On the Origins of Awkward Moments

We all had those moments in life. You know, when you're having the pretty cool conversation with your buddy and then a person comes in and interjects "that's what she said"/"your mom" into your dialogue.

I have to wonder, where does it really come from? 

Evolution from the British phrase "Said the actress to the bishop" is probably the closest relative. Though this phrase is 1. British and 2. Obsolete, it still carries the same amount of bang back in the day:

Person A: "It doesn't usually leak this much." 

Person B: "...as the actress said to the bishop!"

The origins of this phrase is not really that given, with dates ranging from Edwardian days to Ian Fleming's 007 (which is probably wrong). 

There is a book titled "That's What She Said" by Rayna Green (from the year 1984), but the thing is, its about "contemporary poetry and fiction by Native American women"... not exactly what we want do we?

The first time this phrase was widely used was in 1992, in the SNL's Wayne's World sketch:



 Not very funny is it? Isn't the Office so much better? Yes indeed...:



Now for the phrase "you mom."

It was quite easy to pin down the origins for this one: Shakespear (saucy fellow...) in two instances too.

1. Timon of Athens: Act 1, Scene 1 Line 230
   
   

   Painter: You're a dog
   Apemantus: Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if I be a dog?

2. Titus Andronicus: Act 4, Scene 2
   
   

   Demetrius: Villain, what hast thou done?
   Aaron: That which thou canst not undo.
   Chiron: Thou hast undone our mother.
   Aaron: Villain, I have done thy mother.

 Don't you just love English playwrights?

-runiteking1

Got comments? Post them below!