Everyone in our family from the youngest to the oldest has a quick wit and a long memory. This makes the conversation around our meals and family get-togethers lively and always brings tears of laughter when someone blurts out a family quote.

Rarely does a family mealtime go by without a great burst of laughter when someone says, “Mowing the grass.” I’m not even sure if younger family members remember, or know, the full story, but they still join the laughter.

Some sayings relate to events that happened in our lives. Like “mowing the grass.” Other times the speaker will quote from TV and films, or books.

If you spend much time with any of us, you’ll discover that without these quotes our collective vocabulary would be greatly reduced.  In fact, we’d all be pretty much wordless without using those and/or the uncountable song lyrics, movie and TV lines, and book quotes that we all know.

Recognize any of our quotables below? Can you identify which are movie or book quotes?

  • Like a herd of turtles.
  • If I had a nickel.​
  • We’re not in Kansas anymore.​​​​​​
  • Houston, we have a problem.​​​​​​
  • Show me the money.​​
  • There is no try, only do.
  • Shaken, not stirred.
  • Hasta la vista, Baby.​​
  • We’re rich.
  • Help me, Obi Won Kenobi.
  • To infinity and beyond.
  • Beam me up, Scotty. ​​
  • Bob’s your uncle.
  • You can be my wingman any day.

Do you use quotable dialog in your family conversations?

It certainly livens conversations up, at least in our family.