Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Cartoons and animations have proved a fertile ground for producing memorable and evocative catchphrases. Which of these catchphrases brings back memories for you?
I yam what I yam!
A catchphrase belonging to Popeye the Sailor Man, the cartoon character created in 1929 by cartoonist E.C. Segar. Popeye made his first appearance in a newspaper strip called Thimble Theater as a feisty, pipe-smoking, spinach-eating sailor.
heavens to Murgatroyd!
A catchphrase of Snagglepuss, the Hannah-Barbera cartoon lion created in 1959. This pink, well-dressed, witty feline featured in his own segment of the Yogi Bear Show from 1961, and on other shows into the 1980s.
time for bed
Closing line from the BBC TV children' programme the Magic Roundabout, which became a television legend. With its laid-back, heavy 1960s flavour and often surreal view of life, the series soon achieved a cult status.
rooby, rooby, roo
Catchphrase of Scooby, the Great Dane who, along with four teenage detectives stars in the US TV cartoon series Scooby-Doo that premiered in 1969.
I have the power!
Affirmation of strength popularized by the US adventure/fantasy animated TV series He-Man Masters of the Universe one of the most popular cartoons of the 1980s with a highly successful merchandising tie-in.
DWAHHH!
Trademark cry of Duckman, star of the eponymous critically-acclaimed US animated TV series which ran from 1994 to 1997. Duckman is a crabby, hard-boiled, tough talking, cowardly, selfish duck detective who scrapes along, taking on cases that respectable detective would stoop to accept.
oh my God, they killed Kenny
Popularized by the US TV cartoon series South Park (1997-), which sees Kenny McCormick, one if the four principal 8-year-old characters i the show, die in almost every episode. Although often spoken by Eric Cartman, the phrase is not exclusive to any one character, and often becomes a general refrain.
The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases
14/10/2002
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