Monday, October 03, 2005

Catch Phrase...

"A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that becomes spontaneously popularized through widespread repeated usage. A catch phrase's defining features are its sudden, spontaneous, and widespread public reception, and its adopted use by the public, often to its amusement."

  • "Danger, Will Robinson!" - The Robot from Lost in Space
  • "Elvis has left the building!" - Al Dvorin announcement over public address after Elvis Presley concert to induce fans to leave
  • "Holy _____, Batman!" - An exclamation of Robin from the Batman television series. The word after "Holy" was different in every episode, depending on (and referencing) plot circumstances. Examples range from "Holy popcorn, Batman!" to "Holy contributing to the delinquency of minors, Batman!"
  • "Houston, we have a problem." - from the movie Apollo 13. It is a paraphrasing of the original quote from Jack Swigert which was "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here." Oft-cited in the business world when a project is not going according to plan.
  • "Leapin' lizards!" - comic strip character Little Orphan Annie
  • "Most illogical" - Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy in the TV series Star Trek
  • "Oh, bother!" - Winnie the Pooh's typical expression when things are not going well. A very old-fashioned, triple-G rated expression. The ship's captain in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore, musically asserts, "Though 'bother it' I may / occasionally say / I never use a big, big 'D'!"

But all of these vastly pale in comparison to the round of "Catch Phrase" that went on last night at the Clark's house. 3 hours of insane, zany, hilariously funny mental strings trying to be "knotted" into some cohesive form of English. Too fun!

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