# Whence: "I lost you at the bakery." **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984 "2003-08-22T18:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/1 "2003-08-22T18:27:09Z")
Whenever it happens that I completely lose the logical progression of something that someone is attempting to explain to me, I will often say “Hold on. I lost you at the bakery.” I vaguely recall it being used in a comedy sketch on television long, long ago. Perhaps in response to a long set of directions where a bakery was involved? This could all be imaginary because I’m not at all confident of this recollection. A Google search only turns up message-board usages in the same type of context that I use the phrase. Does anyone know where that phrase comes from? ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/2 "2003-08-22T18:43:07Z")
I don’t know, but you had me at “hello” 😃 Sorry, I just couldn’t resist… ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/3 "2003-08-22T19:05:34Z")
Unfortunately for me **godzillatemple** , I _know_ where that phrase comes from. I really didn’t like that movie… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/4 "2003-08-22T19:36:50Z")
A long, long time ago, I saw Rowan and Martin (this was even before Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In) doing a sketch about a meeting between two spies. The Dan Rowan spy gave incredibly complicated directions to start at the bakery across the street, go somewhere, ask someone for an envelope, give a code phrase, take the envelope, go somewhere else, etc. etc. The Dick Martin spy repeated every word as fast as Rowan could say it. At the end, Rowan asked “is all that clear?” and Martin said… I don’t know whether it was their sketch or they were performing someone else’s. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/5 "2003-08-22T19:40:19Z")
Ahhh. **kunilou** , that resonates with me. Your description seems familiar. I think I’ll do a little searching on Rowan and Martin to see what I can find. ---
**Author:** ![liberalnlovinit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@liberalnlovinit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberalnlovinit)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/6 "2022-09-24T19:15:15Z")
It’s from an old Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In sketch: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CVx2CUdQmPo/hqdefault.jpg "Dean Martin Variety w Bill Cosby") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVx2CUdQmPo) The line is used multiple times in the sketch, first appearing around the 2:30 mark. And yes, I do the same thing, when someone gives me complicated instructions, I reply, “I lost you at the bakery.” Funny thing, I always thought this was a Carol Burnett sketch. ---
**Author:** ![liberalnlovinit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@liberalnlovinit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberalnlovinit)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/7 "2022-09-24T19:39:15Z")
BTW, they never get the joke. They just look at me funny… ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/8 "2022-09-25T16:05:29Z")
Nice one. Always good to get closure ! Welcome to the sdmb, btw. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-i-lost-you-at-the-bakery/196984/9 "2022-09-26T01:50:06Z")
“I have a pornographic memory” I wonder if that had to clear the censors?