# "I'll be in my bunk" -- origin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875 "2010-07-07T16:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/21 "2010-07-07T17:28:47Z")
It’s from that Firefly episode, right?! Yeah it is. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/22 "2010-07-07T17:42:19Z")
I just assumed it’s from American Pie or one of its sequels. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/23 "2010-07-07T17:47:31Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > :dubious: Really? It’s the only board where I’ve seen it used. It’s also the only board where I see people say “Ooh, shiny!”. But I **have** seen the “distracted by a shiny object” elsewhere. Yeah, I don’t get around much. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/24 "2010-07-07T17:53:10Z")
I just assumed it was from: The Waltons. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/25 "2010-07-07T17:53:53Z")
Actually, we just say “Shiny,” using it to mean “Kewl” or “OK.” “Ooh, shiny” means something else completely. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/26 "2010-07-07T18:00:48Z")
Never heard the phrase or heard of “Firefly” except on this board. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/27 "2010-07-07T18:08:39Z")
I’m going to share this [great image](http://twitpic.com/22qtp6) now. (Firefly yes, bunk-related no.) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/28 "2010-07-07T18:10:12Z")
The “twixt my nethers” line comes from the movie, and IIRC, the captain’s response was, “I can’t know that!” I don’t know about the “orders of magnitude” thing. I believe the fans of Firefly are approximately 100% of the people who have seen Firefly … aside from a few malcontents whose existence we hardly need to acknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/29 "2010-07-07T18:50:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Seriously, though, has this phrase gotten to the point that people unaware of its origin use it? > > ??? > [@AuntiePam](#): > > I figured it had been around for a long time, and that it originated on the Dope. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > :dubious: Really? I’m with AuntiePam – I actually saw the original run of _Firefly_, but that particular scene never stuck with me. So when I started seeing it on this board, it struck me as something that probably had been around for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/30 "2010-07-07T19:03:20Z")
In the early-'80s my friends and I would say, ‘I’m… just going to go to the bathroom for a minute.’ ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/31 "2010-07-07T19:05:21Z")
The only reason I’m aware that there was something called Firefly is this board. I’ve never seen, read or heard a reference to it anywhere else. As for the phrase in question, I’m pretty sure I have only seen it here, and didn’t need to know where it came from to enjoy it. It gets over-used, IMO, but there are times when it still makes me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/32 "2010-07-07T19:49:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Seriously, though, has this phrase gotten to the point that people unaware of its origin use it? Believe it or not, but most people haven’t watched Firefly. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/33 "2010-07-07T19:52:09Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Believe it or not, but most people haven’t watched Firefly. That unpossible ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/34 "2010-07-07T19:58:00Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Seriously, though, has this phrase gotten to the point that people unaware of its origin use it? > > ??? Whoops, I mis-read your quote in my last post, so I apologize for my snarkiness. I thought you had said “Seriously, though, has this phrase gotten to the point that people are unaware of its origin?” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/35 "2010-07-07T20:05:26Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Believe it or not, but most people haven’t watched Firefly. I know. That’s my point. 😕 Did you read my post? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/36 "2010-07-07T20:06:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I know. That’s my point. > > 😕 > > Did you read my post? > > 😕 I guess you missed my follow-up, just above? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/37 "2010-07-07T20:09:30Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Whoops, I mis-read your quote in my last post, so I apologize for my snarkiness. I thought you had said “Seriously, though, has this phrase gotten to the point that people are unaware of its origin?” Methinks you are not the only one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/38 "2010-07-07T20:35:33Z")
We will continue to use it, because it’s pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/39 "2010-07-07T20:40:23Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > I’m going to share this [great image](http://twitpic.com/22qtp6) now. (Firefly yes, bunk-related no.) My new wallpaper! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875/40 "2010-07-07T21:43:56Z")
I saw _Firefly_ rather later than many folks on this board, such that I was already aware of “I’ll be in my bunk” before I saw it. So when I did see that episode, my reaction was something like “Oh, so that’s where that’s from”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-be-in-my-bunk-origin/545875.md?page=3)