# Cultural references you'd find quite handy if only anyone else knew them (with bonus questions!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618 "2012-05-31T02:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Green\_Rosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Green\_Rosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Rosetta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/21 "2012-06-01T03:49:56Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > After having to suffer some indignities at work: “Laugh it up, laughing boy. The Cilician pirates were laughing too, for a while.” Not sure exactly the book or movie, but I’m guessing you’re talking about the Cilician pirates that kidnapped Julius Caesar? Any time I drink too much coffee or caffeine and get all hopped up, I quote the SNL sketch with Jim Carrey about Jimmy Tango’s Fat Busters- “I realized… I’M THE DEVIL!” I find it drives the point home about just how jittery I am, but those who get it are few and far between. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/22 "2012-06-01T04:13:10Z")
> [@Green\_Rosetta](#): > > Not sure exactly the book or movie, but I’m guessing you’re talking about the Cilician pirates that kidnapped Julius Caesar? Yes! I’ve always admired how old Gaius took it all in good humor, even joshing with the pirates how after his ransom was paid he’d come back and crucify the lot of them. They laughed along, har de har har. Then JC’s ransom was paid, he raised an army, came back and DID. EXACTLY. THAT. On reflection, maybe it’s better that my coworkers don’t know what I’m thinking at those times. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/23 "2012-06-01T11:46:13Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > a DUCK! OK. I give up. Vhy a duck? Vhy-a no chicken? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/24 "2012-06-01T12:02:11Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > After having to suffer some indignities at work: “Laugh it up, laughing boy. The Cilician pirates were laughing too, for a while.” You could combine two references and say “Laugh it up, laughing boy. The Cicilian pirates laughed at me once. Once!” Nobody ever gets it when I say “…and what about Naomi?” ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/25 "2012-06-01T12:53:36Z")
Sometimes I talk about how I brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack, or on a windy day, that the place about to blow. Plenty of people do know what I’m talking about, but Ke$ha lyrics are something that EVERYBODY needs to know. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/26 "2012-06-01T12:57:12Z")
In a bad storm, I’ll sometimes choke out: “LIGHT – NING!” ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/27 "2012-06-01T13:14:39Z")
My son and I riff on the hipster douches in everyday things… e.g. “Dad, you know I am only sitting down to eat dinner wth you ironically.” \. or “Son, take out the garbage. I bought new bags for the can, but they are from a company you’ve probably never heard of, so they are much better than your usual brand.” \. This generally gets blank stares from everyone else in the house. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/28 "2012-06-01T13:32:29Z")
I will sometimes try to reference \*\*Giotto’s Circle \*\*([Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giotto)) as a statement of “you either get that I/we have the skills to do this, or you don’t” and it falls flat. > [@](#): > > Vasari also relates that when the Pope sent a messenger to Giotto, asking him to send a drawing to demonstrate his skill, Giotto drew, in red paint, a circle so perfect that it seemed as though it was drawn using a compass and instructed the messenger to give that to the Pope. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/29 "2012-06-01T14:24:36Z")
A couple for me: Whenever someone is trying to do something with an object and it’s not working I’ll say “It doesn’t like you” in my best Evanzan voice. I’ve been doing that for years and only ONCE did someone get the reference. Also if someone trumps someone else in conversation I’ll say “Oop he’s got ya there Rock!” (Ten points to whomever knows THAT reference, and no it’s not the Rocky movies) ETA: Oops forgot one…if ever I have to make a decision between to things I’ll always add “…or a hanging, either way it should be a lot of fun” and do the little dance thing that goes with it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/30 "2012-06-01T23:40:58Z")
“Yeah, but THIS is my shooting hand!” (with the appropriate silly gesture) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/31 "2012-06-02T00:06:40Z")
Most of mine recently are things like “…like my fourth wife. She pretty though… pretty and smelly, weird combo”, or “a drink that requires a mature parrot”, and “Tastes like fermented herring dipped in cat piss”. More commonly there’s “You never did the Kenosha, kid”, and, in my house, the phrase “I’ve got a theory” is usually met with “it must be bunnies”. Occasionally some comment about [Joe Biden eating a sandwich](http://xkcd.com/915/). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/32 "2012-06-02T00:28:48Z")
My GF and I, when contemplating something we don’t want to do, will often say, “There may come a day when …\… will come to pass. But it is not THIS day!” (ROTK, if you must know) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/33 "2012-06-02T01:43:48Z")
What \*are \*birds? [We just don’t know.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5lDSjuo67LM#t=112s) My circle of friends only get the reference because I’ve forced them to watch the video series. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/34 "2012-06-02T04:38:46Z")
Somebody around here mentioned an SEP shield recently, and I had a “D’oh!” moment thinking of this thread. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to explain that concept to someone. Side note, the search function refuses to admit that any such word ahs been used here, ever. So maybe I dreamed it, or maybe it works on itself. . . ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/35 "2012-06-02T05:14:23Z")
This happens to me all the time, such that I can only think off the top of my head of two occasions where I thought it would happen and it didn’t. I told my roommate yesterday that I was going to take the 55 bus, except I said the schfifty-five. Her response was “[WHAT YOU SAY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XccUMOQ978)?” Which is how I know I chose the right people to live with. And I _really_ know I chose the right guy for my boyfriend when I responded to a mention of the word spleens by muttering “Spleens? _You’re_ not spleens!” and he said “Whoever you are, make me a pizza!” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/36 "2012-06-02T17:28:30Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > One night at my job-before-last, a guest called to ask for a wakeup call. It was ultra important - early flight or such - so I told him I’d also call his room at the appropriate time, just to be sure he was up. At 5:30 am, I’m a little punchy and silly, so I asked “Are we awake?” I was tickled when he responded appropriately! Almost no one ever asks me whether I’m black. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/37 "2012-06-03T11:40:21Z")
I’m always the only one in the theater who laughs when the _bandito_ in _Blazing Saddles_ says " **Badges?!?** We don’ need no **steenkin’ badges!"** ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/38 "2012-06-05T15:05:50Z")
Finally found the reference. SEP shield comment: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15121898&postcount=49](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15121898&postcount=49) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/39 "2012-06-05T15:16:06Z")
I suspect most people here would get it, but nobody outside my family in real life gets “Caaaan youuuu dig it!?!?” ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618/40 "2012-06-06T14:49:04Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > And I _really_ know I chose the right guy for my boyfriend when I responded to a mention of the word spleens by muttering “Spleens? _You’re_ not spleens!” and he said “Whoever you are, make me a pizza!” \*I \*would have said “You deserve something that I could never give you…a man with a **SPLEEN**!” Thus marking myself forever as the wrong guy for you, and bewildering everyone who is not familiar with that long-forgotten Ambush Bug comic book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-references-youd-find-quite-handy-if-only-anyone-else-knew-them-with-bonus-questions/623618.md?page=3)