I Use Quotes From The Office

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Sadly, I am finding myself using quotes from “The Office” in my everyday speech. But not just the words of the quote, but also the manner in which they were delivered. This can seem quite strange to those that are not fans of the show.

The quote that I use the most was in the first 15 seconds of the very first episode. When I am not a writer on LITO, I do a lot of tech support. When people come to me with questions, I sometimes break into the welcome that Michael gave Jim.

“So, you’ve come to the master for guidance? Is this what you’re saying grass hopper?”

You should see the looks I get.

It’s not that I’m trying to be cool by quoting the show, it’s just that I’ve watched the episodes so many times that they get stuck in my brain. I know a lot of you have large groups of friends that watch the show together so maybe you quoting the show is more acceptable. What about you? What quotes have made it into your vocabulary? Or which ones do you just like to use?

59 Comments

  1. MsElphie says:

    I frequently use the word incalcicable (or however it is you’re supposed to spell it).

  2. Mark Spittle says:

    “That’s the smallest amount of power I’ve seen go to someone’s head.”

    I use that one a lot.

  3. Brian says:

    MsElphie, I’m with you on that. Also, everytime I use the phrase “Catch 22″, I have to be sure that I am using it correct.

  4. Sarah says:

    I also find myself using quotes from the office. My dad likes to misuse common expressions, and I will in turn say,

    “That is not the expression.” just as Jim would say it to Dwight.

    You are not alone.

  5. shrimp says:

    I frequently start a round of “Ryan started the fire” when I’m around my friends.

    Oh, and I call up my friend and say “you’re a cock” … but that’s a quote from the UK Office.

  6. Michael G says:

    I yell, “Lock the doors and Hide” when our IT guy comes aroound

  7. Brian says:

    Michael G, that’s a good one.

    I often ask my family members if they want to start an alliance.

  8. Viojen says:

    “It smells like updog in here”
    of course noone else seems to think its all that funny…

  9. Jamie says:

    I find myself saying “Well, I don’t know about that…” just like Michael said to Pam when he “fired” her and she called him a jerk. Man, it’s funny how often you can use these lines. And you can always spot another Office fan when someone starts laughing.

  10. Kalon says:

    Somehow, Jim’s melodramatic “great” (see: scene with Jim and Michael in Booze Cruise) has been inserted into my regular vocabulary. Anytime I am around somebody that does something stupid, or I get bad news, it just comes out “thats… great.”

  11. Erin says:

    My friend and I have changed our middle names to Danger in honor of Dwight.

  12. Brian says:

    In one of the early episodes, Michael comes out to Dwight and JIm and does the annoying, “Whaaaaaat’s Uuuuuuup.” After they are done doing that, it is silent and Michael says, “What?” to JIm to break the silence. Does anyone remember this?

    I do that often. Even if people don’t know The Office, they laugh at that.

  13. annie says:

    i’m from scranton so i love….
    new york is like scranton on acid, no speed, no steroids…
    my friends and i bat that one around all of the time
    people who don’t watch the office just don’t get it at all…thats probably the best part
    Office junkies definitely have a great bond…and outsiders ….well their outsiders

  14. Susan says:

    My husband and I often start our sentences with…

    “Question (pause)”

    I love Dwight!

  15. Beth says:

    Whenever someone mentions finding something in a place they weren’t expecting, Jim’s line always plays in my head:

    “this candle…candle…candle, which I found in the men’s bathroom…bathroom…bathroom….”

  16. Ashley says:

    when my friend suggested we flip a coin…i nearly said, “I don’t believe in gambling.” But I didn’t…I would have been gambling she wouldn’t smack me.

  17. Denise says:

    My husband has begun prefacing all questions he asks me with “Question.” =) And I try to fit “You can’t fire me, I don’t work in this van” into as many conversations at work as possible.

  18. Alan says:

    “Blue is not a flavor.”

  19. Mike says:

    I am also a fan of Dwight’s “Question!”

  20. Lisa says:

    I say “awesome blossom” waaaay too often.

  21. Becky says:

    I agree with Kalon on using Jim’s “That’s…great” when a note of sarcasm is necessary.
    I also enjoy “How many fillet ‘o fishes do you eat?” I’ve said that to my mom twice and both times she said guiltily, “Not that many.”
    I also tried using updog yesterday to which the person responded, “And up dog is supposed to be what?”

  22. Lori says:

    Often, I will find myself saying Dwight’s patented, “Fact-,” just before making a statement I really believe in.

    Also, Michael’s, “Shuuut…it,” often creeps into my vocabulary.

  23. Brian says:

    I quote Dwight on the “Clear out. STAT. STAT means now!!!”

    On a side note, how come Dwight is not worried about the camera man getting out of the office?

  24. Kathryn says:

    i tend to think of one more than i actually say it out loud, but it’s “you can’t fire me, i don’t work in this van!” hehe

    also “shut…it” is a big one :P

  25. erin says:

    “tit for tit”

    I actually haven’t used that one but will someday.

  26. Andrew says:

    i quote Creed: “I had an iron lung.”

    (that being from my favorite episode: The Injury, also follwed by Michael’s: “How Old are you??”

    that seems to creep up once in awhile.

  27. Andrew says:

    sorry correction that was supposed to read: “I was in an iron lung once.”

    man thats great…

  28. Nita says:

    “That’s what she said” is very easy to work in to almost any conversation!

  29. Superman says:

    I think a few of these lines are entering common usage. Like a few others, my wife and I always start our sentences with “Fact:…” or “Question:…” complete with Dwight’s hand gestures (arms up, palms out).

    I constantly find myself giving one of Jim’s sarcastic “Wow.”‘s when people say something really stupid.

    Plus my wife is always saying “awesome blossom” whenever the kids do something good.

  30. Ryan says:

    “ummm…I’m out.” Michael responding to Pam when he spills the beans about Jim’s crush. My wife and I use this quote any time we want to avoid answering a question or when we notice someone on TV avoiding a question. Or when our dog randomly gets up and leaves the room. Somehow the joke never gets less funny.

  31. Brian says:

    Nita, how could I forget that one? “That’s what she said.” is a staple in my vocab

  32. Mike says:

    Every time we’re at Chili’s, my wife orders, “Awesome blossom…extra awesome.”

    We also like to try and throw in a “That’s what she said” whenever it could possibly work (and sometimes when it isn’t).

  33. Chris says:

    I enjoy calling my husband, “Mr. Poop.” lol

  34. Nita says:

    “This here is a run out the clock situation, just like upstairs” is a great line also.

  35. Rick says:

    One word, two syllables: Demarcation.

  36. Senor Dave says:

    “Let’s blow some minds.”

  37. Kenneth says:

    I find myself doing Jim’s sarcastic looks. I do the weird mouth thing he does. It’s like habit now. Also, I also love to cross my fingers and say “We’ll see” just like Jim does in the pilot episode.

    I feel like I’m getting to Office crazy.

  38. Mother Goose says:

    Are you Mother Goose?

  39. Liz says:

    I always great my friends with a “What up mah nerds!” Too bad they don’t watch the show and just think I’m calling them nerds.

    My mom and I also say “That’s what she said..” to just about everything.

    Occasionally, a “YAAAAAANNN-kee swap!” or a “What Phylis is trying to say here is she only cares about me a home made oven mitt’s worth” slips out too.

  40. Bobby says:

    At our company gift exchange I got an ovenmit from my secret santa. My secret santa likes the show too and knew I would do something crazy. I opened it, then stood up and yelled that this was the worst gift ever! I then arrogantly said that we need to do Yankee swap and I can’t believe she only liked me enough for an ovenmit. As I looked around I could see the horror on the faces of everyone else in my office. I know they were thinking, “What an ass.”

  41. Bobby says:

    “Chilis is the new golf course”

  42. Bobby says:

    I also say the updog one pretty much everyday.

  43. Senor Dave says:

    LOL Bobby.

  44. Mark Spittle says:

    I answer my phone “Hello, Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam.”

  45. Nita says:

    My husband and I say “yes” and throw our arm in the air like Dwight and we also say “somebody totally rocked the house” alot.

  46. Elle Darcy says:

    “Could you mean vagina? Cause if you do, I want that covered.”

    Dwight Schrute: Who wrote this hilarious one, anal fissures?
    Kevin: That’s a real thing.
    Dwight Schrute: Yeah, well no one here has it.
    Kevin: Someone has it.

    I also love the way Angela says, “no.”

    And from the UK version of The Office:

    “There’s people starving in the world, which I hate!”

    “He’s thrown a kettle over a pub! What have you ever done?!”

  47. Durrty says:

    “Question” and “Fact” are start all my favorite sentences.

    And everytime I’m waiting for someone or trying to get someone to hurry up I say “STAT means now!”

  48. Durrty says:

    are the start*

  49. Kimi says:

    total permeation

  50. mr_jboo says:

    My daughter and I say “mintchocolatechip!” all the time in any nuimber of contexts….

  51. Dan Sullivan says:

    That’s what she said works itself into conversation at work all the time.

    Also, “Thank you sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar” is often used…although I’m not quite sure if that’s exactly how the line is used

  52. kathryn says:

    “TMI! TMI my friend”
    so great :P

  53. Christine says:

    Wish I could fire Cheri…

  54. Jordan says:

    “It’s all gold.” that’s my favorite and most used line I think. Does anyone know where to find mp3′s of favorite lines? I have a ton from other movies and shows and would love some from The Office!

  55. Jovelina says:

    You know in the alliance episode where Jim is talking to Toby and Kevin at lunch and he says “Their bread is VERY good”. Well I have unintentionally started emphasizing words in that way.

  56. Kel says:

    I say “I’m going to kill you for real!” a lot.
    Actually, I get weird looks everytime I say the words ‘for real’ with anything.

    And me and my bro constantly say, “That’s what she said….or he said…”

    And whenever I answer my phone and I know it’s someone I know, I always say “Dundler Mifflin, this is Pam.”

    And I’m beginning to realized that I talk a lot like Jim cuz I say “Really?” a whole lot and in the same way.

  57. Melissa says:

    His cappa was detated. My sisters favorite line.
    I prefer, What’s up muhnerds?

  58. mandy says:

    up dog is a favorite, my brother and i use it all the time. i’m LOVING “maybe you’re in the ceiling”, “did you check your butt”, “cappa was detated”. I’m finding i LOVE Mr. Andy Bernard :)

  59. HotDogFingers says:

    Whenever we are shopping and pass the ice cream freezers my son & I say, “How about some mint chocolate chip?”. It’s the only kind of ice cream he’ll let me buy now. He also says it when we serve ice cream at home.

    “I like Pretzel Day.” is often heard in my house (not necessarily in any context, we just love it).

    Also, whenever I ask my son if he did something wrong or if he made a mess he says, “What? I did not do that. That sounds disgusting.” (Jim in The Carpet).

    He also makes it a point to always where his shirt sleeves uncuffed and rolled up (not a quote but also a Jim reference).

    He’s only 11 so I’ve never let him watch the Sexual Harrasment ep, otherwise I’m sure he’d also go around saying “What’s up my nerds?”.

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