Back in 2021, a few months after the Wordle craze took off, I made Wordley Durdley, a Wordle Clone with a Simpsons theme. It was an ode to Simpsons-derived words like d’oh, meh, and diddley. Since Wordle doesn’t use punctuations, I forego iconic phrases like okily dokily.

Thanks to the “Obscure Simpsons Characters” (Facebook group) I lurk on occasionally, I am inspired to deep dive into some beautiful terms from The Simpsons. 

This post's inspiration claims that "land of contrasts" and "saying the quiet part out loud" derive from The Simpsons. I was skeptical. People are known to over-attribute to one of the greatest shows of all time. As one commenter pointed out, “Did I just say that out loud?” became a cheesy trope, like “Check please!” or “Well that escalated quickly.”

Could there be Simpsons terms I just assumed came from somewhere else but were pure, unadulterated, Simpsons brilliance? I had to know. 

This is a nerdy look into where some Simpsons phrases came from, using a few hours of research. Don’t cite me, bro. Comment if I got something wrong. 

[Note to self: Improve that old app and add Dollarydoos and Yoink!]

"Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud"

Description: Refers to someone inadvertently revealing a hidden motive or thought that was supposed to remain unspoken.
Verdict: It does indeed have its roots in The Simpsons! Can you believe it? It was popularized in a 1995 episode where Krusty the Klown says, "Let's just say it moved me... to a bigger house! Oops! I said the loud part quiet and the quiet part loud!" You can look for an earlier reference yourself on this list of media using this trope: TV Tropes . 

"Land of Contrasts"

Description: Used to describe a place with a variety of opposing qualities or characteristics.
Verdict: This phrase came up in the original post, and I don’t think it's often parroted by fans. It comes from Bart giving a school report on Libya. I had assumed it was just a nonsense phrase, like a favorite nonsense phrase I learned from Clone High, “A rope of sand.” The bottom line is there was no evidence that it originated from The Simpsons. The phrase is, for whatever reason, a common descriptive term used in travel writing. Maybe there’s an inside joke I’m missing. 

"A Little from Column A, A Little from Column B"

Description: Describing a situation where someone is making a choice between two options, but really wants a bit of both. The comedic part is usually showing you have little shame.
Verdict: This phrase is quintessentially Simpsons. I couldn’t find any other origin in pop culture. The beauty of this line is its versatility—it’s applicable in almost any scenario where you’re being indecisive. Also, it’s hard to say it without Abe’s voice.

"Yoink!"

Description: "Yoink!" is an onomatopoeia (sound effect) used to humorously indicate something being swiftly taken away. You can yoink an item and say “Yoink!” while you do it.
Verdict: Unfortunately, it does not start at The Simpsons. Bill Oakley said (he thinks) they stole it from Archie Comics in the podcast “Round Springfield”  (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4j703KeTr2HqT7bFvvHsVb ) “Yoink!” was popularized, dare I say, immortalized, by The Simpsons. But the word has roots in earlier comedic works.

Note 1: In researching this, Chat GPT insisted it was used in Looney Tunes first. I couldn’t find any examples. I found Shaggy in Scooby Doo saying “Yoinks!” and a 1995 cartoon called “Yoink and the Yukon.” But only the trash people of Reddit gave me a decent answer in this thread: (https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/vdvf7o/any_known_origins_for_yoink_is_it_just_an/), They claim it was used in Mad Magazine, which I have vague memories of.
Note 2: Wiktionary does credit The Simpsons! for Yoink! https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yoink#:~:text=Coined%20by%20writer%20George%20Meyer,being%20snatched%20in%20classic%20comedies.
Note 3: Know your meme claims “yeet” is the opposite of “yoink!” I wont argue.
Note 4: (Tumblr?) user viewtiful-kim said, "The lord yeeteth and the lord yoinketh away," and I think that’s just beautiful. 

"Old Man Yells at Cloud"

Description: Represents irrational anger at trivial things.
Verdict: This is likely pure Simpsons. The now popular meme comes from a gag headline in The Simpsons, where Abe Simpson is depicted shaking his fist at a cloud. Great episode. 

"Everything's Coming Up Milhouse!"

Description: The phrase has become a symbol of unexpected good fortune. It’s funny when used ironically, like finding a silver lining in a rotten situation.
Verdict: This phrase is used by Milhouse Van Houten, Springfield’s most put-upon kid, in a rare moment of triumph. OK, so obviously using “Milhouse!” makes it a Simpsons line. There aren’t many other famous Milhouses. It's now a cultural shorthand for when something unexpectedly goes your way against all odds. But our favorite musical theater and improv nerds were actually referencing "Everything's Coming Up Roses," a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy. So, uhm… you decide on this verdict. I’d say yes, because nobody has heard of the play. 

"I, for One, Welcome Our New ____ Overlords"

Description: A tongue-in-cheek expression about submission to authority.
Verdict: The Simpsons are the forefathers of modern sarcastic expression. This 100% Simpsons sarcasm was voiced by Kent Brockman, beloved news anchor, in response to what he thought was an ant invasion, but really was an ant floating in a space shuttle after Homer opened a bag of chips he smuggled aboard. It’s a perfect blend of satire and surreal humor.

"Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys"

Description: A catchphrase used to mock the French, especially during the time of the Iraq War.
Verdict: Likely Simpsons. This phrase was popularized by Groundskeeper Willie when he was forced to teach French at Springfield Elementary. The phrase epitomizes the kind of edgy, politically incorrect humor that The Simpsons is known for. I have a gut feeling that other people were using the phrase before The Simpsons, but I can’t prove it, and so I wont. 

Note 5: Here’s an interesting wiki on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese-eating_surrender_monkeys

"Am I So Out of Touch? No, It’s the _____ Who Are Wrong."

Description: This is a line about those who refuse to accept reality, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence.
Verdict: 100% Simpsons line turned into meme. Principal Skinner, my second favorite character after Mr. Burns, perfectly captures the essence of denial and out-of-touchness. It's one of those lines that seem to gain more relevance with every passing year as people increasingly retreat into their own echo chambers. As a sitcom, The Simpsons regularly poked fun of the dynamic where children inherently think the elderly are lame, because they are. 

"Don’t Blame Me. I Voted for Kodos"

Description: Expresses cynical disillusionment with electoral politics, especially in situations where the available choices seem equally undesirable.
Verdict: 100% Simpsons. In a Halloween episode, this line is used by Homer after the citizens of Springfield realize they’ve been duped into voting for either one of two evil aliens. This phrase has become a classic go-to for expressing cynical disillusionment with electoral politics, especially in situations where the available choices seem equally undesirable. 

"I See You've Played Knifey Spooney Before"

Description: Used to mock overly competitive behavior, especially when the stakes are laughably low. Or when someone has an odd knife or spoon and you need to blurt a joke.
Verdict: 50% Simpsons. This phrase comes from an Australian-themed episode where an Aussie absurdly dismisses Bart’s attempt to one-up him with a knife. But it’s a clear reference to a famous line in Crocodile Dundee, "That's not a knife." 

And there you have it—a nerdy yet humorous dive into the origins of some of the most iconic phrases from The Simpsons. These phrases, whether they sprang fully formed from the minds of the writers or were clever twists on existing sayings, have now entered the cultural lexicon, standing as a testament to the show’s lasting impact on language and humor.

Also, it shows that Abe Simpson, everyone’s favorite grumpy fogie, is the most inspirational character in our internet-obsessed culture. The order is:

1. Mr. Burns
2. Principal Skinner
3. Grampa Simpson
4. Oh... let’s say... Moe.