# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/161 "2020-11-27T12:55:02Z")
Another MASH phrase is “Pros from Dover” (people who are assumed to be great experts because they are from out-of-town) - but though it is in the movie, it came from the book first. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/162 "2020-11-27T15:26:49Z")
Here’s another thing like the “unobtainium” discussed above. It’s not popularized much beyond mechanical engineering nerds, but the “turbo encabulator” lives on as the archetypical unbuildable device. And it’s damn fine acting to boot. This original idea has been reprised umpteen times using different forms of tech and different actors, but “… encabulator” is the magic name for all of them. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ac7G7xOG2Ag/hqdefault.jpg ""Turbo Encabulator" the Original") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/163 "2020-11-28T12:18:25Z")
Did _Friends_ also give us “That’s _so_ [a phrase, rather than an adjective follows],” as in, “That’s _so_ not a good example!” “That’s _so_ the opposite of easy!” or “That’s _so_ my favorite movie!” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/164 "2020-11-30T01:03:08Z")
“Respect mah authoritah!” - Eric Cartman from _South Park_. People often use it to describe the attitudes of certain police officers and departments. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/165 "2020-11-30T01:43:11Z")
Both of those just HAVE to be said with the exact Cartman or Chandler tone of voice: > [@cochrane](#): > > “Respect mah authoritah!” > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > “That’s _so_ not a good example!” Of course, when anyone in our poker clique mimics the latter, someone is obligated to turn to them and, overacting, say “Can you _BE_ any more Chandler Bing?” ETA: Oh, someone should mention “Legen…” (catchphrase of Barney Stinson; NPH’s character on HIMYM) … “…dary!” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/166 "2020-11-30T04:08:22Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > “Respect mah authoritah!” - Eric Cartman from _South Park_ . People often use it to describe the attitudes of certain police officers and departments. That may have been popularized by _South Park_, but isn’t that from the Paul Newman film _Cool Hand Luke_? ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/167 "2020-11-30T04:28:55Z")
I don’t remember the line from the movie and there’s no reference to it online. Also, when Cartman says it, he’s referencing “The man with no eyes” guard with his reflective glasses. But I don’t think “The man with no eyes” ever speaks in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/168 "2020-11-30T04:34:11Z")
From [“Cool Hand Luke – Wiki Information” at StubPass.com](https://www.stubpass.com/concerts/cool-hand-luke-wiki/): “In the comedy series _South Park_ , the episode _The Chicken Lover_ in year 2 has Cartman channeling the ‘Man with no eyes’ when he becomes a temporary deputy. **The closeup of Cartman’s face and the immortal phrase “Respect my Authoritah” are clearly a homage to _Cool Hand Luke_ .** ” (Bolding mine.) ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/169 "2020-11-30T04:43:25Z")
Wazz = pee. It’s in the online dictionaries, but has no origin date. I believe it originated from _ICarly_, and was used in _Victorious_ and _Sam and Cat_ which existed in the same TV universe. Also from the ICarly universe, bobknocker. I’m not sure if this [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) [definition i](https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/hobknocker/#:~:text=The%20hobknocker%20is%20a%20construction,the%20day%2C%20hence%20a%20hobknocker.)s true or not, but supposedly it existed before the show. From _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ snozzberries, Oompa Loompas and Oompa Loompaland. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/170 "2020-11-30T05:16:05Z")
The Grand Poohbah is a character in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, from 1885. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/171 "2020-11-30T06:05:16Z")
This isn’t unique to, but certainly popularized by Dragnet: “Just the facts, ma’am.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/172 "2020-11-30T06:25:12Z")
Yes, but was “Respect my authority (or authoritah)” ever said in _Cool Hand Luke_? If so, I’ll concede that it originated there. If not then it’s _South Park_. _Cool Hand Luke_ did give us “What we’ve got here, is failure to communicate,” though. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum\_45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum_45/32/3385_2.png) [@eburacum\_45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum_45)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/173 "2020-11-30T12:01:26Z")
Wazz is a British slang word for urinating that long predates _iCarly_. Perhaps someone on the writing team heard it and liked the vaguely onomatopoeic sound. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/174 "2020-11-30T13:37:08Z")
I may have missed this already in the thread but before Jurassic Park a raptor just meant a bird. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/175 "2020-11-30T13:38:58Z")
A particular kind of bird - a hawk or eagle, not a sparrow ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/176 "2020-11-30T14:04:00Z")
[Thagomizer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thagomizer) was humorously introduced by a [Gary Larson cartoon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Thagomizer.png) to describe the spikes near the end of the tail of a stegosaurus. The paleontology community has unofficially adopted the term, since there has not been a technical name for it. I know it isn’t a TV show or movie, but I found it interesting nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/177 "2020-11-30T15:32:40Z")
The legal profession has unofficially adopted the term “Chewbacca defense” from the _South Park_ episode “Chef Aid.” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/178 "2020-11-30T15:43:32Z")
“Cromulent” is my favorite. That’s a Principal Skinner-ism, isn’t it? ---
**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 30, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/179 "2020-11-30T15:48:55Z")
The velociraptor was discovered and named in 1923. But the “velociraptors” depicted in the film and described in the novel are actually modeled very closely - in both appearance and behavior - after the Deinonychus. Michael Crichton admitted he used the wrong name because “velociraptor” sounded cooler. Actual velociraptors were smaller and much more birdlike, so they were aptly named. The general public just wasn’t very familiar with the species before _Jurassic Park_… and as it turns out, not so much after it either. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-or-phrases-that-were-that-were-coined-by-a-tv-show-or-movie/926081/180 "2020-11-30T16:24:37Z")
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