History Main / FlashbackToCatchphrase

* The ''Series/BurnNotice'' prequel ''Film/TheFallOfSamAxe'' features the first time Sam used his GoToAlias of Chuck Finley, this time as a LineOfSightName from seeing the pitcher on the cover of a sports magazine.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/NightWatch'', a {{Time Travel}}ing Vimes, buying a pie from a young CMOT Dibbler, says "And that's cutting your own throat, eh?". While the young salesman is initially confused he later decides he likes the sound of it, supposedly creating a StableTimeLoop. Although not really, as the man Vimes is pretending to be was a real person in the original timeline. [[TimeyWimeyBall On the other hand,]] who knows?

Can occur in an OriginsEpisode or StartOfDarkness. Compare IronicEcho, MeaningfulEcho.

** Note that the player sees when Richter says this in the first place. And then when we see the flashback... [[DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound again and again and...]]

** Note that the player sees when Richter says this in the first place. And then when we see the flashback... [[MostAnnoyingSound again and again and...]]

* In ''Film/TheGreatGatsby'', Jay Gatsby has a habit of calling people "old sport". It's eventually revealed via this trope that he picked this up from his old mentor Dan Cody.

* Tyler the Cute Biker from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' has the catchphrase "Get 'im, get 'im!", commonly used to cheer on people during a fight. Then in "A Tale of Two Stans", we see Tyler as an infant in a stroller being pushed past the building which would become the Mystery Shack. As bright lights and loud noises flash from the building, his mother pushed him away while shouting "Get out, get out!"

* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', HarmlessVillain Dr. Doofenshmirtz often expresses the intention to [[WorldDomination take over]] "the entire Tri-State Area!" The episode "What Do It Do?" shows us a flashback to a date he went on in high school with the future Linda Flynn, and when he tells her he plans to take over the world, she suggests that he start small.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball' episode "The Origins", we see when Darwin started calling his parents "Mr. Dad" and "Mrs. Mom".

* In ''TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'', Emil has a flashback to when Richter says, "Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality." It then becomes Emil's own catchphrase.

* [[ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture "After all... isn't that what a gentleman does?" "Luckily for me, every puzzle... has an answer."]]

* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', it's revealed that womaniser Barney used to be a hippie, and that his look, attitude and catchphrases all come from the guy who stole his girlfriend off him.

* In ''TheSimpsons'' episode ''Dangerous Curves Ahead'', we get a flashback to one of Homer's many catchphrases: When Homer and Marge are dating, they meet the newly-wed Flanderses for the first time. Homer initially likes Ned, but when they stop at a motel, Neddy says an unmarried couple can't share a room.

* "Two Cathedrals", the second-season finale of ''TheWestWing'' used this trope as the basis of the episode. President Jed Bartlet is prompted by [[spoiler: the death of his secretary, Mrs. Landingham]] to flash back to when he met her as a young boy. His mannerisms in the past (putting his hands in his pockets and smiling when he's made up his mind to do something other people will not like) are referenced to foreshadow his exact actions at the press conference he calls to announce he will, in fact, be running for re-election with a relapsing/remitting course of multiple sclerosis.

A major character has some sort of {{catchphrase}} or other profound statement which defines his/her character. A Flashback to Catchphrase is a {{flashback}} which takes place before the series chronology (or at least before this major character was introduced) which shows the moment in which the phrase came into ''their'' vernacular.

A major character has some sort of {{catchphrase}} or other profound statement which defines his/her character. A FlashbackToCatchphrase is a {{flashback}} which takes place before the series chronology (or at least before this major character was introduced) which shows the moment in which the phrase came into ''their'' vernacular.

* One Halloween episode of ''Series/That70sShow'' has a flashback to the day Red first uttered his catchphrase:

* One Halloween episode of ''That70sShow'' has a flashback to the day Red first uttered his catchphrase: