List of catchphrases (2024)

The Scooby-Doo franchise has many catchphrases that have been become a recognizable part of pop culture. Almost all of the most famous catchphrases originated with the first two shows in the franchise, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and The New Scooby-Doo Movies, and have carried over to future incarnations.

Scooby-Dooby-Doo[]

First use: What a Night for a Knight

"Scooby-Dooby-Doo" is a phrase often uttered by Scooby-Doo, most commonly at the end of an episode. It is usually said in a joyous or celebratory tone, but occasionally Scooby says it more seriously, such as in the episode All Fear the Freak. In Ollie Ollie In-Come Free!, Ricky Gervais pointed out it was less of a catchphrase as Scooby just saying his name "in a funny way." In many, but not all, episodes of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, Scooby would use variants of the phrase based on the events of the episode, such as "Mangia-Dooby-Doo" or "Liberty-Dooby-Doo."

Rikes[]

First use: What a Night for a Knight

"Rikes" is an exclamatory phrase often uttered by Scooby-Doo when he is surprised or scared. He originally used it in the very first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, while he was standing guard at the museum's back door. Scooby's speech is typically littered with rhotacization - the substitution of consonants with an "R" sound - and this is his attempt to exclaim "Yikes!"

Zoinks[]

First use: What a Night for a Knight

"Zoinks!" is an exclamatory word often exclaimed by Shaggy when he is scared and/or surprised. Sometimes in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, he'd also say "Zoink."

Jeepers[]

First use: What the Hex Going On?

Daphne's signature catchphrase. "Jeepers!" is an old-school euphemism for "Jesus!" that dates back to 1927.^[1] Daphne and Fred would occasionally utter "Creepers!" as well (in The Caped Crusader Caper, she uses both interchangeably).

Gang Way[]

First use: Never Ape an Ape Man

"Gang Way" is a phrase occasionally uttered by Shaggy when he's getting chased, running away or to warn everyone to get out of the way. Scooby has also uttered this phrase in What Now, Lowbrow? and Scrappy has uttered this phrase in A Bungle in the Jungle.

Ruh-roh[]

First use: Bedlam in the Big Top

"Ruh-roh" is a phrase often uttered by Scooby-Doo when he realizes something is wrong. He originally said "Uh-oh" in the very first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, and continued saying it in a number of subsequent episodes. It was in Bedlam in the Big Top when he first used rhotacization, saying "Ruh-oh".

You meddling kids[]

First use: Scooby's Night with a Frozen Fright

"You meddling kids!" is a nickname given to the gang by the various villains they encounter. More recent shows like What's New, Scooby-Doo? and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated use a variation on this phrase in almost every episode. It has also appeared in similar shows like The Funky Phantom and Josie & the puss*cats. In A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, the phrase is changed to "pesky kids." In Scoobynatural, the villain in the Supernatural world, Jay says the "meddling kids" line, exciting Dean Winchester, a fan of Scooby-Doo.

Jinkies[]

First use: Ghastly Ghost Town (Shaggy), The Frickert Fracas (Velma)

"Jinkies!" is a nonsense word exclaimed by Velma when she's scared or has found a clue. In A Pup Named Scooby-Doo her use of the word had become a recurring gag, as young Velma would say Jinkies just to make herself heard. In the episode The Shrieking Madness, Harlan Ellison told Velma that "By the way, jinkies is not actually a word".

Puppy Power[]

First use: The Scarab Lives!

"Puppy Power!" is frequently exclaimed by Scrappy as a battle cry before running towards the villain. Sometimes he would mix it up with whatever he's disgused as. It was ad-libbed by Frank Welker during his failed audition for the role. Joseph Barbera thought it could be the next "Yabba-Dabba-Doo."^[2]

Yibbity-Yabbity-Doo[]

First use: Yabba's Rustle Hustle

"Yibbity-Yabbity-Doo!" is used by Yabba-Doo in a style similar to Scooby-Doo's catchphrase.

Hold the phone[]

First use: TBA

By the time Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was made, Fred was the only one who had not been given his own signature catchphrase. So, he was given "Hold the phone", when something surprises or excites him. This was carried over into several unrelated direct-to-video videos, until it faded away for some time, only to be revived inScooby-Doo and Guess Who?.

Light it up[]

First use: Mystery 101

Another catchphrase for Fred (this time something more original), was to have him say "Light it up" (or some interchangeable variation, such as "Light them up") in Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! This was a cue for the gang to turn on their flashlights during an investigation. In Some Fred Time, when Fred was forced to rest, Velma got to say it.

This mystery is starting to come together[]

First use: TBA

Usually uttered by Velma, it is a sign that she has, or is close to solving the mystery and it is time for Fred to set his trap. A variation is "This mystery is really starting to come together".

It's trapping time[]

First use: TBA

Usually uttered by Fred when he decides it is time to set a trap for the monster. He usually says this not long after Velma says "This mystery is starting to come together". A variation on this phrase is "It's trappin' time".

The monster's standing right behind me, isn't he?[]

First use: TBA

This catchphrase was used in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? by Fred. In a number of episodes, Fred is talking to the rest of the Gang, who suddenly freeze. Then, either immediately, or after a few seconds of being oblivious to the danger, Fred utters this line, or a variation of it. The Gang then runs away.In Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! Coco Diablo utters this line.

References[]