# Origin of Phrase/Comeback, "Thank you, they're my mother's."

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-comeback-thank-you-theyre-my-mothers/835827>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-comeback-thank-you-theyre-my-mothers/835827 "2019-06-21T01:08:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ntsallfour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c68b51/32.png) [@ntsallfour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ntsallfour)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-phrase-comeback-thank-you-theyre-my-mothers/835827/1 "2019-06-21T01:08:21Z")

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Greetings,

I’m asking for help in finding the origin of the tongue-in-cheek comeback, “_Thank you, they’re my mother’s_” to someone commenting on a body part of yours.

For example: a friend notices my boney knees for the first time, and teases, “_Hey, nice knees._” My reply: “_Thank you, they’re my mother’s._” – a humorous reference to what may be inherited body feature.

My Google search for the comeback only references an episode of The Big Bang Theory (S04/E02), where Sheldon uses it as a comeback to Penny’s remark, as in my above example. However, I’m sure the origin goes back many decades, as I first heard my mom use it back in the 1970s (she was born in the late 1920s). My guess is it originated in an old movie comedy, but I can’t seem to nail it down.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thank you.