"Brotherisms"

What are Brotherisms?

"Brotherisms" is a word for the vast collection of recurring terms, names and phrases invented, modified or implemented by the McElroy brothers in their lifelong pursuit of hilarious goofs. Although they may include one-offs that are harped on in one episode and then never again addressed or referenced, the McElroy patois is rife with these delightful and recurring turns of phrase. Strongly recurring Brotherisms are typically coined during the McElroys' real lives as brothers outside of the podcast, but anything appearing on the show may be considered a canonical Brotherism.

List of Brotherisms (And Their Contexts)

The Brothers Three

• "Goof" (Joke or premise for a bit)
• "Unless...", said by one brother and then immediately echoed by the other two. (Typically followed by a hypothetical situation that totally contradicts their immediately previous, often adamant advice. Frequently used to interrupt another brother's point mid-sentence.)
• "My dude" (Usually addressing a question-asker)
• "Deep cut." (A particularly obscure reference. Believed to come from radio broadcasting parlance, through Clint)
• "Part/open the kimono." (To reveal all secrets about something.)
• "Scrowdy row." (In a messy/incomplete state.)
• "That dog don't hunt." (When describing a plan that is either not working or will not work.)
• "Putting on blast." (To be harshly critical of something.)
• "Salting your game." (Similar to putting on blast. To be overly negative about someone's plan or actions to the point of disappointing that person.)
• Chomping one's flavor (Appropriating someone's signature schtick as one's own)
• "Lean into it." (To embrace something momentarily uncomfortable, usually for some long-term benefit.)
• Cookie Points (a system in which you earn points for eating healthful foods that can be redeemed for junk foods)
• "Boy" (Any given person. Expect to hear this one a lot.)
• "From downtown." (describes a joke that landed well, from the sport of basketball)
• "Yuck your yum." or "yuck any yums." (To pass judgment or be negative about someone's personal tastes, usually sexual. Over the years, the brothers have learned not to yuck any yums.)
• "Buckwild"
• "Not like this!" (To indicate distress over something going extremely wrong. Originally from The Matrix.)
• The War between Humans and Birds (An ongoing conflict between mankind and birdkind. Acts of aggression by birds, such as seagulls hitting people in the face, birds pulling the Earth into the sun, and the swan that bit a young Griffin McElroy, are part of this war. Humans that have won battles against birds include Randy Johnson and Sully Sullenberger.)

Justin McElroy

• "Hey, guys?" (Often used when Justin is addressing the entire male gender for some behavior)
• "...modren..." (The way that Justin often, but not always, pronounces "modern", possibly lifted from the short film "Your Studio And You")
• "Put some jelly on it." (i.e. to make something sticky and gross, not more delicious; frequent suggestion for a solution to a problem)
• "Dummo." (Synonymous with "dumbass." As in, "Those guys are real dummos.")
• "Doubles." (Doubles refers the practice of going to a restaurant and ordering two meals, one to eat now, one to take home and eat later. The term was coined by Justin, who first mentioned it in Episode 160, but Sydnee finds it embarrassing and unacceptable.)
• "Skewed perspective" (Justin will often refer to the concept of giving advice or making observation with ironic disdain using this phrase)

Travis McElroy

• "Let me throw this out there." (A suggestion, which Travis has no faith in even as he suggests it. Travis has been making an effort to stop using this, after it was brought to his attention that it had become a verbal tic of his)
• "I can't stress this enough..." (often before giving a well-considered, but quite possibly ridiculous, warning or tidbit of information)
• "Is it possible..." (often said before offering a possible excuse for behavior deemed unacceptable by the other brothers)
• "We-ell..." and "Hoolld on..." (in a high-pitched voice, used to express doubt about a usually absurd statement)

Griffin McElroy

• "In the Japanese style." (Griffin maintains an intense admiration for Japanese culture since a visit to Japan. He often notes the ways he finds Japanese culture superior, using this phrase)
• "That sweet, sweet Doja." (Referring to marijuana)
• "That DANK KUSH." (Referring to marijuana. Capitalized letters wildly mispronounced for comedic effect)
• "That kind bud." (Also referring to marijuana)
• "Pack your bags and move away." (Often used during relationship advice.)
• "Chopped and screwed." (To appropriate and reinterpret something aggressively, far beyond the original intent.)
• "Play with me!" (Inviting a brother, usually Travis, to suspend belief and take part in the bit, usually when a brother thinks the question might not be true.)
• "Explore the space." (To exercise one's creativity to the fullest extent; usually in the context of continuing a bit, but also used sarcastically in contexts where creativity is not necessarily desirable, e.g. during a driving exam.)
• "That South Park humor." or "That Family Guy humor." (Griffin occasionally says he "loves that South Park humor" in a sarcastic or derisive tone; refers to humor that is crass or offensive for offensiveness' sake.)
• "...What are you talking about?" (After one of the brothers makes a statement that Griffin finds ridiculous, Griffin will appear to tacitly agree with the statement before punctuating it with a "...What are you talking about?")
• "...Idiot." (Variation of the above.)
• "Do the damn thing"
• Gastrointestinal problems