like a jelly baby?" Tom Baker Doctor Who 1974 [6]
"The Chase is on!" Bradley Walsh The Chase 2009
"Is that your final answer?" Chris Tarrant Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 1998
"Permission to Speak, Sir!" Lance-Corporal Jones Dad's Army 1968 [8]
"They don't like it up 'em!" Lance-Corporal Jones Dad's Army 1968 [9]
"You stupid boy" Captain George Mainwaring Dad's Army 1968 [10]
"I don't believe it!" Victor Meldrew One Foot in the Grave 1990 [11]
"I'm Free" Mr. Humphries Are You Being Served? 1972 [12]
"Ooh Betty" Frank Spencer Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em 1973 [13]
"It's good night from me..." "...and it's good night from him" Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker The Two Ronnies 1971 [14]
"Nice to see you, to see you ... nice" Sir Bruce Forsyth The Generation Game 1971 [15]
"Didn't he/she/they do well?" Sir Bruce Forsyth The Generation Game 1971 [16]
"Shut that door!" Larry Grayson The Generation Game 1978 [17][18]
Notable catchphrases from American television shows
Catchphrase Character Series First appearance Notes
"Aaay!" Fonzie Happy Days 1974 [19][20][21]
"And that's the way it is." Walter Cronkite CBS Evening News 1963 [19][20]
"Ay caramba!" Bart Simpson The Simpsons 1988
"Baby, you're the greatest" Ralph Kramden The Honeymooners 1955 [19][20]
"Bam!" Emeril Lagasse Emeril Live [19][20]
"Bang, zoom, straight to the moon" Ralph Kramden The Honeymooners 1955 [21]
"Bazinga!" Sheldon Cooper The Big Bang Theory 2007 [19][21]
"Bite my shiny metal ass!" Bender Rodriguez Futurama
"Blam!" Bitch Pudding Robot Chicken
"Book 'em, Danno!" Steve McGarrett Hawaii Five-O 1968 [19][20][21]
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" Coach Taylor Friday Night Lights 2006 [19][21]
"Come on down!" Johnny Olson The Price is Right 1972 [19][20]
"Cut it out" Joey Gladstone Full House [19]
"Damn you, vile woman!" Stewie Griffin Family Guy
"Danger, Will Robinson" Robot Lost in Space 1965 [19][20][21]
"De plane! De plane!" Tattoo Fantasy Island 1977 [19][20][21]
"Deal… or no deal?" Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal 2005
"Denny Crane" Denny Crane Boston Legal [20]
"Did I do that?" Steve Urkel Family Matters [19]
"D'oh!" Homer Simpson The Simpsons 1988 [19][20][21]
"Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." David Banner The Incredible Hulk [20]
"Dude." Hugo "Hurley" Reyes Lost [19]
"Dy-no-mite!" J.J. Evans Good Times 1974 [19][20][21]
"Eat my shorts" Bart Simpson The Simpsons 1990 [19][22]
"Elizabeth, I'm coming!"[note 1] Fred Sanford Sanford and Son [19][20]
"Everybody Lies" Dr. Gregory House House 2004 [19][21]
"Gee, Mrs. Cleaver" Eddie Haskell Leave it to Beaver [20]
"Giggity-giggity-goo!" Glenn Quagmire Family Guy
"God'll get you for that" Maude Maude 1972 [19][20]
"Good night, and good luck" Edward R. Murrow See It Now [20]
"Goodnight, everybody!" Yakko Warner Animaniacs
"Good night, John Boy" The Waltons 1971 [19][20][21]
"Have Mercy" Jesse Katsopolis Full House [19]
"Heh-heh" Beavis and Butt-Head Beavis and Butt-head [20]
"Hello there, children!" Jerome "Chef" McElroy South Park
"Here it is, your moment of Zen" The Daily Show 1996 [20]
"Here's Johnny" Ed McMahon The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1962 [19][20]
"Hey now!" Hank Kingsley The Larry Sanders Show [20]
"Hey hey hey!"[note 2] Dwayne Nelson What's Happening!! [20]
"Hey hey hey!" Fat Albert Fat Albert [20]
"Holy (whatever), Batman!" Robin Batman [20]
"Holy crap!" Frank Barone Everybody Loves Raymond [19][20]
"How rude!" Stephanie Tanner Full House 1987
"Homey don't play that!" Homey the Clown In Living Color [20]
'How sweet it is!" Jackie Gleason The Jackie Gleason Show [20]
"How you doin'?" Joey Tribbiani Friends 1994 [19][20][21]
"I know nothing!" Sgt. Schultz Hogan's Heroes [20]
"I love it when a plan comes together" John "Hannibal" Smith The A-Team 1982 [20][23]
"I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl ..."[note 3] Larry Newhart [20]
"I'm listening" Frasier Crane Frasier [19]
"I'm ready!" SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob SquarePants 1999
"I'm Rick James, bitch!" Dave Chappelle as Rick James Chappelle's Show 2004 [19][20]
"If it weren't for you meddling kids!" Various villains Scooby Doo, Where Are You! 1969 [20]
"Is that your final answer?" Regis Philbin Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 1999 [19][20][21]
"It's a good thing" Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Living [19]
"It’s morphin’ time!" Various characters Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 1993
"Jane, you ignorant slut" Dan Aykroyd to Jane Curtin Weekend Update / Saturday Night Live [19][20]
"Just one more thing..." Columbo Columbo 1971 [19][20][21]
"Kiss my grits!" Flo Alice 1976 [19][21]
"Ladies… please." Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal 2005
"Legendary" Barney Stinson How I Met Your Mother 2005 [19][21]
"Let's be careful out there" Sgt. Esterhaus Hill Street Blues 1981 [19][20][21]
"Let's move people" Sasha Bratz 2005
"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" Adventures of Superman 1952 [19]
"Live long and prosper" Spock Star Trek 1966 [19][20][21]
"Make it so" Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek: The Next Generation 1987 [19]
"Make it work" Tim Gunn Project Runway [19]
"Makin' whoopee" Bob Eubanks The Newlywed Game [20]
"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Jan Brady The Brady Bunch [19][20]
"Mom always liked you best" Tommy Smothers The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour [20]
"Mother of Pink!" and "Chop chop!" Burdine Maxwell Bratz 2005
"Na-Nu, Na-Nu" Mork Mork & Mindy 1978 [19][21]
"Never assume ..." Felix Unger The Odd Couple [20]
"Nip it!"[note 4] Barney Fife The Andy Griffith Show [20]
"No soup for you!" The Soup Nazi Seinfeld 1995 [19][20]
"Norm!" Cheers 1982 [20][21]
"Now cut that out!" Jack Benny The Jack Benny Program [20]
"Oh my God, they killed Kenny"[note 5] Stan Marsh South Park 1997 [19][20][21]
"Oh, my nose!" Marcia Brady The Brady Bunch [20]
"Open the case!" Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal 2005
"Oww! My nose!" Kaycee Bratz 2005
"Pow! Right in the kisser!" Ralph Kramden The Honeymooners 1955
"Resistance is futile" Borg Star Trek: The Next Generation [19][20]
"Ruh-roh" Astro (and Scooby-Doo) The Jetsons / Scooby-Doo [19]
"Say good night, Gracie" George Burns The Burns & Allen Show [20]
"Schwing!" Wayne and Garth Wayne's World / Saturday Night Live [20]
"Screw you guys, I'm going home!" Eric Cartman South Park
"Shut up, Meg." Peter Griffin Family Guy
"Smile, you're on Candid Camera" Candid Camera [20]
"Sock it to me!" Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 1968 [19][20][21]
"Space, the final frontier ..." Captain Kirk Star Trek: The Original Series 1966 [20]
"Stifle!" Archie Bunker All in the Family 1971 [19][20][21]
"Suit up!" Barney Stinson How I Met Your Mother [20]
"Tell me what you don't like about yourself" Dr. McNamara and Dr. Troy Nip/Tuck [20]
"Thank you veddy much" Latka Gravas Taxi [19]
"That would be so cool! So cool" Arthur Kensington Jr., "The Nerd" Robot Chicken
"That's hot" Paris Hilton The Simple Life [20]
"That's what she said!" Michael Scott The Office [24]
"The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" Jim McKay ABC's Wide World of Sports [19][20]
"The Tribe has spoken." Jeff Probst Survivor 2000 [19][20]
"The truth is out there" Fox Mulder The X-Files [20]
"This is the city ..." Joe Friday Dragnet 1951 [20]
"This tape will self-destruct in five seconds." Mission: Impossible 1966 [19]
"To the Batmobile!" Batman Batman 1966 [19]
"Two thumbs up" Siskel & Ebert At the Movies [20]
"Up your nose with a rubber hose" Vinnie Barbarino Welcome Back, Kotter 1975 [20][21]
"We are two wild and crazy guys!" Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboys Saturday Night Live [20]
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch" Luke Ward The O.C. [20]
"Well, isn't that special?" The Church Lady Saturday Night Live [19][20]
"We've got a really big show!" Ed Sullivan The Ed Sullivan Show [20]
"We've got a situation." Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino Jersey Shore [19]
"What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" Arnold Jackson Diff'rent Strokes 1978 [19][20][21]
"What you see is what you get!" Geraldine Jones The Flip Wilson Show [20][21]
"Who loves ya, baby?" Kojak Kojak 1973 [19][20][21]
"Why you little…!" Homer Simpson The Simpsons 1988
"Will you accept this rose?" The Bachelor [19]
"Works for me" Rick Hunter Hunter 2004
"Would you believe...?" Maxwell Smart Get Smart 1965 [20][21]
"Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub" Rick Sanchez Rick and Morty 2013 [25][26]
"Yabba dabba doo!" Fred Flintstone The Flintstones 1960 [19][20]
"Yada, yada, yada" Elaine Benes Seinfeld, episode "The Yada Yada" 1997 [19][20][21]
"Yeah, that's the ticket" Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological Liar Saturday Night Live [20]
"You eediot!" Ren Hoek Ren & Stimpy 1991 [20]
"You look mahvelous" Billy Crystal as Fernando Saturday Night Live [19][20]
"You big dummy!" Fred Sanford Sanford and Son 1972 [27]
"You got it, dude!" Michelle Tanner Full House 1987
"You made a great/bad deal!" Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal 2005
"You rang?" Lurch The Addams Family [20]
"You're fired!" Donald Trump The Apprentice 2004 [19][20]
"You've got spunk ..." Lou Grant The Mary Tyler Moore Show [20]

In cinema

Notable catchphrases in cinema
Catchphrase Character Movie First appearance Notes
"I'll be back" Terminator The Terminator 1984 [note 6][note 7]
"Hasta la vista, baby" Terminator Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 [note 8]
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning" Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore Apocalypse Now 1979 [note 6][note 7]
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" Rhett Butler Gone with the Wind 1939 [note 9][note 10]
"Here's looking at you, kid" Rick Blaine Casablanca 1942 [note 11][note 12]
"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" Don Vito Corleone The Godfather 1972 [note 13][note 14]
"Go ahead, make my day" Harry Callahan Sudden Impact 1983 [note 15]
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" Harry Callahan Dirty Harry 1971 [note 15]
"You talkin' to me?" Travis Bickle Taxi Driver 1976 [note 16]
"Say hello to my little friend" Tony Montana Scarface 1983 [note 17]
"Release the Kraken!" Zeus Clash of the Titans 2010 [28]
"The name is Bond, James Bond" James Bond Dr No 1962 [note 8]
"We have ways to make men talk" Mohammed Khan The Lives of a Bengal Lancer 1935 [29]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Full quote: "Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you honey"
  2. ↑ Dwayne Nelson's "Hey hey hey" catchphrase in What's Happening!! emphasizes the second hey
  3. ↑ Full quote: "I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl"
  4. ↑ Full quote: "Nip it in the bud!"
  5. ↑ The catchphrase "Oh my God, they killed Kenny" is followed with Kyle Broflovski's catchphrase "You bastards!"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 #1 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 #37 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 #76 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  9. ↑ #2 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
  10. ↑ #1 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  11. ↑ #6 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
  12. ↑ #5 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  13. ↑ #10 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
  14. ↑ #2 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 #6 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  16. ↑ #10 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
  17. ↑ #61 on American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.

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References

  1. ↑ "Bob Monkhouse: Quiz show king". BBC News. 29 December 2003. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Ooh ! You Are Awful – Dick Emery's Big Screen Offering". britishclassiccomedy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Don't panic! Dad's Army turns 50 with set of stamps". BBC News. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Anne Robinson to be the new host of Countdown". 15 February 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  5. ↑ Moore, James (10 August 2020). "The Weakest Link: 20 years since Anne Robinson became the Queen of Mean". Express.co.uk.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 McAlpine, Fraser (19 April 2012). "'Doctor Who': Ten of the Doctor's Most Memorable Catchphrases". BBC America. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "David Tennant reveals the sex of fan couple's baby using his Doctor Who catchphrase in adorable video". Digital Spy. 10 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Hattenstone, Simon (10 June 2002). "Permission to speak, sir?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  9. ↑ Roycroft-Davis, Roy (3 March 2012). "SAY NO, NO, NO TO PROPPING UP THIS EU DISASTER ZONE". Daily Express. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. ↑ Sutcliffe, Tom (30 September 2011). "Tom Sutcliffe: 'You stupid boy' spoke volumes". theindependent.co.uk. London. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "I don't believe it! Grumpy old man Victor Meldrew back from the dead". belfasttelegraph. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "John Inman". the Guardian. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  13. ↑ Payne, Stewart (21 August 2003). "Ooh Betty, I've got a stolen police radio". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Ronnie Corbett obituary: '...And it's goodnight from him'". liverpoolecho.co.uk. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Nice to see you, to see you Knight". thenorthernecho.co.uk. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  16. ↑ White, Michael (11 June 2011). "Bruce Forsyth gets long-awaited knighthood – didn't he do well?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "Shut that door! How the Larry Grayson effect can stop shops from going bust". bitterwallet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "Shut That Door! Larry Grayson at ITV (TV)". dvdcompare.net. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 19.18 19.19 19.20 19.21 19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 19.26 19.27 19.28 19.29 19.30 19.31 19.32 19.33 19.34 19.35 19.36 19.37 19.38 19.39 19.40 19.41 19.42 19.43 19.44 19.45 19.46 19.47 19.48 19.49 19.50 19.51 19.52 19.53 19.54 19.55 19.56 19.57 19.58 Clehane, Diane (9 September 2013). "TV's 60 Greatest Catchphrases". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  20. ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 20.12 20.13 20.14 20.15 20.16 20.17 20.18 20.19 20.20 20.21 20.22 20.23 20.24 20.25 20.26 20.27 20.28 20.29 20.30 20.31 20.32 20.33 20.34 20.35 20.36 20.37 20.38 20.39 20.40 20.41 20.42 20.43 20.44 20.45 20.46 20.47 20.48 20.49 20.50 20.51 20.52 20.53 20.54 20.55 20.56 20.57 20.58 20.59 20.60 20.61 20.62 20.63 20.64 20.65 20.66 20.67 20.68 20.69 20.70 20.71 20.72 20.73 20.74 20.75 20.76 20.77 20.78 20.79 "TV Land Lists the 100 Greatest TV Catchphrases". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  21. ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.19 21.20 21.21 21.22 21.23 21.24 21.25 21.26 21.27 21.28 Cashill, Robert (18 March 2015). "From "Kiss My Grits!" to "Bazinga!", 30 Favorite TV Catchphrases". Biography.com. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  22. ↑ "'The Simpsons': Nancy Cartwright on the origin of 'Eat my shorts'". Zap2it. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  23. ↑ Sachs, R. (2010). What Would Rob Do: An Irreverent Guide to Surviving Life's Daily Indignities. Wiley. p. pt57. ISBN 978-0-470-59426-1.
  24. ↑ The Office US (15 July 2017), Every That's What She Said Ever - The Office US, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 27 November 2017
  25. ↑ "Google the RICK AND MORTY Catchphrase "Wubba Lubba Dub Dub" for a Surprising Response". Nerdist Industries. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  26. ↑ Lavender, Natasha (27 May 2020). "The Truth Behind Rick's Catchphrase On Rick And Morty". Looper.com.
  27. ↑ "Most popular sitcom catchphrases of all time, from 'Ayyyy!' to 'Hello, Newman'". FOX Wilmington. 24 February 2020.
  28. ↑ Silver, Alexandra (9 December 2010). "The Top 10 Everything of 2010". Time. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  29. ↑ "The origin of the movie cliché "We have ways of making you talk!"". thisdayinquotes.com. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2017.

External links

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