# Words or phrases that were that were coined by a TV show or movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081 "2020-11-20T23:57:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/1 "2020-11-20T23:57:46Z")
I actually thought of this while reading the thread about whiskey; someone in that thread mentioned being “regifted” a nearly full bottle that the original recipient didn’t like. Did anyone use that word before _Seinfeld_? I’m pretty sure _Seinfeld_ is credited with inventing the word “regift”. Come to think of it Seinfeld is credited with coining quite a few words, I think, although I can’t think of any others off the top of my head. The word “embiggen” appeared in an early _Simpsons_ episode, in which the whole joke was that embiggen wasn’t a real word. Then people started actually using it. It seemed like people were mostly using it ironically at first, but it now seems to have entered the language as a word people use seriously. The spell checker in my browser isn’t even flagging it as misspelled, though it does flag “regift”. Are there any other examples of words essentially being made up for a TV show or movie, that ended up entering the language as everyday words? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/2 "2020-11-20T23:59:46Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > The word “embiggen” appeared in an early _Simpsons_ episode, in which the whole joke was that embiggen wasn’t a real word. That’s a perfectly cromulent word. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/3 "2020-11-21T00:40:21Z")
Regifting has been a word for years prior to Seinfeld. “Jump the shark” came from Happy Days, when The Fonz literally jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/4 "2020-11-21T00:46:32Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Regifting has been a word for years prior to Seinfeld. What about question talker? Do question talkers drive me up the wall? Yes. Since that episode do I now notice question talkers all the time? Also yes. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/5 "2020-11-21T00:49:08Z")
Found this, but I think there were more. Didn’t they have a whole montage made from them? Rapid fire, “She’s a two face!” “He’s a low talker,” etc. I wouldn’t credit him with double dip, though. > **[13 Spectacular Terms from Seinfeld](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65085/13-spectacular-terms-seinfeld)** > > null ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/6 "2020-11-21T00:52:00Z")
[Strategery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategery), coined on a _Saturday Night Liv_e episode during the 2000 election, satirizing George W. Bush’s tendency to mispronounce words. Members of the Bush administration then adopted the term, as Wikipedia notes: > [@](#): > > After the 2000 presidential election, people inside the Bush White House reportedly began using the term as a joke, and it later grew to become a term of art among them meaning oversight of any activity by Bush’s political consultants. Bush’s strategists also came to be known within the White House as “The Department of Strategery”, or the “Strategery Group”. > > A February 9, 2001 transcript of a CNN interview shows Bush using the term, presumably as an intentional nod to the comedy sketch. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/7 "2020-11-21T01:25:37Z")
As far as I’ve noticed, I’ve never heard the the word-phrase “Way!” used as a retort to when someone says ( in disbelief ) “No way!”, before the film ‘Wayne’s World’. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/8 "2020-11-21T01:29:54Z")
The term “Jedi Mind Trick” comes from the Star Wars films (the “trick” itself first appearing in _Star Wars_, and first being named as a “mind trick” in _Return of the Jedi_), and has become more broadly applied to the idea of [influencing someone without them realizing it](https://zachonleadership.medium.com/the-jedi-mind-trick-how-to-influence-others-without-them-knowing-it-b3b0044f8b46). (And, yes, I recognize the humor in me being the one who posted this to the thread. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/9 "2020-11-21T01:36:26Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > Regifting has been a word for years prior to Seinfeld. That sounded pretty unlikely to me. When did Seinfeld come out? > ## [ORIGIN OF REGIFT](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/regift) > > First recorded in 1995–2000; [re-](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/re) + [gift](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/gift) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/10 "2020-11-21T01:55:00Z")
Seinfeld used the term regift in “The Label Maker,” which aired January 19, 1995. While the term may have existed before then, it was Seinfeld that made it part of the language. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/11 "2020-11-21T02:45:30Z")
Moved to Cafe society as TV & Movies related. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/12 "2020-11-21T02:46:07Z")
Catch phrases were rampant in TV series in the past, and also in commercials. “Where’s the beef?” (Wendy’s commercial) “Dy-no-mite!” (Good Times) “What you talkin’ bout, Willis?” (Diff’rent Strokes) “Hey Mikey!” (Life cereal commercial) “Meathead” (All In The Family) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/13 "2020-11-21T03:01:55Z")
Popularize by the _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_ the word “cowabunga” was originally invented for the _Howdy Doody Show_. Popular for a while the phrase “MMM\_\_\_” was invented by _The Simpsons_ I’ve heard “Best…\_\_\_\_…ever” a few times. Also from _The Simpsons_ ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/14 "2020-11-21T03:07:53Z")
> [@Ranch\_Dip](#): > > “Jump the shark” came from Happy Days, when The Fonz literally jumped the shark. “Jump the shark” as we understand it today, meaning “that moment when you realize a TV show’s best days are behind it,” came from a website founded by Jon Hein in 1997, a good twenty years after that episode of _Happy Days_ aired. It refers to the _Happy Days_ episode, but it didn’t become a meaningful phrase until Hein’s website started to become popular. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/15 "2020-11-21T03:22:18Z")
“Sorry about that Chief!” - _Get Smart_ “Trust me, I know what I’m doing” - _Sledge Hammer_ ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/16 "2020-11-21T03:23:36Z")
I’m sure “Way” was California surfer dude talk which Wayne and Garth were parodying. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/17 "2020-11-21T03:36:50Z")
“Warp speed” might have been used in science fiction previously, but Star Trek TOS made it part of the language. Saturday Night Live popularized “Debby Downer.” Of course, the modern meaning of “spam” comes from a Monty Python skit. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/18 "2020-11-21T03:50:28Z")
Allegedly, Lisa Simpson was the first to say “meh.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/19 "2020-11-21T03:50:31Z")
“Double-secret probation” from **Animal House**. Around ten years ago, some shut-out GOP House members described their relationship with the Obama administration as being like double-secret probation. It’s not a term I hear a lot, but it’s a term I hear. Also, um… “Deep throat.” And “money shot.” ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/20 "2020-11-21T05:08:46Z")
Being a Spam lover, none of the menu choices sounded bad to me. In Hawaii, Egg, bacon, sausage and Spam is considered a good breakfast feast offered at some restaurants. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081.md?page=2)