"D'oh!" is a catch phrase used by the fictional character Homer Simpson, from the long-running animated series The Simpsons (1989–present). Originally written in a script as an "annoyed grunt", Dan Castellaneta rendered it as a drawn out "d'ooooooh". This was inspired by a minced oath used by Jimmy Finlayson in several Laurel and Hardy films. Matt Groening felt that it would better suit the timing of animation if it were spoken faster, so Castellaneta then shortened it to a quickly uttered "D'oh!"
Homer's ubiquitous catch phrase was famously added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001,[1] without the apostrophe. The spoken word "D'oh" is a trademark of 20th Century Fox.[2] It is typically used when Homer injures himself, realizes that he has done something stupid, or when something bad has happened or is about to happen to him. Other members of his family-including Bart, Lisa, Grampa, and even his mother and brother-have all been known to use it themselves. Other characters have also used this phrase.
In 2006, "D'oh!" was placed in sixth position on TV Land's list of the 100 greatest television catchphrases.[3][4]
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During the voice recording session for a Tracey Ullman Show short, Homer was required to utter what was written in the script as an "annoyed grunt". Dan Castellaneta rendered it as a drawn out "d'ooooooh". This was inspired by Jimmy Finlayson, the mustachioed Scottish actor who appeared in 33 Laurel and Hardy films. Finlayson had used the term as a minced oath to stand in for the word "Damn!" Matt Groening felt that it would better suit the timing of animation if it were spoken faster. Castellaneta then shortened it to a quickly uttered "D'oh!"[5] The first intentional use of d'oh! occurred the Ullman short "The Krusty the Clown Show",[5] (1989) and its first usage in the series was in the series premiere, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".[6] It is typically represented in the show's script as "(annoyed grunt)", and is so spelled out in the official titles of several episodes. Some episodes feature variations of the word such as "Bart of Darkness", (season six, 1994) where Homer says "D'oheth"[6] or The Simpsons Movie (2007) where Homer shouts "d'oooome!"[7]
When originally created, the word didn't have an official spelling. Instead, it was written as "(Annoyed Grunt)". In recognition of this, several episodes feature the phrase "(Annoyed Grunt)" in the episode title. Such episodes include:
Five episodes so far have "D'oh" in their titles (all in later seasons):
The term d'oh! has been used or adopted by many Simpsons fans, and even non-fans. The term has become commonplace in modern speech and demonstrates the extent of the show's influence. 'D'oh!' was first added to the The New Oxford Dictionary of English in 1998 under the definition "used to comment on an action perceived as foolish or stupid."[8] In 2001, 'd'oh!' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, without the apostrophe.[9] The definition of the word is "expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned, or that one has just said or done something foolish."[10] The spoken word d'oh is a trademark of 20th Century Fox.[11]
The term has also been used in popular culture beyond The Simpsons, sometimes as a reference to the program. For example, in a 2008 episode of Doctor Who, an Ood with a mark VI translator mechanism set on a "comedy classic" option says "D'oh!"[12] Another example includes Richard Dean Anderson, as Jack O'Neill, using the term himself in several episodes of his series Stargate SG-1. The Simpsons is Anderson's favorite show.
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