Talk:Culturally significant words and phrases from The Simpsons/Archive 1

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Archive 1 Archive 2

"made up words"

I don't think the article's title (or opening paragraph) appropriately describes its content. The intro seems to suggest that what follows will be words such as "D'oh" that gained widespread use. Although some entries are indeed made up, such as "assalhorizontology", others are just puns or jokes based on existing things like "achy breaky pelvis". Only a few seem to have actually been used other than by fans to each other; for instance, "cromulent" and "embiggen". Is it really necessary to list every nonsensical word or phrase that has ever been used on the show? -DynSkeet (talk) 12:16, July 29, 2005 (UTC)

I wouldn't mind excluding phrases (and giving them their own page) or fixing the title/opening paragraph to include them. I agree about the puns and play on words (BBBQ, Nucular) and would include the entries BiMonSciFiCon, CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet, Thrillho, etc. since they are just proper nouns within Simpsons episodes. I think the page should just reflect nonsensical words used repeatedly in the series or introduced as words or terms. (Bolonium, Car Hole, Dickety, Tomacco) Either way this page needs to go through some judicious pruning.
I concur... was just going to say the same thing, but see it's already been done :) The topic is worth writing about, but about half of these words don't qualify for obvious reasons and not every "non-real-word" in the show is worth mentioning. "blurst" is one which really irritates me--it was a deliberate typo for gosh sakes, not a made-up word! The fake show titles don't fit, "boo-urns" is a stretch, etc, etc. The idea shouldn't be to have as many words as possible, but to have ones which really are "made-up words". 12.103.251.203 21:25, 17 October 2005 (UTC)
if you are going to be academic about the simpsons, at least s/made-up words/neologisms/ in the title.
agree totally. And while we're at it, make it a List of… —Fitch
I love that Alkivar put in the compact TOC, but the in the rename/move of the page added 'phrases on The Simpsons,' leaving it open to misinterpretation. Now there will be tons of 'phrases' from the show, which is not what the intention of the list was. Please take out 'phrases' or find a word that means 'made up phrases'. —Fitch
Your right, I was unsure if our definition of neologism as "coined word or phrase" was accurate... OED shows neologism to also include coined phrases not just coined words so i have moved it to a more appropriate title.  ALKIVAR™ 22:25, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Proper nouns

Should we allow proper nouns in this list? This "article" is silly enough as it is, so I don't see why not. We already have "Malk" and "Tomacco", so I don't see why we can't have: Duff, Fudd, Krusty Brand Products, (In fact, Krusty can be used as an adjective), Malibu Stacy, Canyonero, Flaming Moe, Flaming Homer, Kwik E Mart

etc... —209.217.75.67 (Talk)

That is a clever idea. It seems that since those proper nouns are considered fictional to us, we couldn't use those words in ours. The 'fictional items' in the show are already listed, either in List of vehicles in The Simpsons and List of fictional characters within The Simpsons but we could start a List of locations on The Simpsons too. What's unique is that the words on this list are usable in our world, and some of them are. Granted, some are just fun to read 'cause they remind you of that "great episode." —Fitch
Many of these are presently listed under various Fictional brands articles (e.g. List of fictional beverages, etc.). --Arteitle 13:40, 20 October 2005 (UTC)
Proper nouns aren't properly neologisms unless they are used more broadly as words (e.g. eponyms "gerrymander" and "sideburn" or genericides like kleenex or xerox). By this account, "Kwik-E-Mart" might have a case, but the rest of these suggestions should be nixed, along with some of the items in the article itself. (I don't see a way that "Blunch Black of Blotre Blame" could take on a lexicographical usage, for example) Dystopos 21:31, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Car Hold

Is it "car hold" or "car hole"? Most reliable online Simpsons resources (like SNPP) have "car hole", but this keeps getting edited.

And why does it have exclaimation points now? I always thought of it as "car hold" since the wording is self explanitory. "Car hole" sounds like it cound mean any number of things.

-- Well sir, I wrote the most recent entry, after I thought the proper term was "car hold" too. After researching it a bit, I found that it was indeed "car hole". The exclaimation point was added after I noticed the phrase was always always punctuated by one, a poor attempt at a joke, which should be removed.

As you mentioned... http://www.snpp.com/episodes/2F21.html search "car hole"

Google will reveal much the same. The my best efforts keep pointing me to "car hole".

Why must everyone trust the internet? These are all using the same capsule for reference. Get out your tapes and listen to it. Or wait for the DVD to come out. I remember it being "car hold." Perhaps the uncertainty should be discussed in the article. Fitch 08:39, 15 October 2005 (UTC)
Here's some sound clips from lardlad.com. Moe gets cut off, but Homer's line doesn't, and he says car hole [1] (I should never have questioned the snpp.com capsules) —Fitch
Yes, it is definitely "CAR HOLE"

Hearing it as "car hold" could be attributed to Moe's dialect, which is accentuated there for the joke. "Car hole" is is generally agreed upon and funnier.

It's clearly "car hold." Car hole makes no sense, as holes are not used for storage, whereas a garage is a hold for cars. 153.104.16.114 00:16, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

The creators of The Simpsons are obviously not bound by your logic. It is evident to me that "car hole" is the term used, and is funnier than "car hold". It is what you put your car in, like the keyhole you put your key in or the piehole you put your pie in. Dystopos 00:23, 3 November 2005 (UTC)
While I agree "car hole" is funnier, it's not what Moe or Homer says. 153.104.16.114 00:18, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Hi. [2] —Fitch 07:48, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Sounds like "car hole" in that clip ("a counterfeit jeans ring operating out of my car hole!") Dystopos 14:52, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

I think editors who's dialect of English includes the term "car hold" are more likely to hear it as such, whereas the rest of us hear it as "car hole". It would make no sense as a joke for Moe to use a proper term for it, which (along with the above) makes me think it's definitely "car hole". Friday (talk) 20:36, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I always associated it with the amusing, if rather vulgar, "pie hole" (as in "shut your...")....

I would never, ever have thought this expression to be "car hold," and I've never heard of anyone interpreting it this way until reading this. I've always known it to be "car hole," and if we're discussing neologisms that have gotten wider use, it has been widely interpreted and repeated as "car hole." --69.235.206.13 10:44, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

"if we're discussing neologisms that have gotten wider use, it has been widely interpreted and repeated as "car hole.""
Excellent point.--Closedmouth 12:03, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Annoyed Grunt

The title of the episode 'Annoyed Grunt' does not refer to Homer's "D'oh!" catchphrase, but rather to a sound Marge often makes.


- It does indeed reference Homer's "D'oh!" -- Replace "annoyed grunt" with it and you get "E-I-E-I-D'oh!" (say it out loud if you don't get it).

206.116.141.183 02:59, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

Worst word Ever

What about the occurance of "Worst ___ ever!" as a popular phrase. Such as, "Worst wiki page ever!" Equant 23:20, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

that's not made up.

I agree, it's more of a catchphrase. --17:25, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

References

This page is really in need of references. I have added a few, but please help! Most Simpsons episodes now have their own wikipedia pages. Raxolotl

Here's a good source for many Simpsonsisms: Mmm? Hhmhmhm? Grmrmmm? at HeiDeas. Dystopos 21:57, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

Yoink

Yoink has its very own page, but the origin of the word isn't definitely claimed as being from the Simpsons. Anyone got any idea if it is/isn't a Simpsons creation?

Smarch

(Note that Smarch is September joined with March, which are the tenth and the third months. 10 + 3 = 13, hence, Smarch is the thirteenth month.

What? September is the ninth month, so that makes 9 + 3 = 12, not 13... Sabbut 19:07, 23 Nov 2004 (UTC)

You're right! I cleaned up that sentence without considering whether it was correct. In fact we may as well remove the entire comment, since the S does not necessarily come from September. --Lkesteloot 22:13, 29 Nov 2004 (UTC)
I totally agree, the comment should be removed. What indicates that the S comes from September? ~k 19:12, 30 Nov 2004 (UTC)
I agree, too. It was misprinted, but probably not made up. There's no evidence to prove that September, or even March had a part in the name. Slof 00:51, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)
I've removed it. Also, I don't think this is correct: Smarch was, according to Marge Simpson, just a misprinted word on a calendar. Homer, however, didn't realize this and cursed the "lousy Smarch weather." I think Smarch is a real month (the 13th) and Marge's comment was there to mislead the viewer into thinking that that was the typo she was talking about. --Lkesteloot 03:02, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Actually, Lkesteloot, I thought the rest of it was correct. I thought it was a gag on Homer's stupidity. What makes you say it's a real month? ~k 17:28, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Because Marge makes a reference to the 13th month. It's common in Halloween episodes to have alternate realities like that. Also, the 2001 Simpson's calendar had 13 months, with Smarch as the 13th one (see Amazon). I can't say I'm completely convinced, but it seems more likely that Marge's comment was meant to set you up to think that "Smarch" was a misprint when in fact it wasn't. --Lkesteloot 04:54, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)
I'm with you on the alternate realities bit, I just didn't see Smarch that way. I took Marge's comment at face value. But hey, vive la difference! ~k 20:39, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Haw haw!

After something bad has happened to someone in The Simpsons, or sometimes for no appropriate reason, Nelson the bully proclaims "Haw haw!" with a high, squeeky voice.

yes, but its not a made-up word though is it - Drstuey 11:38, 28 Nov 2004 (UTC)
Not only that, but everyon eknows it's spelled "Har-har!" Graham 00:13, 29 Nov 2004 (UTC)
It's an interjection. Interjections are known to have been made up (sometimes) and/or commonly misspelled. It would be a struggle to prove that "haw haw" was coined from The Simpsons or if the Ancient Egyptians used it in everyday life.

On the other hand it's easy to prove the existence of Lord_Haw-Haw in the 1940s long before the Simpsons were thought of. -- Derek Ross | Talk 00:43, 2004 Nov 30 (UTC)

Well, If I may stoop to the lowest levels of Comic Book Guy pedantry: It's not just the pronunciation that makes Nelson's "Ha Ha" unique. It's always two tones, a major third apart, starting with the higher note. When Homer ate the chilis that gave him hallucinations, Nelson's "Ha Ha" was reversed, starting with the lower note. My wife and I got a huge kick out of that one. Danlovejoy 13:27, 7 May 2005 (UTC)


Meh

I have no evidence, but I do think "meh" was in use before being used in the Simpsons. Can anyone confirm? --Havermayer 15:37, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Yes, listening to 40/50's radio, it's been said at least once or twice there. The Simpsons did not invent the word meh.

Nor did they invent the phrase "dorkus malorkus". I distinctly remember this phrase being used when I was in elementary school, which I had already finished by the time the episode aired. -Branddobbe 21:50, 13 September 2005 (UTC)
I remember "dorkus" but I think Bart expanded it out to a full 'latin' word, to really get under Lisa's skin.
I'm pretty sure "Jebus" and "jerkass" predate the Simpsons too. Although outside of the Simpsons the origin is said to be "Jeebus." I've found several origins for "Jeebus." One is a Frank Zappa album from 1979. Another states it goes back to Duke Ellington in the 1930s. I'd favor something closer to that one because I'm relatively certain African American dialect was portrayed as pronouncing "Jesus" in varied ways, including "Jeebus." The least likely explanation, I think, is it being from a Simpsons episode from 2000. As I'm 99% sure I've seen the word in print before then, it's a low likelihood. Although it being spelled with a single "e" might be a Simpsonization. "Jerkass" I've heard since the mid-1990s, but the origin of slurs/curses is too full of nonsense for any online search to help.--T. Anthony 21:18, 26 September 2005 (UTC)
Someone should fix the Zappa information under "Jebus". The album Them or Us contains no references to Jesus/"Jebus" nor is there a song called "Heavenly Pocket Book" there is one called "Heavenly Bank Account" (but it does not contain the word Jebus/Jesus). [3] The information currently posted is incorrect! The fact that it's not capitalized is a pretty good hint... I'm not the biggest Zappa fan of that period so I am unable verify/correct this with certitude myself. Blahm 18:57, 31 December 2005
For that matter, the section on "D'oh" says that it's entered the OED, but the OED's actual entry is "doh," and it gives quotes going back to 1945. The OED says that Castellaneta popularized it, not that he coined it. So, this article needs some cleaning up. Ruakh 22:42, 26 September 2005 (UTC)


I have heard and said the word 'Meh' before I ever even watched The Simpsons. BTW I'm 17, so it's not too likely that I heard it from someone who HAD seen it (in the early nineties). KyleP 03:25, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

I removed a reference to the word "meh" occurring in the episode "Homer's Triple Bypass." Lisa actually says "eh," not "meh." I just watched the episode to verify this and it's quite clear.

Yvan Eht Nioj pronunciation

Given that the song lyrics given for Drop Da Bomb rhyme "It's no mirage" with "yvan eht nioj", wouldn't the proper pronunciation for "nioj" be:

niäzh

Where ä is the low back unrounded vowel and zh is the postalveolar voiced fricative (as opposed to the affricate which is currently given).

That would make it rhyme with "mirage" and that's how I remember it being pronounced as well. Would also make sense considering that the Simpsons is an American show, so pronouncing 'o' as ä is not uncommon (that's how Americans pronounce 'o' in say, "pot").

But I don't really know how to fix it since I'm unfamiliar with the formatting for IPA.

I don't know about the vowel, but the consonant is definitely sung /ʒ/ in the ad; it wouldn't surprise me if it were /dʒ/ in some of the dialogue, but I'm removing the d anyway, as that's not the main way it's pronounced. Ruakh 04:16, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Cromulent

Fixed poor/bizarro revision of "Cromulent" that somebody thought was "promulent." Also cleaned up the grammar in the last line. --someone sometime

Rephrased slightly. Although all the words are made up, "cromulent" is different because it's used in the context of the characters' discussion of made-up words. I therefore felt that, to preserve the show's humor in this instance, it's important not to say that word "cromulent" has some meaning. I revised the article accordingly, without changing the substance of the previous revision. Joey Q. McCartney 08:29, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Promulent

Promulent is Genius. It's what brought me to this site. This afternoon I found myself laughing out-loud, again, just at the thought of the word. For me when I see a verb that begins with the "em-" prefix, I think of "embiggens" which is funny enough, but it's the "promulent" line that sets me off. Now you're telling me it's "cromulent"!? I'm not sure "cromulent" is even that funny. It's a really subtle difference, but the great thing about "promulent" is that it sounds like it would mean exactly what it is implied to mean. If you didn't know any better (as a viewer or as a citizen of Springfield), you would just accept it as a word. It's subtle, hilarious, very Simpsons. "Cromulent", on the other hand, just sounds like a totally made up word.

It's interesting that I'm not the only one to make this mistake, if it is a mistake. Is it possible that we promulentarians have written a funnier line in our collective minds-ears than the writers for the show? As much as I'd like to take credit, I'd rather think of the writers laboring over this word, flavoring it with familiar meaning but unfamiliar form, eventually crafting the word to the perfection that is - "promulent". 

- Google them.  "Cromulent" turns up 228,000 results, while "promulent" turns up 293.  Sorry!

boo-urns

I don't think this should be considered a made-up word. The crowd was booing urns. It makes sense since the only person who was saying it was an older man(thus in the position to not like urns). Why is this considered to be a made up word and not a phrase? Am I missing something. Following this logic `Boo-Burns' should also be a made-up word?--Capi crimm 10:46, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

No one was booing urns. They were saying "boo!" to Burns, but Smithers wanted him to think they were chanting his name with an odd pronunciation "boo-urns" instead of "Burns". Only Hans Moleman was in fact saying "Burns" with the odd pronunciation. But you're right, it's hardly a made-up word. --Angr/tɔk tə mi 07:48, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, I guess that makes more sense... I still don't like urns. Anyway I'm taking it off then.--Capi crimm 10:46, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

Sacrilicious

You say that the word "sacrilicious" was used by The Supersuckers several years before Homer uses it, but the album "The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers" was released in 1995, and the episode in which Homer says "Mmm... sacrilicious," (Homer Loves Flanders, 1F14) aired in 1994.


Why does an "i" proceed the "l" in "sacrelicious". Shouldn't it be an "e"?

"Meme" and Bush

The term meme is an overly broad descriptor for some of these terms. It's also highly unnecessary baggage (when "word" or "phrase" will do). It's also innaccurate if the cultural connotations (ie. the "Simpsons" references) are stripped from the word or phrase as they develop or pass on to people, or already have their own standard non-Simpsons definitions -- most proteins aren't genes, they are the translations of genes, ergo generic words aren't memes, they're words. This is even more innaccurate in that the non-neologisms appear to have originally had different cultural or otherwise connotations.

I googled and couldn't find any references to Bush using "unpossible" in a speech (only checked about the first 50 references for "Unpossible Bush presidential speech"), so I'm removing it. Most likely a troll, but remotely possible it's real. 24.22.227.53 17:19, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

"I, for one, welcome our new * overlords" and "Mmmm, *"

Isn't this article missing something important? See Language Log post 'Wikipedia on Simpsons Words': "The Wikipedia has a listing of 63 "memes, words and phrases" derived from the Simpsons. Some specific words also have their own pages -- at least D'oh does. Inexplicably, several Simpsons snowclones lack entries, including "I, for one, welcome our new * overlords" and "mmm, *"."--64.80.112.170 13:33, 26 September 2005 (UTC)

-"I, for one" has an entry at Overlord meme. Cnoocy

Stench blossoms, Crapweeds, Scumdrops, Esquilax, *holic

Lisa: I admit Sergeant Skinner seems okay, but Mr. Tanzarian pulled himself up from the streets and earned our respect and admiration.
Bart: What about his name?
Lisa: His name doesn't matter.  "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Bart: Not if you called them stench blossoms.
Homer: Or crapweeds.
Marge: I'd sure hate to get a dozen crapweeds for Valentine's Day.  I'd rather have candy.
Homer: Not if they were called scumdrops!

That's from http://www.snpp.com/episodes/4F23

These links have more (homerhol, rageahol, esquilax): http://heideas.blogspot.com/2005/03/beyond-embiggens-and-cromulent.html http://www.anvari.org/fortune/Simpsons_Vocabulary/

That's embarrassing. I remember looking up "esquilax" once to find out what mythical beast it was "really" a name for.--T. Anthony 05:03, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Automated-teller-machine-iola-trola-maton

I hope that's spelled semi correctly at least.

At the beginning of episode '15x04 The Regina Monologues', Mr Burns wants a bag of peanuts so he asks Smithers to "spot me a federal." Smithers asks why he doesn't use his ATM card, to which Burns replies..

"Ah yes, the automated teller machineiolatrolamaton."

I'm not sure if it qualifies as a made up word but I like it.

unpossible

I searched for 'unpossible' in Richard II at http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext00/0ws1510.txt and no match. So perhaps a more specific description of the edition and such where 'unpossible' occurs would be good.

Richard II act two scene two

Bushy: The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland, But none returns. For us to levy power Proportionable to the enemy Is all unpossible.[4]

However Gutenberg does indeed list the line as "For vs to leuy power, Proportionable to th' enemy, is all impossible." A conundrum.--T. Anthony 03:39, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

My deadtree copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (4th ed), ed. David Bevington, has at II.2, line 125, 'Is all unpossible.' --moof 11:46, 9 October 2005 (UTC)

consarnit!

Grandpa has the habit of exclaiming "Consarnit!"

  • An old word.

Bolonium

Surely "Balonium" from "Baloney"?

  • Yes, definitely.
  • I would say "Bolognium" for "Bologna".

dorkus malorkus

Remove it if it's a possible latin phrase. This list is for made-up words only.

I think this is a coincidence. Granted it might not be as the writers for the show are fairly well-educated, but I think "dorkus malorkus" is just based on adding "us" to things to make Latin. Some of the Frenchisms on "Pepe Le Pew" cartoons are real French, I think, but their meaning/intent is fictitious.--T. Anthony 23:09, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

sticktoiveness

THis word predates the Simpsons by decades. I vividly remember it from feel-good/inspirational literature from my childhood (the 60s). rodii 02:22, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

I think this one should just be taken out. We have several things that indicate it was even in the popular culture in the 1950s and I don't think the writers ever claimed it was there's.--T. Anthony 15:56, 11 October 2005 (UTC)
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition dates this word to 1867. Just barely ahead of Matt Groening. --GeeJimmy 20:37, 12 October 2005 (UTC)
All of which indicates the generally low quality of this page. Every claim that something is a "made-up word" is questionable and needs a least a minimum of diligence—what's the difference between that and "a word [someone] hasn't heard before"? So with all the unsourced assertions—"no, sticktoitiveness originated with She-Ra," for heaven's sake—and the basic fanboyish inanity of the subject matter, this may very well be the worst page I have yet encountered on wikipedia. I mean, get serious—an encyclopedia entry on "Made-up words in The Simpsons"? DELETE rodii 16:58, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

Avoision

Although avoision is a relatively recent coinage, I don't think it originated in The Simpsons: it's used by tax accountants to mean legal tax minimisation (as opposed to tax avoidance, which is illegal tax minimisation). eg, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4440125.stm

Are you sure avoision was even a created word in the Simpsons? In the episode Kent Brockman gets a feed in his ear which seems to say "evasion". Maybe it's just the way he pronounces evasion.

Nuclear Panner Plant

A nuclear panner plant is what Homer reffers to his workplace (A nuclear power plant) in the episode "Homer's Enemy" when his friends Lenny and Carl tell the new employee Frank Grimes that he merely got his job by showing up the day the plant open, to which Homer replies "I didn't even know what a nuclear panner plant was!"

deleted "i dont know"

Though perhaps the way homer says it is new, it's not a made-up word or phrase. If we include new ways of tone and inflection, this list would be many times longer.

Italian version?

Is there not an italian wikipedia? Why oh why do we need italian versions of simpsons words? Who cares?

Yes there is--Greasysteve13 02:49, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

Donder-Blitzen

"Donder en Blitzen" ("thunder and lightning") is - or, at least was - considered a very rude expression in Dutch. --RobHutten 00:33, 12 October 2005 (UTC)

Meh

Additionally, the comment on Santa's Reindeer is incorrect. There is no reindeer named "Donder," perhaps the author was confused with Donner. 153.104.16.114 00:22, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, there is no reindeer named "Donder" now. But there once was. See snopes for more info. Wow, there's even a whole advocacy website. 70.22.3.153 17:44, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Cafetorium has been around much longer than the Simpson's

My grade school in the 60s had a building called the "Cafetorium".

Cafeteria and auditorium all rolled into one.

Also there are/were places like the Danceteria in NYC, so its not uncommon to portmanteau cafeteria and another word.  ALKIVAR™ 22:51, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Dash-hole

The cigarette lighter socket in the car; dash-hole.

Homer buys so many gadgets that he can't see out to drive and has to send an emergency fax before he sinks off the pier.

It sounds like Tom Daschle's last name.

Holy Flurking Shnit!

Alien curse

Fit

From the entry for "fit":

==

In the episode "The Front", the normally valid word fit is heard to be inappropriately used as an additional past tense form of "fight" in the end credits of The Itchy and Scratchy Show "Little Barbershop of Horrors" cartoon created by Bart and Lisa. The revised song goes, "They fought, and fit, and fought and fit. Fought, fought fought, fit fit fit. It was The Itchy and Scratchy show."

==

Rather than an inappropriate past tense form of "fight," it seems to me that the noun "fit" (meaning a sudden outburst, as in the expressions "throw a fit" and "a fit of anger") is being used improperly as a verb: to fit. (Though, I imagine the "proper" past tense would be fitted.)

-Donald-

Not a chance. It's clearly an additional past tense, with an

"old-timey American-Western-frontier" feel about it.

But... the words are 'fight and bite' so it's fought and bit.... fit's funny, though!
From where are people getting that it's "fit" rather than "bit"? Unless that's been in print somewhere, I'd attribute it to a mishearing of "bit", since that's the past tense of "bite", which is the usual lyric. --Arteitle 13:26, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

"Bite" is the usual lyric? That's news to me. Don't the lyrics go "They fight, and fight. Fight fight fight. Fight fight fight." etc?

"Don't the lyrics go 'They fight, and fight. Fight fight fight. Fight fight fight.' etc?" No. They don't. KyleP 03:19, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Dicker

Dicker is not antiquated in my circle, and the idea that it is, or only appears in a Simak story, is quaintly parochial...

trans-dental electromicide

This phrase of two made-up words is referenced in the page but it doesn't have its own entry.

Also, I suspect that Burn's old-time speech has a number of made-up words or words used in ways which weren't ever normal.


-- I heard this word as trans-dental-electro-massage. Are you sure it's "micide"?

It sounds like "-micide" to me. Microfrost 02:51, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

shirkaday

How is "shirk" *Australian*? Isn't this word used throughout the English speaking world?

I'm very far from Australia, and I hear this word. I looked in a couple online dictionaries and they didn't say it was Australian. Friday (talk) 19:03, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

Crapulance / Crapulence

What about when Skinner mentions "Crapulance"?

crap·u·lence n. Sickness caused by excessive eating or drinking. Excessive indulgence; intemperance.
[From crapulent, sick from gluttony, from Late Latin crpulentus, very drunk, from Latin crpula, intoxication, from Greek kraipal.]
originated in the mid 17th century. Dystopos 21:34, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

Superliminal

Wasn't it Lenny and Carl who were given the "superliminal" treatment? Otto the Bus Driver was subliminally brainwashed.

This is correct. When Lt. L. T. Smash yells out the window "Hey you, join the Navy", Lenny and Carl say something along the lines of "ok" and "I'm convinced". So yes Lenny and Carl were the ones that were given the "superliminal" treatment. -- Ianblair23 (talk) 22:26, 19 October 2005 (UTC)

Criticism from OUP project editor

"Grant Barrett, project editor of the Historical Dictionary of American Slang at Oxford University Press, notes Wikipedia doesn't differentiate between unique terms coined by the show and terms simply popularized by the show.

"This is not a list put together by lexicographers, it's a list put together by fans," he says. "Just because people speak English, doesn't make them an expert at it."" —Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2005

lots of issues | leave me a message 00:18, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Fought and fought and fit

The occurrence of "fit" in "The Front" as an alternative to "fought" is certainly "fit" and not "bit" as suggested as an alternative. I've removed this reference from the article for now, but if there are still concerns, please reinstate it. Bobo192 17:55, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Listen for yourself: http://download.lardlad.com/sounds/season4/front7.mp3 —Fitch 21:11, 20 October 2005 (UTC)

Safen up

What is the reference for this? Homer doesn't say 'Smitty...Safen up!' as an order to Smitty, in an attempt to impress the Germans by trying to use what he thinks is a German word. What he says, after admonishing the others for 'acting so unsafe', is 'Smitty...safe enough.' Certainly the lower tone he uses when saying this does not indicate an order, and is totally different from the tone of the orders he gives to the workers just before.

- Purplemonkeydishwasher.

He does actually say Safen Up, the lower tone is a result of hesitation when Homer runs out of safety orders to think of and so has to make up his own. Duh!

I just watched the episode again, and I still disagree, for the same reasons listed by Purplemonkeydishwasher. I think you're clinging to a less logical interpretation of the exchange when there's a much easier explanation available, one consistent with all the facts.

I'm deleting "Safen up" again, and if there's some community support for putting it back up, well, you guys can go ahead. --Our Bold Hero 23:55, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

Does anyone besides Dystopos think the line is "safen up"? He seems to be the only one restoring it. Perhaps we could get some consensus one way or the other before including something two people think is just a misheard word? I'm deleting it again. --Our Bold Hero 21:27, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

I do! Fitch 09:18, 2 November 2005 (UTC)
The transcript at "The Simpsons Archive" has "Safen Up!"
Also, in the following exchange from Inside the Actors Studio. James Lipton, the host, interviews Dan Castellaneta, voice of Homer Simpson, in character:
James Lipton: Homer, what is your full name?
Dan Castellaneta: Homer J. Simpson. The J stands for Jay.
James Lipton: What do you do at the Nuclear Power Plant?
Dan Castellaneta: I am a safety inspector. I tell people to be safe. And safen up!
James Lipton: Safen up?
Dan Castellaneta: Safen up!
Thirdly, "safe enough" is not funny. Dystopos 21:54, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

I think it's funny, just not that funny. I haven't seen the actors studio thing in a while so I don't remember that exchange, but even though I believe it happened I don't see why that has to be a reference to this episode. The Snpp thing is not a big deal; it wouldn't be the first error there.

But suppose I believe you? Then Homer's dismissive hand gesture as he says "safen up" (which is in a low tone because he's hesitating, as you said) is meant to convey what? --Our Bold Hero 05:40, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

Rather than argue about the nature of humor, I'll just fall back on WP policy which encourages verifiable sources and discourages original research. Please wait until a verifiable source with equal authority supports "Safe enough" as the line in question before reverting again. Dystopos 14:51, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

The subtitles on the DVD have it as "Safen up."

Nucular

I removed the following: "Many dictionaries accept the 'nuc-u-lar' pronunciation as an acceptable variation" as I can only find evidence of one (Merriam-Webster) doing so - see [5]. Natgoo 18:00, 21 October 2005 (UTC)

Why is this here at all? It was already a common pronounciation before it appeared on the Simpsons (though clearly the writers thought it was an incorrect one) and as the Nucular article notes, the novelty of Homer's use is the way he brings such a minor, usually ignored issue to our attention. --Our Bold Hero 00:20, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

traumedies

comedy traumas [6]


Toilet time for tiny town!

Hear this phrase quite regularly, from one of the Halloween episodes.

Speedholes

I won't add this, because I'm not certain. On a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, the TV Funhouse cartoon was about Mr. T trying to find work. At the very begining of the episode (opening sequence) Mr. T is heard saying, "Dem holes are for speed." Can anyone verify if this is indeed an A-TEAM reference, or if that phrase was used in the A-TEAM, maybe we can at least mention it.

Slag

Whilst I understand that it might be a word that's not known to all of its initial target audience, I think it's a bit much to include 'slag' as a Simpsons neologism- it's been around in British English for an awful lot longer than the Simpsons have!

I agree. Words that have been previously used in the same sense as they have been popularized in the Simpsons don't belong here. Dystopos 15:18, 28 October 2005 (UTC)
I've removed it - it definitely doesn't belong here. Natgoo 10:41, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

Foilage

This is hardly a neologism from the Simpsons, since I can honestly say, without hyperbole, that a billion people mispronounce it this way. Are we to include every word ever mispronounced on the Simpsons?

And, since a billion or so people mispronounce it that way, and surely also write it as such, it's hardly a neologism, thus being undeserving of being quoted on a list of neologisms on the Simpsons. Q.E.D. --69.11.61.81 00:05, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Whale-kissing, Dukakis-hugging Moon-maiden

I wonder if this should be included, from the episode wherein Wolfcastle is invited for Dinner at the Simpsons and he calls Lisa this, after she complains about there being no non-meats at the table.

Smokron

My apologies if this has already been addressed: I always figured Homer was saying "Did you say 'smuck run'" or some other kind of "run," implying an errand to go out and buy/hunt/find whatever "smuck" could be. 153.104.16.114 00:24, 4 November 2005 (UTC)

Garbagewater

I doubt very highly that this was coined by The Simpsons. I would've thought it was in common usage long before that episode aired, but I might as well get a consensus. Agree/disagree? --Closedmouth 13:29, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm sure. Dystopos 16:33, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Also, I always thought Homer said "Smitty, safe enough", not "Smitty, safen up." Anyone got any idea on this? --Closedmouth 15:54, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
See Talk:List of neologisms on The Simpsons#Safen up. Dystopos 16:33, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
Yes, thanks, but that entry was why I raised the issue in the first place. --Closedmouth 01:13, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
You asked if anyone had any ideas based on the talk page entry? Dystopos 18:19, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Oop, sorry about that, my mistake. I misread and thought you were referring to the actual entry. That's what I get for Wikying so late at night. :P --Closedmouth 01:19, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Jumping Box / Picto-Cube

How about these two synonyms for "television", from the episode wherein Lisa has her own newspaper and Burns buys up all the other media to overtake her. It goes something like this:

Burns: "Smithers! Turn on the jumping box."
Smithers: "'Jumping box', sir?"
Burns: "Television, jumping box, picto-cube, whatever... just crank it up!"

--69.11.61.81 23:42, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

Safen up?

Didn't Homer say "Safe enough"?--220.238.44.174 06:27, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Look 11 sections above --you may notice a million people, or thereabouts, debating this exact question.
Sorry. But I am right.--220.238.18.253 05:42, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Sorry, but if you look 11 sections above, you may notice a million people, or thereabouts, debating whether you are right.

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcaniconiosis

Should we perhaps mention somewhere that this word is real?

It was used by Homer in some sort of list of diseases (Flu, rabies, pneumonoultra...). I'm sure some fans will think they made it up... GalaxiaGuy 02:41, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

Actually, Abe Simpson uses it. -WindFish 06:49, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

Xtapalapocetl? It's Xt'Tapalatakettle!

In "The Simpsons:A Complete Guide to our Favourite Family". So I'm changing it... again.--220.238.18.253 05:41, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

And this article... Xt'Tapalatakettle--220.238.18.253 05:43, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
Okay then, I'll leave it as it is, but if you're going to change the title, please change the pronunciation, too. --Closedmouth 04:37, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
Closedmouth!? What gives? I'm Greasysteve13!--58.104.11.118 06:34, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
Ha, wow, that's an odd coincidence. Sorry about reverting your edits, I didn't think they were overly relevant. You should sign up here; it's much better than having a random IP address assigned to you. --Closedmouth 08:48, 3 December 2005 (UTC)
Aww, do I have to!?--Greasysteve13 04:05, 15 December 2005 (UTC)
Good man! You'll make Sergeant for this. --Closedmouth 07:12, 15 December 2005 (UTC)
Previously known as 220.238.18.253--58.104.11.118 06:38, 3 December 2005 (UTC)


Yes, I don't think the The Simpsons Guides are a correct source for the spelling of Xt'Tapalatakettle for the following reasons:

1. When watching this episode Burns enunciates this word as x-ta-pa-la-pa-ket-tel contrasting your x-ta-pa-la-"ta"-ket-tel. The "ta" is supposed to be a "pa." Watch it and you'll agree.

2. The DVD captioning spells it "Xtapalapaquetl."

3. "The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family" is so rife with errors, I doubt even they got the spelling right.

Ultrabasurero 00:51, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

I think "Xt'Tapalatakettle" is the prefered spelling. It is also used in Comic Books.--Greasysteve13 01:12, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
And it also wins in Google.--Greasysteve13 01:20, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
On the other hand Xtapalapocetl is used on my DVD, not Xtapalapaquetl. Although this may be a regional thing. My DVD is Australian.--Greasysteve13 01:30, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
Although Xt'Tapalatakettle is still used in The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family and its sequels.--Greasysteve13 03:37, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Clownpole

I notice "clownpole" isn't on this list. Krusty uses the word in the episode "Homey the Clown". -WindFish 06:48, 27 November 2005 (UTC)

yes it is... 62.249.204.31 15:31, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Hypohemia

Hypohemia isn't a Simpson's made up word. It is an intentionally obscure word used for comedic affect.

Rageohol

I'm not sure why this was previously spelled with an "a." Homer pronounces it with an "o" - and it is a portmanteau of "alcohol" and "rage." The word "alcohol" is not spelled "alcahol" - so why would rageohol be spelled "rageahol"??

Rageahol

Actually, it's not a portmanteau of "alcohol" and "rage". It's a reduction that demonstrates the ridiculousness of words like "rageaholic" or "workaholic". The other way to demonstrate this would be by addition: someone addicted to alcohol is an "alcohol-aholic". I do agree that the original bastardization, "workaholic" (apparently coined by Dr. Wayne Oates), probably should have been spelled with an "o" instead of the "a".

Churchy LaFemme

Under the Charlie Church entry, it refers to Homer calling Ned Flanders Churchy LaFemme as well. Churchy La Femme was a turtle in Walt Kelly's "Pogo", so perhaps there should be a comment/link?

Flurking Shnit should be moved to Holy Flurking Schnit

On the grounds of:

I believe it was me (before I became a user) that changed it from Schnit to Shnit on the grounds of it not being German and the "C" adding nothing to it.--Greasysteve13 02:47, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

Scotchtoberfest

I am a Scot, living in Glasgow, the country's largest city, where we have both the Simpsons and trousers. I am wearing trousers right now, in fact; naturally, I feel a great urge to wear a kilt instead. I have never, ever celebrated 'Scotchtoberfest', and no of none of my countrymen who have. Is this an Aberdeen thing? I wouldn't put it past them.--Zhengfu 19:03, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

Go Aberdeen!--Greasysteve13 07:02, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

The rare blood type that both Mr. Burns and Bart have that doesn't exist in real life.

We should add this too. But add it as what? Double-O Negative, OO- etc?--Greasysteve13 11:03, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

Anyone?--Greasysteve13 01:45, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
Anyone??--Greasysteve13 02:26, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Well, the section Xt'Tapalatakettle says it's Double-O Neg, but I can't vouch. --Polymath69 23:52, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

meh < bugs bunny 'feh'?

i can't verify, but bugs bunny (actually the 'female' bugs) used to say 'feh' or 'fah' (rhyming with 'meh'), possibly this is where the simpsons got this? Exit 02:01, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

I believe "feh" is an old Yiddish/Jewish expression. I don't know if the writers for Bugs were Jewish, but it's plausible some of them were.--T. Anthony 15:46, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Eltdown

Can someone add this? Y'know, someone who isn't lazy... also double-O negitive.--220.238.143.137 02:06, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

Ooops, forgot to sign in.--Greasysteve13 02:07, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
Anyone?--Greasysteve13 01:45, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, hold your horses. --Closedmouth 07:51, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
Excellent!--Greasysteve13 10:39, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Nertz

Why would the word "Squozen" be mentioned on this list, when it was not originally a creation from The Simpson's? Yet, the word "Nertz" was removed from this list, with Closedmouth responding in the removal edit comment by saying "removed Nertz; said many times by Frank Burns from M*A*S*H."

The word "Squozen" has appeared "in an episode of M*A*S*H, in which Radar offers the doctors orange juice freshly squozen." It even states that in the article; therefore, I say Nertz be put back on the list. The original mentioning of Nertz in this article stated:

Nertz
In episode 3F16, The Day the Violence Died, Homer accompanies Bart and Lisa downtown so that they can get good seats for the upcoming Itchy & Scratchy parade. However, while they were sleeping in their lawn chairs on the sidewalk, a large bleacher was built directly in front of Homer. When he wakes up, he notices that he can no longer see the parade, and he yells "Aw, nertz!"

I disagree; Radar says "squozen" once, in one episode, whereas "nertz" was said many times by Frank Burns in many episodes. When I hear the word "nertz", I immediately think of Frank Burns and M*A*S*H, not The Simpsons. That's my opinion, anyway. We could probably do with some outside views. --Closedmouth 07:51, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
  • Take both out as MASHisms.--T. Anthony 15:47, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

Nertz

I'm sorry but "Nertz" predates both the Simpson's and M*A*S*H by as much as half a century. My grandmother (born in 1908) had a great nostalgic vocubulary. She used "nertz" both as an interjection, "Nertz!", and much more often in the dismissively derisive phrase "Ah, nertz to you" which was often served with a side of "Walk East til your hat floats". I always figured that little gem was a uniquely Chicago expression maybe "nertz" is too. I also figured the word "nuts", widely used as an interjection for decades, was either derived from (by dropping the "r") or at least related to "nertz". Anyway, "nertz" may be a regional expression but it sure isn't a neologism. If anything, it's arcane.

Dickety

This always sounded to me like a take on "diggedy" or "diggity", as in the exclamation of pleasant surprise "Hot diggity!" Pat Boone sang "Hot Diggity." This site: http://www.alphadictionary.com/slang/H.html traces "hot diggity dog" back to the 1940s. I seem to remember it was a favorite expression of Shemp Howard. BillFlis 19:14, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

Related AFD

Editors may be intested in the discussion taking place at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/References in Samurai Jack. Kappa 11:25, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

Apple Segment??

C'mon, this obviously isn't made up! A segment is just a piece of something, just because it's not something people say commonly does not mean it's made up by the Simpsons. Scott

Would/should someone add Incompetent Boobery to the neologism list? I would do it myself but have no idea which episode it was in. 128.135.54.131 07:45, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

Maxwell Circuit

This bit on Maxwell Circuit is entirely unenlightening. Could someone attempt a definition? Polymath69 22:50, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

What the farkbot?

(See User_talk:Alkivar#Farkbot)--Greasysteve13 08:25, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Gabbo

Does this properly belong in neologisms (rather than a list of characters?) I've never heard it used unless someone was referring to that particular character. If it's going to be included, I'd like to add the film The Great Gabbo [7] as a possible reference. (It's a bit of a stretch, as Gabbo in the movie is the ventriloquist, not the dummy -- but an early Erich von Stroheim talkie seems like just the kind of really odd reference a bunch of overeducated TV writers might stick in, especially in an episode full of references to mass media history.) --Uncat 20:57, 26 March 2006 (UTC)

You might as well just remove it. It's not a neologism, and the person who added it (Homer911n) seems to have a very limited grasp of English. --Closedmouth 04:07, 27 March 2006 (UTC)
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