List of catchphrases

This is a list of catchphrases found in British and American 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 is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This list is distinct from the list of political catchphrases.

In British culture
Notable catchphrases in British culture
Catchphrase Character/Person Media source First appearance Notes
"Bernie, the bolt!"Bob MonkhouseThe Golden Shot1967[1]
"Ooh, you are awful ... but I like you!"Dick EmeryThe Dick Emery Show1963[2]
"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment"Francis UrquhartHouse of Cards1990
"Don't panic!"Lance-Corporal JonesDad's Army1968[3]
"You are the Weakest Link! Goodbye!"Anne RobinsonThe Weakest Link2000
"Fantastic!"Christopher EcclestonDoctor Who2005
"Alons-y!"David TennantDoctor Who2006
"Would you like a jelly baby?"Tom BakerDoctor Who1968
"The Chase is on!"Bradley WalshThe Chase2009
"Is that your final answer?"Chris TarrantWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?1998
"Permission to Speak, Sir!"Lance-Corporal JonesDad's Army1968[4]
"They don't like it up 'em!"Lance-Corporal JonesDad's Army1968[5]
"You stupid boy"Captain George MainwaringDad's Army1968[6]
"I don't believe it!"Victor MeldrewOne Foot in the Grave1990[7]
"I'm Free"Mr. HumphriesAre You Being Served?1972[8]
"Ooh Betty"Frank SpencerSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em1973[9]
"It's good night from me..." "...and it's good night from him"Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie BarkerThe Two Ronnies1971[10]
"Nice to see you, to see you ... nice"Bruce ForsythThe Generation Game1971[11]
"Didn't he/she/they do well?"Bruce ForsythThe Generation Game1971[12]
"Shut that door!"Larry GraysonThe Generation Game1978[13][14]
"What a gay day!"Larry GraysonThe Generation Game1978[14]
"Seems like a nice boy!"Larry GraysonThe Generation Game1978[15]
"Look at the muck on 'ere!"Larry GraysonThe Generation Game1978[15]
"You dirty old man"Harold SteptoeSteptoe and Son1962[16]
"(Three words:) Fab-u-LOUS!"Craig Revel HorwoodStrictly Come Dancing2004[17]
"A complete dahnce di-SAH-ster"Craig Revel HorwoodStrictly Come Dancing2004[17]
"Absolute filth . . . and I LOVED it!"Craig Revel HorwoodStrictly Come Dancing2004[18]
"You'll like it, not a lot . . . but you'll like it"Paul DanielsThe Paul Daniels Magic Show1979[19]
"Let's get the boys on the baize!"Rob WalkerBBC TV snooker coverage2008[20][21]
"Are you ready? Ladies and Gentlemen! Let's...Play...DARTS!"Martin Fitzmaurice & Lakeside audienceDarts World Ch'ships1985[22][23]
"A real bobby-dazzler"David DickinsonBargain Hunt and Dickinson's Real Deal2004?[24][25]
"Cheap as chips"David DickinsonBargain Hunt and Dickinson's Real Deal2004?[26]
"Can you hear me, mother?"Sandy PowellRadio1930[27]
"Does my bum look big in this?"Arabella WeirThe Fast Show1994[28]
"I'll get me coat"Mark WilliamsThe Fast Show1994[29][30]
"Silly Old Moo!"Alf GarnettTill Death Us Do Part1965[31]
"Listen Very Carefully, I Shall Say This Only Once"Michelle Dubois'Allo 'Allo!1982[32]
"Lovely jubbly"Del BoyOnly Fools and Horses1981[33]
"During the war..."Uncle AlbertOnly Fools and Horses1985
"Eh! Eh! Alright! Alright! Calm down! Calm down!"Harry EnfieldHarry Enfield's Television Programme1990[34]
"Is it cos I is Black?"Ali GDa Ali G Show2000[35][36]
"Exterminate"DalekDoctor Who1963[37]
"How very dare you!"Catherine TateThe Catherine Tate Show2004[38]
"Am I bovvered?"Catherine TateThe Catherine Tate Show2004[39]
"What a Fucking Liberty!"Catherine TateThe Catherine Tate Show2004[40]
"Computer says no"Carol BeerLittle Britain2003[41]
"I have a cunning plan"BaldrickBlackadder1983[42]
"Hello, sweetie."River SongDoctor Who2008[43]
"Spoilers."River SongDoctor Who2008[43]


In American television

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

Notable catchphrases from American television shows
Catchphrase Character Series First appearance Notes
"Aaay!"FonzieHappy Days1974[44][45][46]
"And that's the way it is."Walter CronkiteCBS Evening News1963[44][45]
"Bazinga!"Sheldon CooperThe Big Bang Theory2007[44][46]
"Baby, you're the greatest"Ralph KramdenThe Honeymooners1955[44][45]
"Bam!"Emeril LagasseEmeril Live[44][45]
"Bang, zoom, straight to the moon"Ralph KramdenThe Honeymooners1955[46]
"Book 'em, Danno!"Steve McGarrettHawaii Five-O1968[44][45][46]
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose"Coach TaylorFriday Night Lights2006[44][46]
"Come on down!"Johnny OlsonThe Price is Right1972[44][45]
"Cut it out"Joey GladstoneFull House[44]
"Danger, Will Robinson"RobotLost in Space1965[44][45][46]
"De plane! De plane!"[note 1]TattooFantasy Island1977[44][45][46]
"Denny Crane"Denny CraneBoston Legal[45]
"Did I do that?"Steve UrkelFamily Matters[44]
"D'oh!"Homer SimpsonThe Simpsons1989[44][45][46]
"Don't make me angry."Bruce BannerThe Incredible Hulk[45]
"Dude."Hugo "Hurley" ReyesLost[44]
"Dy-no-mite!"J.J. EvansGood Times1974[44][45][46]
"Eat my shorts"Bart SimpsonThe Simpsons1989[44][47]
"Elizabeth, I'm coming!" [note 2]Fred SanfordSanford and Son[44][45]
"Everybody Lies"Dr. Gregory HouseHouse2004[44][46]
"Gee, Mrs. Cleaver"Eddie HaskellLeave it to Beaver[45]
"God'll get you for that"MaudeMaude1972[44][45]
"Good night, and good luck"Edward R. MurrowSee It Now[45]
"Good night, John Boy"The Waltons1971[44][45][46]
"Heh heh"Beavis and Butt-HeadBeavis and Butt-head[45]
"Here it is, your moment of Zen"The Daily Show1996[45]
"Here's Johnny"Ed McMahonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962[44][45]
"Hey now!"Hank KingsleyThe Larry Sanders Show[45]
"Hey hey hey!"[note 3]Dwayne NelsonWhat's Happening!![45]
"Hey hey hey!"Fat AlbertFat Albert[45]
"Holy (whatever), Batman!"RobinBatman[45]
"Holy crap!"Frank BaroneEverybody Loves Raymond[44][45]
"Homey don't play that!"Homey the ClownIn Living Color[45]
'How sweet it is!"Jackie GleasonThe Jackie Gleason Show[45]
"How you doin'?"Joey TribbianiFriends1994[44][45][46]
"I know nothing!"Sgt. SchultzHogan's Heroes[45]
"I love it when a plan comes together"John "Hannibal" SmithThe A-Team1982[45][48]
"I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl ..."[note 4]LarryNewhart[45]
"I'm listening"Frasier CraneFrasier[44]
"I'm Rick James, bitch!"Dave Chappelle as Rick JamesChappelle's Show[44][45]
"If it weren't for you meddling kids!"Various villainsScooby Doo, Where Are You!1969[45]
"Is that your final answer?"Regis PhilbinWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?1999[44][45][46]
"It's a good thing"Martha StewartMartha Stewart Living[44]
"Jane, you ignorant slut"Dan Aykroyd to Jane CurtinWeekend Update / Saturday Night Live[44][45]
"Just one more thing..."ColumboColumbo1971[44][45][46]
"Kiss my grits!"FloAlice1976[44][46]
"Legendary"Barney StinsonHow I Met Your Mother2005[44][46]
"Let's be careful out there"Sgt. EsterhausHill Street Blues1981[44][45][46]
"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"Adventures of Superman1952[44]
"Live long and prosper"SpockStar Trek1966[44][45][46]
"Lucy, you got some splaining to do!"Ricky RicardoI Love Lucy1951[46]
"Make it so"Jean-Luc PicardStar Trek: The Next Generation1987[44]
"Make it work"Tim GunnProject Runway[44]
"Makin' whoopee"Bob EubanksThe Newlywed Game[45]
"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!Jan BradyThe Brady Bunch[44][45]
"Mom always liked you best"Tommy SmothersThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour[45]
"Na-Nu, Na-Nu"MorkMork & Mindy1978[44][46]
"Never assume ..."Felix UngerThe Odd Couple[45]
"Nip it!"[note 5]Barney FifeThe Andy Griffith Show[45]
"No soup for you!"The Soup NaziSeinfeld1995[44][45]
"Norm!"Cheers1982[45][46]
"Now cut that out!"Jack BennyThe Jack Benny Program[45]
"Oh my God, they killed Kenny"[note 6]Stan MarshSouth Park1997[44][45][46]
"Oh, my nose!"Marcia BradyThe Brady Bunch[45]
"Pop! Pop!" Magnitude Community 2011
"Resistance is futile"BorgStar Trek: The Next Generation[44][45]
"Ruh-roh"Astro (and Scooby-Doo)The Jetsons / Scooby-Doo[44]
"Say good night, Gracie"George BurnsThe Burns & Allen Show[45]
"Schwing!"Wayne and GarthWayne's World / Saturday Night Live[45]
"Smile, you're on Candid Camera"Candid Camera[45]
"Sock it to me!"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968[44][45][46]
"Space, the final frontier ..."Captain KirkStar Trek: The Original Series1966[45]
"Stifle!"Archie BunkerAll in the Family1971[44][45][46]
"Suit up!"Barney StinsonHow I Met Your Mother[45]
"Tell me what you don't like about yourself"Dr. McNamara and Dr. TroyNip/Tuck[45]
"Thank you veddy much"Latka GravasTaxi[44]
"That's hot"Paris HiltonThe Simple Life[45]
"The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat"Jim McKayABC's Wide World of Sports[44][45]
"The Tribe has spoken."Jeff ProbstSurvivor2000[44][45]
"The truth is out there"Fox MulderThe X-Files[45]
"This is the city ..."Joe FridayDragnet1951[45]
"This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."Mission: Impossible1966[44]
"To the Batmobile!"BatmanBatman1966[44]
"Two thumbs up"Siskel & EbertAt the Movies[45]
"Up your nose with a rubber hose"Vinnie BarbarinoWelcome Back, Kotter1975[45][46]
"We are two wild and crazy guys!"Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboysSaturday Night Live[45]
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch"Luke WardThe O.C.[45]
"Well, isn't that special?"The Church LadySaturday Night Live[44][45]
"We've got a really big show!"Ed SullivanThe Ed Sullivan Show[45]
"We've got a situation."Mike "the Situation" SorrentinoJersey Shore[44]
"What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"Arnold JacksonDiff'rent Strokes1978[44][45][46]
"What you see is what you get!"Geraldine JonesThe Flip Wilson Show[45][46]
"Who loves ya, baby?"KojakKojak1973[44][45][46]
"Will you accept this rose?"The Bachelor[44]
"Would you believe...?"Maxwell SmartGet Smart1965[45][46]
"Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub"Rick SanchezRick and Morty2013 [49][50]
"Yabba dabba doo!"Fred FlintstoneThe Flintstones1960[44][45]
"Yada, yada, yada"Elaine BenesSeinfeld, episode "The Yada Yada"1997[44][45][46]
"Yeah, that's the ticket"Tommy Flanagan, the Pathological LiarSaturday Night Live[45]
"You eediot!"Ren HoekRen & Stimpy1991[45]
"You look mahvelous"Billy Crystal as FernandoSaturday Night Live[44][45]
"You big dummy!"Fred SanfordSanford and Son1972[51]
"You rang?"LurchThe Addams Family[45]
"You're fired!"Donald TrumpThe Apprentice2004[44][45]
"You've got spunk ..."Lou GrantThe Mary Tyler Moore Show[45]

In cinema
Main article: AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes
Notable catchphrases in cinema
Catchphrase Character/Actor Movie First appearance Notes
"I'll be back"TerminatorThe Terminator1984[note 7][note 8]
"I am your father"Darth VaderThe Empire Strikes Back1980
"Hasta la vista, baby"TerminatorTerminator 2: Judgment Day1991[note 9]
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning"Lieutenant Colonel Bill KilgoreApocalypse Now1979[note 7][note 8]
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"Rhett ButlerGone with the Wind1939[note 10][note 11]
"Here's looking at you, kid"Rick BlaineCasablanca1942[note 12][note 13]
"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse"Don Vito CorleoneThe Godfather1972[note 14][note 15]
"Go ahead, make my day"Harry CallahanSudden Impact1983[note 16]
"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"Harry CallahanDirty Harry1971[note 16]
"You talkin' to me?"Travis BickleTaxi Driver1976[note 17]
"Yippee ki yay, motherfucker"John McClaneDie Hard1988[note 18]
"Say hello to my little friend"Tony MontanaScarface1983[note 19]
"Release the Kraken!" Zeus Clash of the Titans 2010 [52]
"The name is Bond, James Bond"James BondDr No1962[note 9]
"We have ways to make men talk" Mohammed Khan The Lives of a Bengal Lancer 1935 [53]

See also

Notes
  1. Also "Ze plane! Ze plane!"
  2. Full quote: "Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you honey"
  3. Dwayne Nelson's "Hey hey hey" catchphrase in What's Happening!! emphasizes the second hey
  4. Full quote: "I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl"
  5. Full quote: "Nip it in the bud!"
  6. The catchphrase "Oh my God, they killed Kenny" is followed with Kyle Broflovski's catchphrase "You bastards!"
    1. 1 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
    1. 37 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 76 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 2 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
    1. 1 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 6 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
    1. 5 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 10 on Time Magazine's top 10 catchphrases.
    1. 2 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 6 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 10 on the American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.
    1. 96 on Premiere magazine's top 100 Greatest Movie Lines.
    1. 61 on American Film Institute's top 100 Movie Quotes.

References
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  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. Hattenstone, Simon (10 June 2002). "Permission to speak, sir?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
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