Catch phrase

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses see Catch phrase (disambiguation)

A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is spontaneously popularized after a critical amount of widespread repeated usage in everyday conversation. Also called a memetic phrase, catch phrases often originate in popular culture, and typically spread through a variety of media (such as motion pictures, television and radio), as well as word of mouth. Some catch phrases become the "trademark" or defining quotation associated with of the person or character with whom they originated.

[edit] See also

• List of political catch phrases
• Memetic phrase
• Snowclone

[edit] References

• Partridge, Eric (1894-1979) ed. Beale. A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, American and British, from the sixteenth century to the present day (enlarged trade paperback edition) Lanham, Maryland: Scarborough House, 1992 ISBN 0-8128-8536-8

[edit] External links

• Livejournal's Catch Phrase Community
• Biography of Eric Partridge, noted lexicographer and compiler of english-language catch phrases at partridge-slang.com