10 Phrases & Sayings That Only Exist Because Of Movies

Summary Everyday phrases like "gaslight" and "catfish" originated in films, shaping modern language use.

Iconic movie quotes, like "Show me the money!" have become part of popular culture even when not directly referenced.

Movie-inspired terms like "bombshell," "bucket list," and "the dark side" have become staples in the English language.

There are a few common phrases that were invented by or gained popularity because of their inclusion in films. Words such as "gaslight" and "catfish" found new meanings beyond the production of light and type of fish, respectively, thanks to their use in films. Because the words are deeply integrated into the modern language, their on-screen origins aren't always thought of.

Iconic movie quotes, such as "May the Force be with you," possess a lasting presence in pop culture, but they're only ever said in direct reference to the film. Whereas, a phrase like "Show me the money!" is spoken by people who might not know it comes from Jerry Maguire. These words, and more, have become staples within the English language, but they wouldn't be as prevalent had they not been said in popular films.

Related 15 Movie Quotes That Are Instantly Recognizable Some popular movie quotes are so famous that they are instantly recognizable, even for people who haven’t seen the movies they are from.

10 Bombshell

Bombshell (1933)

The term "bombshell" was first used to describe Jean Harlow, an actress from the 1930s. Used to describe an attractive, popular woman, Harlow first earned the nickname after starring in the Frank Capra film, Platinum Blonde. However, the marketing for her role a few years later in Bombshell helped push the word into popularity. Though the word isn't as favored today, it has had a strong decades-long run in pop culture.

Following Harlow's stardom, particularly as the "blonde bombshell," other actresses with blonde hair were similarly nicknamed. The term was eventually used to describe a diverse range of women and became a common character trope in movies. Characters known as bombshells are typically associated with being highly attractive and having a specific body type. Actresses after Harlow who were named bombshells include Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and Marilyn Monroe.

9 "Go Ahead, Make My Day"

Sudden Impact (1983)

The Dirty Harry franchise introduced many iconic quotes, including "Go ahead, make my day" in the fourth film, Sudden Impact. It's a phrase that's delivered with cool confidence as Harry points his gun at a robber in a diner. In everyday scenarios, the words are uttered in less intense circumstances, but they still hold the same meaning. The expression is generally used when one person asks another to challenge them, knowing they'll prevail in the end.

In addition to everyday conversations in which the phrase is used, the words have also been heard in other forms of entertainment. In 1984, a country song titled "Make My Day" was released by T. G. Sheppard. The song details the life of Clint Eastwood's character and the actor is also featured in the song reciting the famous words.

8 Catfishing

Catfish (2010)

The term "catfishing," used to describe the misleading identity of a person online, is often associated with the MTV series, Catfish: The TV Show. However, it doesn't technically originate from the show, hosted by Nev Schulman and Max Joseph. Rather, a documentary centered around Schulman's discovery whilst online dating is credited with coining the term.

Schulman's story and the shocking episodes of Catfish had audiences fascinated by the ways others put up a false persona online. While referring to someone as a "catfish" usually means they're claiming others' photos as their own, it's also used in a lighthearted sense to describe people who look slightly different from their online profiles due to photo manipulation. In addition to the crimes committed by catfishing, the practice has also been used for good by undercover officers who pose as average people online to lure in criminals.

7 Bucket List

The Bucket List (2007)

Since the 1800s, the phrase "kicking the bucket" has been equated to the action of dying. Therefore, it's likely the idea of a "bucket list" existed before the 2007 film, The Bucket List, which sees two men, played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, marking things off their wish list before they die. The Bucket List's screenwriter, Justin Zackham, coined the expression after making his own bucket list, inspiring the concept of the movie.

Despite The Bucket List not inventing the idea, the film did help popularize the creation of such a checklist. The types of adventures on one's bucket list range from person to person. Some people seek out risky escapades like climbing Mount Everest or skydiving, while others would simply prefer to set out on a cross-country road trip before they die.

6 "I'm Gonna Make Him An Offer He Can't Refuse."

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather films have had a lasting influence on pop culture with stereotyped images of the Mafia and of Italian-Americans replicated numerous times in TV shows and films. The characters from The Godfather have also been recognized as some of the most memorable in American cinema. Quotes from these characters have been recited by fans for years, including a line by Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

The phrase was first mentioned in Mario Puzo's novel of the same name in 1969, but Brando gave life to the quote. The words are used to suggest one better do as Vito says or suffer a deadly consequence. In real-life conversations, the phrase has a similar meaning, but the intense threat of violence is omitted.

Related The Godfather: 15 Best Don Corleone Quotes Don Corleone has some of the best quotes in The Godfather, and they've become some of the most famous movie quotes of all time.

5 "This Chick Is Toast"

Ghostbusters (1984)

The word "toast" has various meanings, from sliced bread to the action of raising a drinking glass. However, there's another definition of "toast" that has roots in film. In Ghostbusters, when the titular team faces Gozer, Bill Murray's Peter Venkman says, "This chick is toast." The original line in the script was slightly different, but Murray's improvisation and line delivery led to one of the more underrated moments in the franchise.

Following the release of Ghostbusters, the phrase caught on with audiences and made its way into the English language. The phrase continues to be used to this day as a way to tell someone they're doomed or done for. Rarely do people say the phrase in its entirety — if so, it's likely a direct reference to the film. Instead, it's often shortened to "you're toast."

4 The Dark Side

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

It's not odd to describe evil actions or people as having a darkness to them, as the two descriptors have been closely related for years. Still, the Star Wars franchise is known for introducing the concept of "the dark side" to audiences with the series' first film, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Since then, the phrase has frequently been used in regular conversations.

The dark side often refers to an unfavorable activity or group of people who partake in rule-breaking behavior. Many Star Wars characters have turned to the dark side and are categorized as being greedy and hungry for power. While not every real-life example of the dark side is as extreme, the film's basic differentiation between good and bad remains the same.

3 "Show Me The Money!"

Jerry Maguire (1996)

There are plenty of memorable quotes in Jerry Maguire, but one that has earned a permanent place in the English language is "Show me the money." In the film, Jerry (Tom Cruise) repeatedly screams the phrase into the phone whilst talking to his client. It's a humorous scene that makes the phrase all the more memorable. It's difficult to say whether the words would've become such a large part of everyday conversations had they not been presented comically.

"Show me the money," as said by Jerry's client, Rod, is a direct way of asking how much money he'll be receiving if they work together. Rather than talking about the promises and benefits of a job, "show me the money" cuts straight to the point, suggesting money is the most important factor when making a work-related decision.

2 "As If!"

Clueless (1995)

Cher Horowitz is one of the iconic female characters from '90s teen films. In Clueless, Cher is a satirical, self-centered, but well-meaning character. A lovable trait of Cher's is her tendency to speak in Valley girl slang, delivering many memorable lines, including her famous debate about refugees in America. However, the two words that have continued to be said years later are, "As if!"

Clueless writer and director Amy Heckerling doesn't claim to have invented "as if" to describe something unlikely to happen. Heckerling attributes the phrase to the LGBTQ+ community in the early '90s (via Teen Vogue). Because Heckerling decided to attach the words to her coming-of-age film, they have maintained a decades-long relevancy that doesn't appear to be fading anytime soon. Many people who say the phrase generally deliver it in the same exaggerated tone as Cher.

1 Gaslight

Gaslight (1944)

Every year, Merriam-Webster puts out a list of a few words that sum up the year. In 2022, the top word was "gaslighting." Merriam-Webster defines the term as the "psychological manipulation of a person...that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts." This definition works as the basic synopsis of George Cukor's film, Gaslight. The psychological thriller is also the primary origin of the word "gaslighting," although a play and 1940 film with the same name were made before.

The film follows a woman who is made to feel she's losing her sanity as a result of her husband's mind tricks. Today, the term is used more loosely, leading to its popularity. Many trivial disagreements are labeled as acts of gaslighting when no true harm or manipulation has taken place, as the original definition says.