The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases Quotations
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The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases

The Master The Master 409,940 views 20 items 283 voters
A list of the twenty greatest, most memorable and most popular catch phrases from 80s TV, film and advertising. Catch phrases are a fixture in pop culture, and the generation that came of age during the 1980s should get a rush of nostalgia from revisiting these "pre-Internet memes" and jokes from 30 years ago or more.

A number of these catch phrases have remained popular, or have undergone a renaissance in recent years. Mr. T's memorable "I pity the fool" has remained his most recognizable routine, and figured in to the recent big screen adaptation of the show "The A-Team." Al Pacino's delivery of the key line from Brian De Palma's "Scarface" remains a frequently parodied and iconic movie moment.

Though catch phrases are often depicted as hacky or mocked as a low-brow form of comedy, it's undeniable that they have the power to connect millions of people around a humorous phrase or observation. Below are 20 of our favorite examples. Vote for your favorites and leave other suggestions in the comments!
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    I pity the fool...

    ORIGIN:
    The A-Team. B.A. BARACUS would often say it in reference to someone who would mess with him/the team.

    USE:
    This is basically what Mr. T is known for. It probably doesn't help that he still dresses, speaks and acts exactly like the character that coined the phrase.

    This phrase may also be used in reference to absolutely anyone who is about to get their ass kicked.
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    Say hello to my little friend

    ORIGIN:
    Scarface. The main character (Tony Montana) unleashes a Tommy Gun from under his coat and exclaims to the people he's shooting to "say hello to [his] little friend. It's such a ridiculous, funny, yet violent part of the movie, it really stuck with everyone.

    USE:
    Whenever you brandish pretty much anything of power or importance by surprise, you can use this phrase. It's been so overdone in pop culture at this point that a lot of people don't even know what it's from.

    It's often been used to brandish literal "little friends" from under coats (little people, fictional characters, penises).
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    I'll Be Back

    ORIGIN:
    Terminator. The first one. Arnold's Terminator character is at a police station and is told to wait for something. He calmly tells the officer at the counter that he'll be back. He drives a freaking car through the police station.

    USE:
    Pretty much any time Arnold Scharzenegger leaves any place, he still uses this quote of his to state the fact that he will return. This has been parodied/lampooned in pop culture ever since its inception and has since become the most memorable line from the Terminator franchise next to "Come with me if you want to live".
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    Where's the beef?

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    Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

    ORIGIN:
    The popular catchphrase said in almost every episode by Gary Coleman's character "Arnold" in the popular 80s TV show Diff'rnt Strokes.

    USE:
    The catchphrase penetrated pop culture in a way that few others have. It's still the thing that has carried Gary Coleman's career, and will forever be his legacy. They had plenty of guest stars come on/off the show and occasionally they would be graced with Arnold asking what they were talking about.

    Say what you will about Coleman, or catchphrases in general, but these moments were often the highlight of every episode.

    Now, some people use it as just a way to ask what someone is saying.

items 1 - 5 of 20

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  1. 222555999
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 12/04/2012 12:30 AM
    this is more than enough concerning catch phrase.
  2. Kimi Pouge
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 11/17/2012 2:30 AM
    was just craving some 80s sayings.
  3. Hertha Pilch
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 10/26/2012 4:30 PM
    my hands could not be more tired researching 80's phrasesthank you, you awesome thing.
  4. Jone Osher
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 10/20/2012 5:30 PM
    couldn't find more than this about phrases from the 80s.
  5. Dane Asen
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 10/10/2012 7:30 PM
    you wrote this thing about catch phrases list?
  6. Nolan Umbenhauer
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 10/06/2012 12:30 AM
    this should be fine, in regards to 80's catch phrases.
  7. Darius Bemrose
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 8/05/2012 7:30 AM
    catch phrase list up in here
  8. Hal Burgraff
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 7/26/2012 4:30 AM
    was happy to see all the catchphrases here.
  9. Eufemia Fryrear
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 7/23/2012 9:30 PM
    not sure if 80s catch phrases or something about that.
  10. Merrilee Offord
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 7/04/2012 6:30 PM
    80s phrasesgoes in, awesomess comes out. you can't explain that.
  11. Brain Ailes
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 7/04/2012 11:30 AM
    would it be weird if i said thanks for the catch phrases?
  12. KirkSaw
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 4/23/2012 6:28 PM
    "I'm soooo sure" and "That's decent" were also HUGE!
  13. KirkSaw
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 4/23/2012 6:21 PM
    The catch phrase, "That's classic" was one of the biggest of the decade. Not sure on the origin but every teenager said it, it was used in so many teen movies, it was said to Molly Ringwald famously by her little brother in Sixteen Candles when he was told that everyone had forgotten her birthday.
  14. janetarnie
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 8/22/2011 11:13 AM
    Hi.

    I am a great fan of movies and all the movies mentioned above i have downloaded. Great piece of information. Nice share



    Best Regards,

    Janet.arnie@gmail.com

    http://www.writeawriting.com
  15. neetu.batra
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 8/07/2011 11:28 PM
    Its amazing news i love to watch movies like this I always watch movies online here http://www.moviesfunzone.com/ you can also try this link to watch your favorite movies or news about the Celebrity
  16. jonesey
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 3/03/2011 8:57 AM
    Live Long & Prosper!
  17. Moony
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 10/08/2010 3:50 AM
    You got a good post to read and talk about. Indeed quite interesting! I have got all the above given movies downloaded from www.moviewatchlist.com/ to watch them later.
  18. Gwen110
    Gag me with a spoon! at 9/30/2010 9:14 PM
    It is sad that they have to explain this . . .
  19. Gwen110
    ... You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. at 9/30/2010 9:12 PM
    wasn't that a seventies show?
  20. Drue
    The Twenty Greatest 80s Catch Phrases at 9/15/2010 4:57 PM
    More Than Meets the Eye?
  21. Kaishounachi
    I Want My MTV at 8/22/2010 5:35 AM
    The Dire Straits song is "Money for Nothing", NOT "I Want My MTV."
  22. Shell
    Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon? at 7/04/2010 12:46 AM
    Singer Robert Goulet - if anyone else reading this site besides me knows who Robert Goulet is - kept a jar of the mustard with him so that anytime he was riding in a limo he could roll down the window and ask someone in the next car, "Pardon me, would you care for some Grey Poupon?"
  23. Shell
    Say hello to my little friend at 7/04/2010 12:41 AM
    It's an M-203 - an M-16 assault rifle with a 40mm grenade launcher mounted under the rifle barrel, infinitely more badass than a tommy gun.
  24. Shell
    I pity the fool... at 7/04/2010 12:38 AM
    The way he dresses, speaks, and acts is *him*, not the character he played on the show.
  25. Dave72
    Say hello to my little friend at 6/09/2010 12:52 PM
    This should be No. 1. Coleman's screed is just trivial for a truly bad TV show.
  26. Shawn Foster
    And the word of the day is... at 6/03/2010 12:32 PM
    Agreed. Groucho definitely has dibs on the Word of the Day.
  27. Anonymous
    I Want My MTV at 6/03/2010 12:28 PM
    How could this post possibly miss mentioning the Dire Straits song of the same name?
  28. flatworm
    And the word of the day is... at 6/03/2010 6:57 AM
    Sorry, but the "Secret Word" did NOT start with Pee Wee's Playhouse, a show I absolutely LOVED as I did its hour-long HBO special predecessor.

    The "Secret Word" originated with Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life, where a stuffed duck would drop down from the rafters revealing the day's word with Groucho remarking, "Say the secret word and win $100."

    Obviously, Paul Reubens is a fan of '50s and '60s cultural memorabilia, with his catch phrase, "I know YOU are, but what am I?" and such phrases like "Fan mail from some flounder?" which originated on Rocky and Bullwinkle. I am quite certain that he got the "Secret Word" idea from Groucho, the father of so much of what we now know as comedy.

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