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"D'oh" (typically represented in the show's script as "(annoyed grunt)") is a famous catchphrase of Homer Simpson. It was famously accepted by people and was added into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001. The quote is normally used when Homer hurts himself, finds out something to his embarrassment or chagrin, is outsmarted, or undergoes or anticipates misfortune etc. Other characters from the Simpsons have also been heard using the catchphrase in addition to Homer, the most common being Lisa rarely. Abe says it a few times and Marge, Bart and Homer's mother Mona have said it before as well. Krusty the Clown has also said it a few times. Tom has said it once as well.

Conception[]

The show's writers use the phrase "(annoyed grunt)" to represent the catchphrase; episode titles with the original spelling include,[1] "E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)", "I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot," "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious", and G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)". Episodes with d'oh in their titles include "D'oh-in' in the Wind," "Days of Wine and D'oh'ses," "C.E. D'oh," "We're on the Road to D'oh-where," "He Loves to Fly and He D'oh's," "Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh," "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed", "The Falcon and the D'ohman," "The D'oh-cial Network," and "D'oh Canada."

Homer-doh

D'oh!

When Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer, was first asked to voice the exclamation, he rendered it as a drawn out "doooh", inspired by Jimmy Finlayson, the mustached Scottish actor who appeared in many Laurel and Hardy films. Finlayson coined the term as a minced oath to stand in for the word "Damn!", an unpopular word on "The Simpsons".[2] The show's creator Matt Groening felt that it would better suit the timing of animation if it were spoken faster so Castellaneta shortened it to "D'oh!"[3]

It was first heard on a Tracey Ullman Show short entitled "Punching Bag", which first aired on November 27, 1988. When Bart and Lisa try to hide a punching bag with his face on it, and it knocks him out. Homer's reaction is "D'oh!" The next occasion it was heard was in "TV Simpsons", then the first episodes of The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", which first aired on December 17, 1989.

Variations[]

Jomer42

This section is for *VARIATIONS*, not recording every time Homer and/or someone else says it.

Variations of the catch phrase have appeared in numerous episodes of The Simpsons.

  • In "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (1989), when Homer becomes a mall Santa, he says "Ho-ho-d'oh!", bumping his head.
  • In "Burns' Heir" (1994), Mr. Burns hires actors to play the Simpsons in an attempt to convince Bart that they no longer love him. Homer's actor says "B'oh!" after dropping his sandwich, and Bart says that something seems different. Burns talks to the actors, and says "Homer doesn't say B'oh, he says..." then looks through a script and says, "He says 'D'oh!'" Homer's actor tries again, and sounds more like, "Duh-oh!"
  • In "Bart Gets an Elephant" (1994), when forced to clean the Simpson home, Homer tries to duck out quickly by volunteering to clean the basement. When everybody agrees without hesitation, Homer exclaims "D'oooh?", stretched out and with a rising inflection, as if he is asking a question). When he opens the basement door, he exclaims a normal "D'oh!" when he sees what a mess the basement is.
    • Also, when Homer crashes their car into a preserved deer statue, he, Lisa, and Marge say, in sequence, "D'oh!" (doe), "A deer!, and "A female deer!", an allusion to the "Do-Re-Mi" song in The Sound of Music.
  • In "Bart of Darkness" (1994), Homer accidentally builds a large barn, when intending to build a pool. An Amish man comments, "'Tis a fine barn, but sure 'tis no pool, English." Homer responds, "D'oheth!"
  • In "Treehouse of Horror V" (1994), Homer says "D'oh! D'oh!" when he realizes that he forgot to close the back door.
  • In this deleted scene from "Homer the Smithers" (1996), after Homer asked Mr. Burns that he is Montgomery and Mr. Burns answered that he is Montgomery, he says "D'oh-n't worry."
  • In "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" (1997), when Homer sees parking officer Steve Grabowski issue another ticket on his car, thinking that Homer failed to turn up (not realizing that Homer had to go to the bathroom in one of the towers), after Homer shouts "D'OH!!!", his D'oh repeatedly echos all across New York City.
  • In "Homer's Enemy" (1997), while Frank Grimes is undergoing his psychotic breakdown late in the episode and while mockingly claiming "I don't need to do any work, because someone else will do it for me!", he then proceeds to yell "D'oh-D'oh-D'oh!" while smacking his forehead three times.
    Mathlete's Feat 197
  • In "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo" (1999), on a family trip to Japan, Homer says something in Japanese along the lines of "shimatta-baka-ni", which was translated in subtitles as "D'oh!" Shimatta in Japanese is roughly equivalent to "damn it!", whereas Baka ni, by Japanese grammar, is more literally taken as an adverb—pointed out by the particle ni after a na adjective radical—meaning 'stupidly', with the root word baka being used traditionally to describe an idiotic or foolish person or thing. Japanese speakers normally use baka in relation to silly animals or inanimate things; it is considered extremely rude when used in reference to humans. In the actual Japanese dub, "D'oh" is not translated, but is written in hiragana as どっ! (do!).
  • In The Simpsons Movie (2007), when the EPA seal Springfield under the dome, Homer cries out "D'ooooooooooooohme!"
  • In "Mathlete's Feat" (2015), during the math tournament, the audience holds up coordinated signs that say, "Education Satisfies Peculiar Nerds." When Marge comments, "ESPN isn't covering this," Homer exclaims, "D'oh!", and the cards are rearranged to say, "Dad Overestimates Hype."
  • In "The Man Who Came to Be Dinner", Homer sings "D'oh" to the tune of "The Blue Danube".
  • In "Treehouse of Horror XXVI" (2015), Homerzilla exclaims "D'ojo!" after stepping into a dojo sign.
  • During "Stark Raving Dad", during the Everybody do the play sequence, Homer said, "Everybody D'oh the Flop!" and Homer faceslaps first in the ground.
  • In "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" (2020) Disney Princess Homer sings "D'oh".
  • In "Pin Gal" (2023) when Homer is told he isn't Fred Flintstone, he says "Yabba-dabba-D'oh!".


Episode names[]

When originally created, the word had no official spelling. Instead, it was written as "(annoyed grunt)". In recognition of this, several episodes feature the phrase "(annoyed grunt)" in the episode title where one would, for acoustic and aesthetic reasons, usually expect the term "D'oh". Such episodes include "I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot" (instead of "I, D'oh-bot", a play on I, Robot); "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (a parody of the song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in Mary Poppins); "E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)" (a parody of Old MacDonald Had a Farm); and "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)" (a parody of G.I. Joe). Even in closed captioning, "(annoyed grunt)" is displayed in place of "D'oh!" in early airings. During the episode "The Kid is All Right", Maggie plays with "Play-(annoyed grunt)", and makes Gerald, but smashes it.

Ten episodes so far have "D'oh" in their titles, all in later seasons: season 10's "D'oh-in' in the Wind", season 11's "Days of Wine and D'oh'ses", season 14's "C.E. D'oh", season 17's "We're on the Road to D'oh-where", season 19's "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs", season 20's "Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh", season 21's "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed", season 23's "The Falcon and the D'ohman" and "The D'oh-cial Network", and season 30's "D'oh Canada".

Usage[]

Duffless 71

Bart saying "D'oh!"

Sideshow Bob D'OH!

Sideshow Bob saying "D'OH!" at the end of Bart Simpson Shall Do My Bidding!

The term "D'oh!" has been adopted by many Simpsons fans, and even by people that are not specifically fans. The term has become commonplace in modern speech and demonstrates the reach of the show's influence. "D'oh" has been added to the Webster's Millennium Dictionary of English, the Macmillan Dictionary for Advanced Learners, and the Oxford English Dictionary. It is defined as: "Expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned, or that one has just said or done something foolish. Also (usu. mildly derogatory) implying that another person has said or done something foolish (Duh)." The OED etymologizes the word as "popularized by The Simpsons" but lists usages as early as 1945. It is also now becoming a popular minced oath for many various curse words, especially "damn".

Other languages[]

In the German-dubbed version, "D'oh!" is translated to Nein! ('No!'; it is pronounced like the number 'nine'.) In the Spanish-dubbed version, "D'oh!" is changed to ¡Ou! (pronounced like the letter 'O'). The pronunciation, along with the proper Homer-esque intonation, has entered the popular culture of many Spanish-speaking countries. However, in Spain, it is pronounced as "Oi!". The closed captions for the program — though this may only occur in the US—spell "D'oh" as "D-ohh!" or "Oh!" (this is more common in earlier episodes, newer ones simply use "D'oh"). In Italy, the parts where Homer utters the word are left unedited, thus still bearing Castellaneta's voice.[citation needed]. In the French-dubbed version, in France, due to a pronunciation mistake, "D'oh!" became "t'oh!", but in Quebec, the Homer's Annoyed Grunt is still "D'oh!". In the Czech-dubbed version, "D'oh!" is usually changed to Ou! or Sakra! ('Damn it!'). In the Brazilian Portuguese dub, Homer's two first voice actors used the Homer's Annoyed Grunt like "D'ih!" or "Eigh!" while Homer's third and current voice actor uses "D'oh!" normally.

Definition[]

An expression of grief or anger, derived from the realization of an idiotic act or mistake.

Used or heard in other media[]

  • Toy Story - Andy as Mr. Potato Head says it in the first movie’s beginning as One-Eyed Bart when Andy as Woody stops him.
  • The Critic - In the episode "Dukerella", Jay Sherman says the catchphrase when Alice Tompkins says that her sister doesn't have a parking valet.
  • Family Guy - In the episode "Big Man on Hippocampus", after being introduced to his daughter Meg, Peter says it, and Lois replies, "No, Peter, that's not your catchphrase." He says it again in the Simpsons crossover "The Simpsons Guy", where Homer asks of what he should say about Pawtucket's lawsuit. In "Mother Tucker", Brian mentions Stewie selling out, cueing a cutaway of Stewie being in one of the infamous Simpsons Butterfinger commercials. Stewie quotes "Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger" and then adds "D'oh!".
  • Ghostbusters: Answer the Call - Abby Yates says it when she misses her shot to hit the Ghost grenade like a bat with her wand part of her proton pack.
  • Married... with Children - Peggy Bundy tells Al Bundy to "be like Homer Simpson and say D'oh!" in the episode "Mr. Empty Pants".
  • Sleeping Beauty - Flora says it after she and Merrywheater mess up Aurora’s dress while refusing to decide on a dress color.
  • Back to the Future: The Animated Series - When Doc Brown tries to teach cavemen.
  • Franklin - In the episode, Franklin the Photographer, Franklin says this after his first failed attempt to snap a photo of a butterfly.
  • SpongeBob SquarePants - "D'oh!" is said in multiple episodes. In "Pickles", SpongeBob says it when he messes up the Krabby Patty order. In "Hooky", SpongeBob says it when he accidentally bumps into a fishhook. In "Overbooked", SpongeBob's clones say it when they fall. In "SB-129", Squidward says it when SpongeBob and Patrick think that Squidward is saying that he wants to jellyfish when he explains what happened to him. In "Grandma's Kisses", Patrick is eating cookies and after biting his finger in the end, he says "D'oh, my wittle finger!" In "The Play's the Thing", Squidward says it when SpongeBob doesn't know that he has no lines. In "Planet of the Jellyfish", SpongeBob says it when he forgets about the Patrick monster. In "Doing Time", Mrs. Puff says it while teaching SpongeBob to drive. In "Boat Smarts", Squidward says it while driving. In "Chum Bucket Supreme", Plankton yells "D'oh!" when hockey players attack him. In "Out of the Picture", SpongeBob says it when a piece of roof falls on Squidward and Mr. Krabs. In "All That Glitters", SpongeBob says it when his arms break off. In "A Day Without Tears", SpongeBob says it when his favorite shirt rips. "Squidward the Unfriendly Ghost" has Squidward saying it after SpongeBob says "as you wish, master". In "Code Yellow", SpongeBob says it when he's late for work at the Krusty Krab. In "Christmas Who?", Patrick says it when he rips his third paper.
  • The Loud House - In one episode, "Lock N Loud", Lynn Sr accidentally pushes Rita in a bush filled with roses, causing him to say Homer's famous catchphrase, "D'oh!".
  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast - In the pilot episode, "Spanish Translation", Space Ghost at one point yells "D'oh!"
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back - Dr. Cortex says it when he finds crystals.
  • Sesame Street - Oscar the Grouch says it in a TV spot for the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street in 2019.
  • Super Mario 64 - Mario says it when you long jump or dive into a wall (he doesn't say it in the original Japanese version of the game, he says "Uhn!" instead like when Mario hits a wall any other way.) The voice clip was reused in the first two Super Smash Bros. games.
  • Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - Bowser says "D'oh." right before being crushed by the Fawful Express.
  • Annoying Orange - In the episode "Cookie-DOH!", when Cookie Dough asks why she was nibbled so much, Orange says "As Homer Simpson would say, D'oh!".
  • Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue - in the episode The "Great Egg Caper" Birdbane says it when he discovered the egg recovered from the thief was a fake.
  • Phineas and Ferb - In Sleepwalk Surprise, after Phineas says “hey, where’s Perry?”, Candace says “D’oh!”
  • Project Gotham Racing - Whenever the player drives into a wall, the HUD message next to the Kudos meter says "D'oh!"
  • 50/50 Heroes - “D'oh!” is used in some episodes. In the episode ''Seasos Gone Wild'', Mo says it 3 times when he crashes in to stuff while trying to get to Stella in the fog. In another episode, ''Sam Crawls The Web'', Lenny says it when he drops his phone. And in ''My Friend The Internet'' JC says it when he doesn't understand the question he read.
  • Mathantics - In the episode, ''What is Arithmetic?'' The Guy next to Rob says it when he says ''Community Property'' instead of ''Commutative Property''.
  • Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese - In the episode, ''Scoot or be scooted'', Boy says it when he accidentally hits his finger with a hammer.
  • Camp Camp - In the episode, ''NIGHT OF THE LIVING ILL'' Neil says it when he gets hit in the groin by a wrecking ball.
  • Banjo-Kazooie - Banjo says it if he loses a life and also after kicking the xylophone Mumbo Jumbo is playing in the intro.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) - In the episode "Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady" Shredder says it, when Bebop and Rocksteady falls off the tower of the Channel 6 building with the Mesmerizer due to Bebop getting frightened by a lightning strike.
  • Talespin - In the ending of the episode The "Sound and the Furry" Baloo says it softly after Wildcat says how hard to find some lobster food.
  • Codename: Kids Next Door - In the episode "Operation: M.A.T.A.D.O.R.", Numbuh 4 says this.
  • Duckman - "D'oh!" is said in two episodes. In the series premiere episode "I, Duckman", Duckman says it after when his younger sons, being only babies, crawls over and eat the lottery ticket. In "It's the Thing of the Principal", Duckman says it at the end of the episode.
  • Hey Duggee - In the episode "The Hair Badge", Duggee says it while in this hairstyle that resembles Homer's.
  • Clarence - In the episode "Fishing Trip", Chad says it when Sumo steps on his toe after him losing all his hair making him resembling Homer.
  • All Dogs Go To Heaven - In the number one movie’s beginning, Itchy Itchford says it while trying to prevent another sneeze as he was trying to find Charlie Barkin who was sent to the dog pound by Carface.

Gallery[]

Main article: D'oh/Gallery

External links[]

Sources[]

  1. "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"
  2. "What’s the story with . . . Homer’s D’oh!" The Herald (Glasgow) July 21, 2007
  3. Jeremy Simon Wisdom from The Simpsons' 'D'ohh' boy The Daily Northwestern 1994-02-11
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