Catch Phrase

An expression used by a character in numerous episodes of a show. Merely uttering this phrase in the office will key others in to the character you're referring to. For a line to be a catchphrase, it should be always the same, and not just catchy. Note: To be a catchphrase, the phrase must be repeated multiple times—just because something is the most memorable line of a movie does not make it a catchphrase unless it is said more than once. Two like-minded characters can form a Catchphrase Spouting Duo, creating an entire lexicon of catch phrases with astonishing efficiency. When everybody gets in on the action, it's a Share Phrase.

Robin: Holy cow!

Batgirl: You just had to say that.

—The New Batman Adventures, "Critters"

By the Power of Grayskull and In the Name of the Moon are forms of Catchphrase, as is Verbal Tic. Beam Me Up, Scotty is a false or oft-misquoted catchphrase. If portions of the catchphrase vary depending on time, location, action, item, etc, then it's a Mad Libs Catchphrase. If the character has a Badass Creed, that will probably double as a catch phrase. If one character is imitating another character, it's a Borrowed Catchphrase; if they get it wrong, it's a Mangled Catchphrase.

See also Arc Words, Catchphrase Interruptus, Flashback to Catchphrase, One-Liner, Phrase Catcher, Stock Phrases, Verbal Tic and Word Power. Also: "On the Next Episode of..." Catchphrase, if you're looking for those said in episode previews to keep the audience excited. If a character appears to be setting up their catch phrase but then says something different, it's a Subverted Catchphrase.

Contrast with Author Catchphrase, which is when a phrase is recycled across unrelated works by the same author/actor/creator. When the audience adopts a character's line as a catchphrase, then we get Memetic Mutation.

Not to be confused with the gameshow.

Examples of Catch Phrase include: