# Throwaway Lines that became Catch Phrases **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087 "2012-04-07T15:11:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/1 "2012-04-07T15:11:10Z")
Obviously, not every piece of dialog written in literature and entertainment is intended to be a catchphrase. Not every line can be “Go Ahead, Make My Day” or “Et Tu, Brute” or “No Soup for You” Are there any examples of throwaway lines that became iconic Catch phrases? I am drawing a blank. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/2 "2012-04-07T15:21:07Z")
I’ll be back ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/3 "2012-04-07T15:24:53Z")
“That’s no moon…” ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/4 "2012-04-07T15:25:00Z")
I can’t find a cite for this, but I have read that "Where’s the beef?’ was not the intended catchphrase in that Wendy’s commercial. References to a “big, fluffy bun” were supposed to be the memorable lines, but the “Where’s the beef?” part is what passed into the vernacular. Not sure if that’s what you’re looking for. ETA" “We’re going to need a bigger boat” was an ad lib in _Jaws_, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/5 "2012-04-07T15:27:15Z")
Dustin Hoffman in _Midnight Cowboy_ – “Hey! I’m walkin’ here!” I read that it was an ad lib – a taxi got too close as he and Voight were crossing the street. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/6 "2012-04-07T15:27:25Z")
Leave the gun - take the cannoli. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/7 "2012-04-07T15:31:59Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > I’ll be back When come back, bring phrase. 😉 ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/8 "2012-04-07T15:34:03Z")
Bart Simpson’s “I didn’t do it”, but only for that one episode. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/9 "2012-04-07T15:41:23Z")
This one time, at band camp … ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/10 "2012-04-07T15:41:25Z")
Not nearly as iconic as some of the others already mentioned, but I think Max Fischer’s “O.R. they?” quip in Rushmore counts. It’s usually the go- to quote from that movie and was featured prominently in the trailers. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/11 "2012-04-07T15:43:27Z")
‘You talkin’ to me?’ ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/12 "2012-04-07T15:54:41Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > ‘You talkin’ to me?’ Maybe this is what you were getting at, but the original was “You speaking to me?” It was in being misquoted in _Taxi Driver_ that it really took off. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/13 "2012-04-07T15:59:19Z")
“I’ll be in my bunk.” The problem with this game is, it’s difficult to tell if a line was intended to be iconic or was just a throw-away. Especially after it has achieved iconic status. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/14 "2012-04-07T16:21:30Z")
I always think of “Four score and seven years ago.” It was merely an introduction to the main theme of this short speech. It only makes sense because of the timing. Yet, whenever we hear it, we think of HUGE things: Lincoln’s presidency, the American Civil War, slavery, federal government and the question of state’s rights, etc… Quite an accomplishment for a simple reference to 87 yrs back. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/15 "2012-04-07T16:53:30Z")
“It’s a trap!” ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/16 "2012-04-07T17:06:02Z")
A couple of examples from pro wrestling: Arn Anderson made a throwaway reference to himself, Flair, Tully, and Ole as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and inadvertently named one of the most infamous stables in wrestling history. Steve Austin made a throwaway line about Austin 3:16 says I just kicked your ass, and it became his catchphrase, got printed on a bunch of t-shirts, etc. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/17 "2012-04-07T17:14:31Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Maybe this is what you were getting at, but the original was “You speaking to me?” It was in being misquoted in _Taxi Driver_ that it really took off. Huh? I just rewatched the scene to see if I (as the rest of us) have been getting it wrong all these years. Not sure what version you’re referring to but there’s no doubt it’s “You talking to me?”. See for yourself [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9CkhBb18E). ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/18 "2012-04-07T17:20:32Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Huh? > > I just rewatched the scene to see if I (as the rest of us) have been getting it wrong all these years. > > Not sure what version you’re referring to but there’s no doubt it’s “You talking to me?”. > > See for yourself [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9CkhBb18E). KneadToKnow is referring to the fact that Travis was [mis]quoting [Shane](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/quotes). It’s unlikely that line would even show up on the IMDB page had it not been in Taxi Driver. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/19 "2012-04-07T17:25:28Z")
From _Home Improvement_, Al’s catchphrase,“I don’t think so, Tim” was a throwaway in the pilot. And on _Seinfeld_, Teri Hatcher’s line,“They’re real, and they’re spectacular”, the second half was an ad lib. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087/20 "2012-04-07T17:31:34Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > KneadToKnow is referring to the fact that Travis was [mis]quoting [Shane](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/quotes). It’s unlikely that line would even show up on the IMDB page had it not been in Taxi Driver. Couldn’t have said it better myself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwaway-lines-that-became-catch-phrases/618087.md?page=2)