10 “Seinfeld” phrases we use in everyday conversation

Almost 27 years ago, a little show called Seinfeld premiered on NBC. The show had a slow start, but Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer eventually became household names. People watched the show religiously (some of those same people actually consider Seinfeld to be a religion)… yada yada yada… it became one of the most beloved and quoted television shows of all time.

Seinfeld isn’t just a TV show, it’s a way of life. For fans (myself include), it’s legendary. Not just because it was on the air for nine years, but because phrases from the show have become part of our everyday lives. Seinfeld-isms are so prominent in the English language, people who’ve never even seen the show say them, and they don’t even realize it. Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were just that good at creating stories about everything and nothing.

So here’s the test. How many of these Seinfeld phrases do you use in everyday conversation?

1. “Close talker”

Elaine’s new boyfriend Aaron is a bit of a closer talker, and since that’s probably the most uncomfortable talking situation to be in with someone, it’s brilliantly funny. Of course, there’s also the “low talker” and “high talker,” both equal parts hysterical and terrible.

2. “Anti-dentite”

Jerry makes a joke about dentists and offends Tim Whatley. He tells Kramer how annoyed he is by “those people,” and Kramer accuses Jerry of being an “anti-dentite.” At the time of the show, anti-dentite wasn’t even a real word, but now it’s oh-so real.

3. “Man hands”

Jerry’s date has man hands, which is a deal breaker for him. Mainly because she could rip an entire lobster open with her hands. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

4. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that” is a theme that plays throughout the series. It’s a joke that plays off of the madness of always needing to be PC.

5. “Sponge-worthy”

Elaine’s favorite birth control was taken off the market, so she buys every sponge she can get her hands on. She becomes somewhat of a sponge-hoarder, thus characterizing her dates as being either “sponge-worthy” or not.

6. “No soup for you”

In my mind, no soup will ever be as good as the Soup Nazi’s soup. Even though I’ve never tried it, but a girl can dream.

7. “Yada yada yada”

Because sometimes yada yada-ing is a much better option that telling the whole story.

8. “Maybe the dingo ate your baby”

Most people have no idea the original “dingo” quote came from Meryl Streep in the 1988 movie A Cry in the Dark, but it doesn’t even matter, because it definitely belongs to Elaine now.

9. “You double dipped the chip”

The scene that cured public double dipping forever, probably.

10. “Festivus for the rest of us!”

George’s dad, Frank Constanza, made up a holiday and called it Festivus, and now it’s listed on Wikipedia as “a secular holiday celebrated on 23 December as a way to celebrate the holiday season without participating in its pressures and commercialism.”

Seinfeld, all we can say is thanks.