What He Said
A Stock Phrase used in comedic situations. One person will speak at length, often intelligently and involving either an excellent explanation of what's going on and why, or a highly practical solution to the current problem. Other characters, upon being consulted, will reply with "What He Said".
This is especially true when the one speaking is a temporary or new authority figure, and the one saying 'what he said' is the previous one or a more well-known and respected authority, proving that the new guy does know what he's talking about.
Especially funny when the previous or 'true' authority figure demands to have the last say, and that he be recognized as the ultimate authority... and then simply repeats the ideas presented by the upstart, often with these same words.
Does not actually require Exposition on the part of the first speaker, only a statement agreed with by the second person with the words "What he said".
Very common on internet forums, where Me Too is one of the archetypal Online Personas. This has, in turn, given rise to the acronym QFT, "Quoted For Truth".
Not to be confused with "That's What She Said".
Film
- Blazing Saddles: Mongo has just ridden into town.
Sheriff Bart: Who is this Mongo, anyway? |
- At the end of Bruce Almighty, Bruce is seen next to a homeless man carrying a sign that reads "The end is nigh". Bruce's sign reads "What he said".
- In Hot Fuzz, one of the cops has two of these when confronted with a crimescene, where he asks Sergeant Angel what to do, Angel gives a detailed description, which gets a 'What he said'. In the final fight, that same cop suddenly comes up with a detailed, comprehensive plan to assault the supermarket, which causes all the others to stare in surprise until Angel also replies with a 'What he said'.
Live Action TV
- Angel episode "Damage"
Angel: Let's go over it again, just in case you left out any details. |
Logan Cale: In case you haven't caught on by now, this girl's gonna do what she's gonna do no matter what you or anyone else says, so you've got two choices: back off or pitch in. |
- Dead Like Me episode "Death Defying". Mason and Ray are playing pool.
Guy: Hey. We got next. |
- Psych episode "Extradition: British Columbia"
Shawn Spencer: [having a "vision"] I see a man... net. I see the painter... John Manet. |
- Supernatural episode "Free to Be You and Me"
Raphael: I'm warning you. Do not leave me here. I will find you. |
Professional Wrestling
- TNA wrestlers Taylor Wilde and Sarita once went through a phase of, during interviews, Sarita reeling off a string of Spanish and Wilde finishing off the interview with "What she said!"
- They did the EXACT same thing with Matt Morgan & Hernandez. And at the same tine too, although it was never acknowledged.
Video Games
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Willard: Ooh! Ooh! I got it this time! Here's a...! Here's a...! |
Web Comics
- Erfworld: "Double the dog bowels."
Western Animation
Yakko: If we have unearned luck, Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue |
Flash: Hate to interrupt this special live performance of The Thing With Two Heads, but it's time to go to jail now. |
Real Life
- It is quite common in case write-ups for one judge to talk at length about their reasons for coming to a certain decision, at times going on for dozens of pages, only for a later judge to only write a couple of lines that basically amount to this. Often they'll add a short extra reason as well, but it's definitely not unheard of for their entire judgment to be easily paraphrased as 'yeah, what ____ J said'.