Learn English with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: 21 signature phrases
The 21 phrases The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel says far more than the average popular TV show, each with a line where it's said.
A phrase names a show's trade more sharply than any single word does. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel runs on 1950s New York showbiz talk with a Yiddish turn to it, so a performer is told to break a leg, a booking is not a done deal until it is, and a woman passed over for a prettier face announces that she is chopped liver. These are the expressions a learner meets everywhere and can rarely look up, because the words inside them mean nothing on their own. Knowing these 21 is the difference between following the plot and hearing the jokes.
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1
tits up
Broken or not working.
Your Bell Labs project has gone tits up, Pop. It's been canceled.
Season 2, episode 9. Said 33 times in 17 episodes, 238x the average show.
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2
chopped liver
Someone or something insignificant or unworthy of notice.
Oh, sure, we're having some laughs. A prettier face comes along, and I'm chopped liver.
Season 3, episode 3. Said 4 times in 4 episodes, 68x the average show.
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3
break a leg
Said to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
Break a leg. Better yet, break Sophie's.
Season 4, episode 6. Said 6 times in 6 episodes, 11x the average show.
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4
success story
A successful person or thing that others look up to.
It's a real success story. Did very well in New Haven. Has a lot of good buzz, pardon the pun.
Season 4, episode 3. Said 4 times in 4 episodes, 21x the average show.
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5
big shot
An important or powerful person.
You don't have to tip everyone, you know. - Eh, to be a big shot, you got to act like a big shot. Big shots tip.
Season 3, episode 5. Said 6 times in 4 episodes, 7.1x the average show.
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6
have a fit
To suddenly become very angry.
I have to go. My husband's having a fit.
Season 5, episode 1. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 34x the average show.
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7
chime in
To join in and speak during a conversation.
I'm waiting for your tush to chime in. Take the bowl, Moishe.
Season 3, episode 3. Said 4 times in 4 episodes, 13x the average show.
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8
have it coming
To deserve the bad consequences one is about to get.
You punched Olivia de Havilland. - She had it coming. - You punched Humphrey Bogart. - Cried harder than Olivia.
Season 4, episode 5. Said 5 times in 4 episodes, 6.4x the average show.
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9
tag along
To accompany or follow someone, often uninvited.
I scored four seats, if you and Imogene want to tag along...? - Are you kidding? Imogene would cancel surgery to see that show.
Season 1, episode 5. Said 5 times in 4 episodes, 5.6x the average show.
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10
stand corrected
To accept that a correction someone made to what you said was right.
Okay, I stand corrected. He's making a change in his life. From employed to unemployed.
Season 3, episode 2. Said 4 times in 4 episodes, 8.7x the average show.
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11
look what the cat dragged in
Said mockingly when someone unwelcome or unexpected arrives.
Uh, Vivian, Harriet, look what the cat dragged in.
Season 1, episode 5. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 14x the average show.
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12
on the lookout
Watching carefully for someone or something.
But we're always on the lookout for new talent. People like you.
Season 2, episode 6. Said 4 times in 3 episodes, 6.3x the average show.
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13
track record
A person's or organization's history of past performance.
- After your track record? - What track record?
Season 3, episode 7. Said 4 times in 3 episodes, 6.0x the average show.
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14
from the top
From the beginning; starting over.
Take it from the top, Midge. - Housewife? - What else?
Season 3, episode 7. Said 5 times in 5 episodes, 4.1x the average show.
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15
out of the blue
Suddenly, without any warning or preparation.
Out of the blue, some guy calls, says there's been a mix-up. Said they didn't know who I was.
Season 3, episode 6. Said 5 times in 5 episodes, 4.1x the average show.
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16
here goes nothing
Said before attempting something uncertain or risky, without much confidence it will work.
Well, here goes nothing. How do I look? - For this crowd? Like the eighth night of Hanukkah.
Season 5, episode 7. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 9.6x the average show.
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17
in the cards
Likely to happen.
I'm actually not sure if a permanent relationship is even in the cards for me anymore. I mean, I work at night.
Season 5, episode 9. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 9.5x the average show.
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18
flat out
Bluntly and without hesitation; completely.
You restarted my heart. I think it flat out gave up.
Season 2, episode 3. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 6.7x the average show.
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19
on the spot
Immediately, without delay.
Doesn't he just make it all up on the spot? - His whole opening monologue is written for him.
Season 5, episode 2. Said 4 times in 3 episodes, 4.1x the average show.
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20
done deal
An agreement or decision that is final and cannot be changed.
You're gonna be a doctor. It's a done deal. You got a residency interview tomorrow.
Season 4, episode 6. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 6.4x the average show.
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21
long time no see
Said to someone you haven't seen in a long time.
Connie, hello, long time no see. How did he get more handsome?
Season 5, episode 8. Said 3 times in 3 episodes, 5.1x the average show.
How we counted
We count how often each English phrase is said across every line of dialogue in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, then compare that against the same count over thousands of episodes of other popular TV shows.
A phrase is signature when The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel says it far more often than TV in general, across several different episodes, so a phrase repeated through one scene doesn't count. The list is ordered by how much of the show's dialogue each phrase carries.
Names, sound descriptions from subtitle files and song lyrics are removed by hand. The same counts give every show its words-needed figure on our ranking of popular TV shows.
Watch it with the words you don't know marked
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