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Literary and cinematic references

(123 Posts)
Teetime Thu 30-Mar-17 09:05:55

In our family and I'm sure in many others there are 'in jokes' phrases and saying that are wheeled out to meet various situations One of our old favourites is from Brideshead Revisited to explain a hangover ' the wines were too various' said in a sepulchral tone. Anyone else have these?

GillT57 Fri 31-Mar-17 15:14:15

Oh we use a lot of these! Beam me up Scottie More tea, vicar? (this usually when someone has made a rude noise, sometimes the reply is no thank you, it makes me fart grin. You may think so, but I couldn't possibly comment We also use references to Dorian Grey and portraits in the attic, especially about a friend who looks about 20 years younger than he is. I always feel a kinship with anyone who agrees, and doesn't wonder what he hell I am talking about, it is almost like sharing a secret code!

Liaise Fri 31-Mar-17 15:06:24

My mother had a few favourites ,I suspect wartime comedy programmes. One was "shift me mother I'm burning" when none of us would get up and do anything. Probably from sitting by the fire. Another started " it was in a country vicarage with ivy on the walls". Never got any further but the imagination fills in the details. "None of you ever do a hand's turn" would have my cousin turning her hand over and all of us in fits of giggles. Funny how these things stick in the mind. "Gone and never called me mother" was another.

Once you get started on these reminiscences so much comes back.

Elegran Fri 31-Mar-17 14:42:23

We used to say "Too late, too late, the maiden cried" which is from a highly censorable student ditty popular with the engineering faculty. (I think Galen knows that one - she has quoted from it before now - so it reached medical students too.)

sunseeker Fri 31-Mar-17 14:40:35

When someone annoys me I have been known to say "Don't make me release the flying monkeys"

If someone is acting up I sometimes say to not take any notice - they are just annoyed that someone dropped a house on their sister! Both references, of course, from Wizard of Oz

Sheilasue Fri 31-Mar-17 14:19:54

Loved the cool hand Luke saying often said it to my kids when they were young, and even to my gd when she's glued to her phone or iPad, she does think I am bonkers when I say it.

I do love 'no one puts baby in the corner' from dirty dancing and four candles no fork handles from the two Ronnie still makes me and h laugh.

Womble54 Fri 31-Mar-17 14:17:45

Katek, I think the quote is, "Don't let's ask for the moon - we have the stars", and it's from Now Voyager with Bette Davis.

(And Teetime, I'm a music-lover and actually yes I would!)

rosesarered Fri 31-Mar-17 13:57:29

Oh, DH also says ( usually when I suggest something for dinner) 'make it so!'

rosesarered Fri 31-Mar-17 13:55:41

We say ' too late was the cry!' No idea where it comes from though.
Greyduster my DH is a Trekkie fan too ( not me) and has been known to mutter 'lasers on stun!' When seeing aquaintences he doesn't like, heading our way.grin
Yes, 'Home James and don't spare the horses' 'infamy, infamy!' Etc. And 'It is I, Le Cler/Clerc' 'mentioned in dispatches' .

Mawbroon thank you for the funny Blackadder quotes, I remember that scene ( from a Christmas Carol, future?)

HootyMcOwlface Fri 31-Mar-17 13:42:30

A few of ours:
If anyone says anything that could be taken a different way, we often add "As the actress said to the bishop"
"You stupid woman" from Allo Allo, said with a French accent.
"That'll do donkey, that'll do" and "Can you not be yourself for 5 minutes!" Both from Shrek
"Well OK then" in American accent (Steve McQueen - The Great Escape)

0wlfred Fri 31-Mar-17 13:33:46

Sheldon: I would have been here sooner but the bus kept stopping for other people to get on it.
(Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory)

beckywitch Fri 31-Mar-17 13:23:03

Think that was Al Read on the radio.

lesley4357 Fri 31-Mar-17 13:15:19

From The Simpsons - "you don't make friends with salad" - sung every time I suggest we have salad

lesley4357 Fri 31-Mar-17 13:10:28

As a family we tend to use The Simpsons and Father Ted. Haven't had an occasion that can't be improved by a "Homerism" !

pensionpat Fri 31-Mar-17 12:58:24

My DIL sometimes says to her husband "Then do so, Mr. Allnutt". African Queen.

pollyperkins Fri 31-Mar-17 12:55:36

Castlereigh I meant

pollyperkins Fri 31-Mar-17 12:51:40

Yes i think you are right notnecwiser. My mother used to say that too!
Another one from Blackadder is I've got a cunning plan!

I quite often say 'Thats going from the sublime to the ridiculous 'which I learnt in O level History- I think it was said by Castereifh, or was it Canning? Anyway it produces funny looks sometimes!

lizzypopbottle Fri 31-Mar-17 12:48:50

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lizzypopbottle Fri 31-Mar-17 12:47:56

As a family we sat down to watch the BBC adaptation of Pride an Prejudice (Colin Firth as Mr Darcy) every Sunday, bought the DVD and watched all the repeats. Now we quote freely from it whenever appropriate e.g.:
I'm exceedingly obliged to you! (Mr Whickham - instead of thank you)
I believe it will turn out well. (Mr Bennett was wrong so this is said with fingers crossed)
It ought to be so! (Haughtily! Lady Catherine decided Burgh)
And so many more...

notnecessarilywiser Fri 31-Mar-17 12:47:19

00mam00 - I'm pretty sure that "Gone, and never called me mother" is from the melodramatic East Lynne. It's a fvaourite of mine, too!

2mason16 Fri 31-Mar-17 12:31:41

"Such fun" ! Our favourite from Miranda sitcom

KatyK Fri 31-Mar-17 12:27:16

We say so many of these! Right monkey is a favourite here too. I've no idea where that came from. When I ask DH the time he sometimes says 'oo I must get a little hand on this watch' - Hilda Baker again.

Craftycat Fri 31-Mar-17 12:14:33

Lovebeigecardigans - My dad used to say 'Too late she cried- waving her wooden leg' I have no clue where it came from either.

In our house it is- Alright - but I won't enjoy it' & 'the answer to your question is 42' from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

maisie123 Fri 31-Mar-17 12:13:14

No one can be uncheered with a balloon

Irenelily Fri 31-Mar-17 12:11:32

You are so right, Jalima, about Shakespeare. My daughter has a poster in her downstairs cloakroom with all the sayings of Shakespeare that are in modern parlance, which she got at he Globe Theatre. Some of them are so common I can't believe they have been around that long!

maisie123 Fri 31-Mar-17 12:09:59

Home, James and don't spare the horses
Full steam ahead Captain Povey