10 TV Catchphrases Everyone Used to Say — But Nobody Does Anymore

TV shows used to create catchphrases that people repeated all the time. They were shared at school, work, and in everyday conversations. Today, most of them have faded out of common use and are mostly remembered by fans of older shows.

1. “How you doin’?” — Friends

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Joey Tribbiani said this line in Friends to flirt with women. It became a widely recognized phrase in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It appeared on merchandise and was repeated by fans of the show. Today, the phrase is no longer used in regular conversations and is mostly remembered by fans of the series.

2. “Did I do that?” — Family Matters

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Steve Urkel used this line after accidentally causing problems. It became a signature part of his character and was especially popular with younger viewers. The phrase was often used in a joking way outside the show. Now, it is rarely quoted and mostly known by people who watched the show in the 1990s.

3. “No soup for you!” — Seinfeld

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This quote came from a character known as the “Soup Nazi” in Seinfeld. The line became popular for its strict tone and was repeated often in pop culture. It was used humorously in situations where someone was being denied something. Today, it’s rarely said and is mainly recognized by longtime fans of the show.

4. “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” — Diff’rent Strokes

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Arnold Jackson said this line to his brother in a confused or skeptical tone. It became a catchphrase that people used when someone said something strange. It was widely quoted in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, most younger people don’t know the show or the phrase.

5. “I pity the fool!” — The A-Team

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Mr. T used this line as part of his tough-guy image in The A-Team. The phrase was repeated often in pop culture, including commercials and parodies. It was linked closely to Mr. T’s public persona. It is now outdated and mostly remembered from old TV clips or internet videos.

6. “Bazinga!” — The Big Bang Theory

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Sheldon Cooper used this word after making a joke or a prank in The Big Bang Theory. It became popular with fans of the show and appeared on T-shirts and other items. For a while, people used it jokingly in real life. After the show ended, the phrase quickly fell out of everyday use.

7. “Yada, yada, yada.” — Seinfeld

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This phrase was used in Seinfeld to skip over boring or unimportant details in a story. It became popular in the late 1990s as a way to summarize things quickly. It was used in casual speech for a while. Now, people rarely say it and often prefer modern shortcuts like texting abbreviations.

8. “Aaay!” — Happy Days

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The Fonz said this to greet people in Happy Days, usually with a thumbs-up. The phrase was popular in the 1970s and became part of American pop culture. Fans and comedians often imitated it. Today, it’s almost never used and mostly remembered through clips or reruns.

9. “D’oh!” — The Simpsons

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Homer Simpson used this sound to show frustration or regret. It became one of the most recognizable catchphrases from The Simpsons. The word was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001. While still used by fans, it’s no longer a common part of daily speech.

10. “That’s what she said.” — The Office

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Michael Scott repeated this phrase after innocent comments to turn them into jokes. The line became popular outside the show and was used widely in the 2000s. It often appeared in casual conversation, especially online. Now, its use has dropped and is considered outdated by many.

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• TV
• catchphrases
• Popculture
• Nostalgia
• Media