Catchphrase

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A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. They are especially common among cartoon characters.

Today, catch phrases are frequently seen as an important part of marketing a character, with the phrase appearing on t-shirts and other promotional materials for the character's respective show or film.

Catch phrases attributed to real people are often based on something that the person would be expected to say, as opposed to something they actually did. These are also known as misquotations. "Beam me up, Scotty" (see below) is a good example of this.

However, in order to be a catch phrase, a quote generally has to be more than a famous (or infamous) statement. It also usually serves two additional functions: first, to identify the speaker; and secondly, to serve primarily as that character's "trademark." A catchphrase can also identify something other than an individual character: Budweiser's "Wazzup" identifies the brand more than it identifies the individuals in the advertisement who actually say it.

A catch phrase is not to be confused with an infectious remark that enters the mainstream and becomes popular independent of its character. For instance, Zero Wing's All Your Base Are Belong To Us has some currency as a successful meme, but is not a catch phrase because it does not serve as such a trademark.

Context

Context is essential to many catch phrases. Although listed below, few people would recognise "No problem", "There you go" or "Yes" as catchphrases in themselves. For example, Marv Albert's "Yes!" is a catchphrase mainly due to his distinctive sounding of that word, and people who imitate or parody it try to duplicate his style. Similarly, when referring to tricky Anglo-German relations, the phrase "Don't mention the war!" evokes Basil Fawlty, especially when delivered through clenched teeth. But when referring to another war it may not function as a catchphrase at all.

Some well-known catch phrases

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  • "F.A.B." - acknowledgement signal in Thunderbirds
  • "Fascinating." - Mr. Spock in Star Trek
  • "From the mountains to the ocean, from the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California - good evening." - the late Jerry Dunphy's original opening phrase during KNXT's "The Big News" program aired in Los Angeles in the 1960's. Later in his career, he dumped the first six words of this opener.

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  • "Leapin' lizards!" - comic strip character Little Orphan Annie
  • "Let's play two!" - Ernie Banks
  • "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." Tom Hanks as the title character in Forrest Gump
  • "Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once" - Michelle of the resistance, in 'Allo 'Allo. Pronounced "Lissern varry carfully, Ah shall say zis only wernce"
  • "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" - various cast members of US TV show Saturday Night Live, at end of first sketch, before the opening credits
  • "Live long and prosper." - Mr. Spock on Star Trek.
  • "Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls" - from Laugh-In
  • "Lookin' good!" - Freddie Prinze as Chico Rodriguez on Chico and the Man
  • "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaiiin!" - Team Rocket, the villains of the Pokémon Anime. Used every time Team Rocket has failed at a plan and is invariably sent flying into the distance.
  • "Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit..." -- From Lloyd Bridges' character in the movie Airplane! This would be followed by a drug of some kind. "Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing glue."
  • "Luvvly Jubbly!" - Del Boy in "Only Fools and Horses"

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* These phrases occur only once in their respective film/series etc, but still became catch phrases.

See also

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