Among the many great things about movies is that they frequently deliver unforgettable lines. Often, these lines work their way into our everyday vocabulary and become common sayings. Sometimes it gets to the point that a lot of people repeating or hearing those sayings don’t know what movies they’re from or even that they’re from movies at all. Following are 12 sayings whose movie of origin many people probably don’t know. How many did you know?
1. “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore.”
In The Wizard of Oz, this is what Dorothy tells her dog Toto as she surveys the strange world a tornado has taken them to from their farm in Kansas. You might hear someone facing an unfamiliar situation say this.
2. “There’s No Place Like Home.”
Yes, this is from The Wizard of Oz, too, and it’s what Dorothy says when it’s time to return to Kansas. It conveys the idea that although there are a lot of nice places in the world, nowhere is as safe and comforting as home.
3. “I’ll Be Back.”
This is the iconic line muttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator. If you hear someone say it in an odd accent that makes “back” sound more like “Bach,” you know that person’s channeling the film.
4. “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat.”
If the resources on hand aren’t up to the task, you might say this. It comes from the movie Jaws when the Amity police chief, played by Roy Scheider, gets his first look at the great white shark that’s been terrorizing the town’s beaches.
5. “Go Ahead. Make My Day.”
Usually, this is used as a dismissive expression. Its origin is Sudden Impact, ominously stated by Clint Eastwood as homicide detective “Dirty” Harry Callahan as he points his signature .44 Magnum at a criminal thinking about reaching for a gun.
6. “You Talking To Me?”
Often used as a challenge, this comes from Travis Bickle, played by Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver. Something else a lot of people don’t know is that he says this in front of a mirror, not to another person.
7. “What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate.”
Cool Hand Luke has a lot of great lines, but this one has had the most impact and life. It’s the beginning of a speech by the prison warden after he’s beaten inmate Luke for sassing him.
8. “Keep Your Friends Close, but Your Enemies Closer.”
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) tells this to an associate in The Godfather Part II, saying it’s one of the many important things his father taught him. It means to keep a close eye on anyone you don’t trust, always knowing who they are and what they’re up to.
9. “You Had Me at Hello.”
“Show me the money” isn’t the only Jerry Maguire line that’s become a well-used expression. Dorothy (Renee Zellweger) says this when Jerry (Tom Cruise) finally realizes and declares his love for her.
10. “Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give a D*mn.”
Gone with the Wind is another film that’s given us so many immortal lines and scenes, and this line lives on today as an expression of utter exasperation and disgust. Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) tells Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) this almost at the very end as he’s leaving her, having given up on ever winning true love from her. It’s a response to her frantic questions of where she’ll go and what she’ll do.
11. “Well, That’s Just, Like, Your Opinion, Man.”
The cult classic The Big Lebowski has lines and scenes that have generated dozens of memes. This one by The Dude (Jeff Bridges) is a politish way of condescendingly acknowledging someone’s opinion while revealing you don’t think much of it.
12. “Alrighty Then!”
If you ever need a quick and easy way to end an awkward conversation, this might be your ticket. You can do it even if you don’t know it’s a famous line from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective uttered by Jim Carrey in the title role.
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This article was produced by Our Woven Journey.
Karee Blunt is a nationally syndicated travel journalist, focused on discovering destinations and experiences that captivate and inspire others through her writing. She is also the founder of Our Woven Journey, a travel site focused on inspiring others to create memory-making adventures with their loved ones. Karee is passionate about encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and live the life they dream of. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about Karee on her about me page.