History Main / GagWords

A RunningGag that involves repeating a [[InherentlyFunnyWords funny-sounding phrase]] when least (or most) expected. Often {{lampshaded}} as an OverusedRunningGag due to its randomness.

Unlike a CatchPhrase, Gag Words are not associated with a character. Compared to ArcWords, they are less symbolic than [[RuleOfFunny just plain silly]]. More or less an element of WordSaladHumor.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]
* "Fooly Cooly," from ''Anime/{{FLCL}}''.
* "Gatchabagoose" from ''Elf Princess Rane''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* Marvel Comics mercenary ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} enjoyed using the words "Chimichanga" and "Duct Tape" during the "Cable/Deadpool" series. When asked why, he commented that they were funny words, like "Spatula, Rumsfield and Zygote."
* "Potrzebie" in ''Magazine/{{MAD}}''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Creator/DaveBarry uses this trope in several of his books:
** "The Hawley-Smoot Tariff," from ''Literature/DaveBarrySleptHere'': "Quite frankly we have no idea what this is, but we think it has a wonderful ring to it, and we just like to see it in large bold letters."
*** "Hawley Smoot" is also used as a gag phrase (including as an incantation) in ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings''.
** ''Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need'' uses the phrase "fish of your brother Raoul" and a few variants in several languages.
** And ''Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway'' uses the phrase (and accompanying image) "giant prehistoric zucchini."
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action Television]]
* "Lemon curry?" in Episode 33 of ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''.
** Not to mention "Albatross!" from its titular episode.
** And "Semprini", which for some reason is considered a [[PardonMyKlingon swear word]].
*** "OUT!"
* An episode of the US version of ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' had Colin yelling 'The cat!' or 'Meow!' at any moment when he couldn't think of anything else.
* Ryan Atwood and Sandy Cohen humorously repeat "Yogalates!" in episode 12, season 1 of ''Series/TheOC''.
* "Schnaps" on episode 2 of season 3 of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory''
* On ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', Jerry attributes the popularity of salsa to people thinking it's fun to say.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]
* Classic example: "Notary Sojac" from ''Smokey Stover''.
* "Judo chop", among others, in ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''.
* In one ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' strip, Hobbes decides the word "smock" is fun to say and says it more and more until Calvin yells at him to stop.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* "Yin tong iddle I po" from ''Radio/TheGoonShow''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' sometimes runs into this with some of their Space Marines. Of particular [[NarmCharm infamy]] are the Space Wolves; in the 5th edition their wargear rules were littered with wolfclaws and [[GratuitousLatin fenrisian]]-pattern weapons, and their heroes were all part of the various wolf ranks of the Wolf Guard.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original]]
* "Hamsterjelly" from [[WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses Ask That Guy]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* "Huggbees" in one ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' episode.
* WesternAnimation/FriskyDingo had dozens of these. Killface even used "Hawley-Smoot" once.
* "Narf!" and "Poit!" from ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain''.
** Not to mention "Zort!", [[SdrawkcabName "Troz!"]], and on one occasion, "Fjord!"
* "Spoot" was often used on ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBeavers''.
* On one "Aesop and Son" segment from ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'', characters keep saying "Hoot Gibson" (the name of a popular Western actor). Another episode had "succulent".
[[/folder]]

Unlike a CatchPhrase, GagWords are not associated with a character. Compared to ArcWords, they are less symbolic than [[RuleOfFunny just plain silly]]. More or less an element of WordSaladHumor.

* "Judo chop", among others, in ''Peanuts''.

** Not to mention "Zort!", [[BackwardsName "Troz!"]], and on one occasion, "Fjord!"

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' sometimes runs into this with some of their Space Marines. Of particular [[NarmCharm infamy]] are the Space Wolves; in the 5th edition their wargear rules were littered with wolfclaws and [[AltumVidetur fenrisian]]-pattern weapons, and their heroes were all part of the various wolf ranks of the Wolf Guard.

* Marvel Comics mercenary {{Deadpool}} enjoyed using the words "Chimichanga" and "Duct Tape" during the "Cable/Deadpool" series. When asked why, he commented that they were funny words, like "Spatula, Rumsfield and Zygote."

* "Huggbees" in one ''{{Freakazoid}}'' episode.

* An episode of the US version of ''WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' had Colin yelling 'The cat!' or 'Meow!' at any moment when he couldn't think of anything else.

* On one "Aesop and Son" segment from ''RockyAndBullwinkle'', characters keep saying "Hoot Gibson" (the name of a popular Western actor). Another episode had "succulent".

* "Yin tong iddle I po" from ''TheGoonShow''.

* FriskyDingo had dozens of these. Killface even used "Hawley-Smoot" once.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' sometimes runs into this with some of their Space Marines. Of particular [[NarmCharm infamy]] are the Space Wolves; in the 5th edition their wargear rules were littered with wolfclaws and [[AltumVidler fenrisian]]-pattern weapons, and their heroes were all part of the various wolf ranks of the Wolf Guard.

* "Spoot" was often used on ''TheAngryBeavers''.

* "Narf!" and "Poit!" from ''PinkyAndTheBrain''.

* Ryan Atwood and Sandy Cohen humorously repeat "Yogalates!" in episode 12, season 1 of ''TheOC''.
* "Schnaps" on episode 2 of season 3 of ''TheBigBangTheory''
* On ''{{Seinfeld}}'', Jerry attributes the popularity of salsa to people thinking it's fun to say.

* "Fooly Cooly," from ''{{FLCL}}''.

** [[http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=126978&title=Intro---Correspondents%27-Dinner Did you know it was almost called the Smoot-Hawley tariff?]]
** ''Dave Barry Slept Here'' also has Barry profess a fondness for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Gompers Samuel Gompers]], mainly because he likes the name "Gompers" and thinks it'd be perfect for a big dog, like a Great Dane.

* "The Hawley-Smoot Tariff," from ''Literature/DaveBarrySleptHere'': "Quite frankly we have no idea what this is, but we think it has a wonderful ring to it, and we just like to see it in large bold letters."

* "The Hawley-Smoot Tariff," from ''Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States'': "Quite frankly we have no idea what this is, but we think it has a wonderful ring to it, and we just like to see it in large bold letters."
** He may have got it from ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'', where the incredibly boring teacher is asking about it ("Anyone? Anyone?")

Unlike a CatchPhrase, GagWords are not associated with a character. Compared to ArcWords, they are less symbolic than [[RuleOfFunny just plain silly]].