Sometimes slang terms become part of the common vernacular without anyone really knowing their origins. Oftentimes these phrases are secretly made popular by iconic TV shows and movies. Beloved series like Friends, Star Trek, and SNL spawned many slang words that we still use today without us noticing where they came from. From friend zone to mind meld, here are 10 sayings that TV and movies brought into vogue without us realizing.
1. Mind Meld
A mind meld happens when your thoughts are so in sync with someone else that it’s almost freaky. This saying originally came from the beloved sci-fi show Star Trek. The term was initially used to describe the Vulcans, an alien race that had telepathic powers that allowed them to transmit their thoughts to others. But once the phrase caught on outside the show, it started to be applied to mere mortals too.
2. Catfish
Catfish started as a documentary and turned into a long-running reality series on MTV. The film follows Nev Shulman during his road trip to meet the girl he was dating online. In a shocking twist, he discovers that his girlfriend was lying to him about her identity.
Nev’s story single-handedly turned catfish into a popular slang term that describes fraudsters who impersonate others online. A catfish usually adopts a fake identity on social media to trick someone into falling in love with them for personal or financial gain. Catfish can also be used as a verb.
3. Toast
As if we needed another reason to love Ghostbusters, apparently the movie popularized the slang term “toast.” According to Dictionary.com, Bill Murray redefined the word and secretly made it popular. He exclaimed that his enemy was toast right before a big confrontation. Thanks to Ghostbustsers, toast is no longer just a slice of browned bread, but a fun way to say someone or something is doomed.
4. Google
Did you know that Buffy the Vampire Slayer helped popularize the slang term Google? Buffy was the first TV program to use the search engine’s name as a verb in 2002 according to The Atlantic. In the show’s last season, Willow tells Xander to google someone to learn more about her. The phrase quickly caught on and was even named the most useful new word of the year by the American Dialect Society.
5. Friend Zone
Rather fittingly, Friends popularized the usage of the word “friend zone.” In a 1994 episode, Joey mocks Ross for feeling heartsick over Rachel by calling him the “mayor of the friend zone.” Luckily Ross showed that it’s possible to get out of this dreaded zone by rekindling his romance with Rachel.
6. Debbie Downer
The phrase “Debbie Downer” refers to someone who’s always complaining and feeling blue no matter what. Debbie wasn’t an actual person, but it turns out she was an SNL character. Rachel Dratch came up with the concept on a vacation in Costa Rica according to Stacker. The character debuted on an episode of SNL in 2004 and quickly became part of the common vernacular.
7. Derp
Derp was originally created by the team behind South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. However, the slang term has taken on a life of its own since its invention and can be used in many different contexts. According to The Week, “derp is an onomatopoeic exclamation uttered in response to a boneheaded action.” Then there’s derp face, which is a dopey, slack-jawed facial expression often featured in memes. The adjective form “derpy” means foolish or silly and is often applied to goofy pets.
8. Staycation
In this economy, we’re all familiar with the slang word “staycation.” Giving this type of vacation a special term doesn’t change the fact that it’s not as fun as a normal trip! According to Buzzfeed, this colloquial phrase was created by Canadian comedian Brent Butt. It first debuted in his television show Corner Gas in 2005. The phrase really caught on during the 2008 recession when gas prices were too high for road trips.
9. Meh
“Meh” represents a lack of interest or enthusiasm. According to Ranker, the term dates back to 1928 and has Yiddish origins. However, it wasn’t widely used until it appeared in an episode of The Simpsons around 1994. Since then, meh has become ubiquitous, being featured in tons of memes and online conversations.
10. Crunk
Crunk is a type of hip-hop that features prominent synths and call-and-response lyrics. However, it’s also an adjective that means you’re excited, ready to party, and kind of intoxicated. The slang term was likely popularized by Conan O’Brien on his talk show. Late Night writer Robert Smigel used it as an alternative to curse words that might get censored on TV.
Pay Closer Attention While Watching Media
Hopefully, the takeaway of this article is that we all need to pay closer attention while consuming media. We’re shocked that we didn’t realize the “friend zone” originated from Friends, which seems obvious in retrospect. Many shows and films are loaded with cultural references, so try to actively watch and listen the next time you turn on the TV. You never know what you’ll notice and how your perspective might change as a result!