Herbie Popnecker

Herbie Popnecker
Examples of Recurring Themes

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Herbie, disguised as a fairy

Herbie Popnecker Examples:
Speech Patterns

Related:

Recurring Story Subjects (category)
Herbie's Amazing Powers (category)
Recurring Gags (category)
Miscellaneous Collections (category)

Herbie's speech is terse, usually leaving out articles, pronouns, even verbs. He also has several expressions he uses repeatedly. When women ask for a kiss, he answers "No kiss." His most famous utterance is his catchphrase rhetorical question "You want I should bop you with this here lollipop?" Much of Herbie's speech seems to have a Jewish basis.

Index terms: terse, laconic, succinct, speech pattern, wise guy, dunno, gimme, gonna, gotta, wanna, wotta, oh-oh, ho-hum, hate rats, fancy-schmancy, shm-reduplication, something, tch-tch, uh-uh, nope, trouble, always trouble, hadn't oughta, mad now, gangway, teach lesson, yipes, eeee-yowww, Richard E. Hughes, Ogden Whitney

1. Little Fat Nothing

Herbie's father often refers to him as a "little fat nothing". Dad wonders why he should have such an undeserved lot in life as a son like Herbie.

Created: 2004-10-13 Updated: 2012-05-16

Stories: 28 Examples: 49

2. Bop you with this here lollipop

Herbie often bops his adversaries with special bopping lollipops, which makes bopping a power. But bopping led to his catchphrase rhetorical question "You want I should bop you with this here lollipop?" so maybe it's a gag speech pattern. Bopped bad guys would imitate Herbie's catchphrase, "He bopped me with this here lollipop!"

Created: 2004-10-16 Updated: 2012-05-18

Stories: 25 Examples: 35

3. Warnings and Threats

Herbie gives fair warning when he is about to take action. Usually, the threat and action both involve bopping with this here lollipop, but there are other cliché cases. Herbie either warns someone not to do something, or threatens what is going to happen.

Created: 2012-04-27 Updated: 2013-01-05

Stories: 10 Examples: 10

4. Says 'WANNA...'

Herbie took many shortcuts in his speech, saying DUNNO, GIMME, GONNA, GOTTA, WANNA, and WOTTA.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-05-14

Stories: 27 Examples: 38

5. Says 'TCH, TCH'

Herbie says "TCH, TCH" when he does not like what he sees. So do some others.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-06-18

Stories: 23 Examples: 30

6. Says 'Something...?'

Herbie is a man of few words. Herbie uses unusual speech patterns, often leaving out subjects and objects or verbs. Rather than ask "Is something happening?" Herbie will just say "Something?" sometimes in response to an attack. It can indicate being oblivious to what is going on. Also popular: HUH?

Created: 2004-11-17 Updated: 2012-05-16

Stories: 11 Examples: 13

7. Says 'HO-HUM'

Herbie says "HO-HUM" when he's bored with what he thinks are mundane events.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-05-31

Stories: 9 Examples: 10

8. Says 'OH-OH'

Herbie says "OH-OH" when something has gone wrong.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-05-31

Stories: 10 Examples: 11

9. Says 'Always Trouble'

Herbie sometimes uses the speech pattern "problem, always problem". He says that for problems he hates.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-04-11

Stories: 8 Examples: 9

10. Says-Schmez

Herbie uses some fancy-schmancy language to mock things. Is this speech pattern a Jewish reference?

Created: 2005-07-30 Updated: 2012-05-15

Stories: 11 Examples: 14

10.

11. Says 'UH-UH'

When Herbie says "UH-UH", he means "No", or he is stammering. He'll also say "Nope."

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-05-31

Stories: 15 Examples: 19

11.

12. Says 'Hate Something'

Herbie has a lot of dislikes, some very specific, such as fat jokes and some look-alikes. He doesn't seem to like wise guys, either.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-06-18

Stories: 11 Examples: 13

12.

13. Says 'Wise Guy'

A wise guy is someone who does something Herbie does not like, a jerk.

Created: 2008-12-01 Updated: 2012-05-31

Stories: 11 Examples: 14

13.

14. Says 'Gangway!'

Sometimes someone yells "Gangway!" as they are trying to get away, usually from Herbie. Herbie never says "Gangway".

Created: 2012-03-23 Updated: 2013-01-04

Stories: 8 Examples: 9

14.

15. Says 'SIGH'

Herbie faces many challenges, and sometimes it gets him down. Dad, too, but those challenges are often self-inflicted. The SIGH is the most common way to express sadness, but the ultimate expression may be WOE, in a black speech balloon.

Created: 2012-12-23 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 14 Examples: 14

15.

16. Says 'WOE'

Herbie faces many challenges, and sometimes it gets him down. Dad, too, but those challenges are often self-inflicted. The SIGH is the most common way to express sadness, but the ultimate expression may be WOE, in a black speech balloon.

Created: 2012-12-23 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 4 Examples: 4

16.

17. Says 'SEE?'

Like in gangster movies from the 1940s, people in Herbie comics end their statements with a demanding "SEE?"

Created: 2012-12-24 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 18 Examples: 20

17.

18. Says 'BY GEORGE'

BY GEORGE can express wonderment, but it is usually affirmative emphasis by Dad.

Created: 2012-12-24 Updated: 2012-12-30

Stories: 9 Examples: 12

18.

19. Says 'YESSIR'

Although YESSIR can be used to express agreement, it is used in Herbie comics to express affirmation.

Created: 2012-12-24 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 16 Examples: 22

19.

20. Says 'AH-HH'

Despite his deadpan disposition, Herbie is a bon vivant who experiences pleasure, and expresses it with AH-HH.

Created: 2012-12-25 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 17 Examples: 23

20.

21. Says 'WHAT THE...'

When Herbie's around, things happen that cannot be explained, and all there is to say is WHAT THE...

Created: 2012-12-25 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 6 Examples: 8

21.

22. Says 'WELL, I'LL BE...'

WELL, I'LL BE... is a combination of WELL and I'LL BE, both expressions of surprise.

Created: 2012-12-25 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 8 Examples: 8

22.

23. Says 'URP!'

The most common expression of surprise in Herbie comics may be it's most unique, because URP does not even appear in Wiktionary.

Created: 2012-12-26 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 17 Examples: 21

23.

24. Says 'YIPE!'

Almost too conventional, YIPE is said by just about every character to express surprise.

Created: 2012-12-26 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 18 Examples: 22

24.

25. Says 'YI!'

Missing from Wiktionary, YI might be an abbreviated YIPE, mainly blurted out by adversaries when they are surprised.

Created: 2012-12-26 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 9 Examples: 10

25.

26. Says 'YOWP!'

People yell YOWP! when they are surprised suddenly, often followed by fear.

Created: 2013-01-01 Updated: 2013-01-02

Stories: 12 Examples: 14

26.

27. Says 'OH, WELL...'

Usually said by Herbie in resignation to the situation, OH, WELL might sum up Herbie's reaction to every outcome.

Created: 2012-12-27 Updated: 2012-12-27

Stories: 10 Examples: 10

27.

28. Says 'UGH'

UGH is most often used to express disgust (sounds like yech), but it is also used to show effort, and as stereotypical speech.

Created: 2012-12-27 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 18 Examples: 21

28.

29. Says 'WHEW'

After a difficult situation, Herbie and others will express relief with WHEW!

Created: 2012-12-27 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 8 Examples: 9

29.

30. Says 'GR-RR'

In Herbie comics, people and animals say GR-RR with varying ferocity, depending on their anger.

Created: 2012-12-28 Updated: 2013-01-02

Stories: 16 Examples: 20

30.

31. Says 'DURN'

There are several variations of DURN (e.g., GOLDURN, GOLDURNIT) to express anger.

Created: 2012-12-28 Updated: 2013-01-02

Stories: 10 Examples: 11

31.

32. Says 'OOF'

When making a big effort, Herbie and others may say UGH, OOF, PUFF or PANT.

Created: 2012-12-29 Updated: 2013-01-11

Stories: 21 Examples: 28

32.

33. Says 'PUFF' + 'PANT'

When working hard or out of breath, Herbie and others PUFF and PANT.

Created: 2012-12-29 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 15 Examples: 21

33.

34. Says 'HA-HA'

HA-HA is the most commonly used laugh, most often by villains. YA-HA-HA is especially evil, invoking fear.

Created: 2012-12-30 Updated: 2012-12-30

Stories: 23 Examples: 40

34.

35. Says 'HO-HO'

HO-HO is a mean-spirited laugh used by villains.

Created: 2012-12-30 Updated: 2012-12-30

Stories: 7 Examples: 11

35.

36. Says 'HEH-HEH'

HEH-HEH is a sneaky or nervous laugh.

Created: 2012-12-30 Updated: 2013-01-03

Stories: 14 Examples: 21

36.

37. Says 'HAW-HAW'

HAW-HAW is a laugh used by the most disdainful of villains.

Created: 2012-12-30 Updated: 2012-12-31

Stories: 17 Examples: 24

37.

38. Says 'YUK-YUK'

YUK-YUK is a self-congratulatory laugh used along with HAW-HAW and sometimes HO-HO by villains.

Created: 2012-12-30 Updated: 2012-12-29

Stories: 4 Examples: 5

38.

39. Says 'HURRAH'

HURRAH is a cry of happiness that usually comes from cheering fans in a crowd, but occasionally, Dad yells it to cheer for himself and even Herbie. Needless to say, Dad's spirit is soon crushed.

Created: 2012-12-31 Updated: 2013-01-01

Stories: 11 Examples: 18

39.

40. Says 'OUCH'

No one really gets hurt in Herbie stories, but some do feel pain, which is expressed in several ways, mostly YEE-OWW! Nobody ever actually says anything as mundane as OUCH.

Created: 2012-12-31 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 26 Examples: 44

40.

41. Says 'ULP'

ULP! is a shortened form of GULP. Even Herbie uses it when a situation looks bad, with exclamation points!

Created: 2013-01-02 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 22 Examples: 27

41.

42. Says 'HELP'

Villains and Dad often yell "HELP!" in fear of life and limb. Stuttering H-HELP! is common.

Created: 2013-01-03 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 30 Examples: 50

42.

43. Says 'GULP'

GULP, and the stuttering form, G-GULP, are the most common expressions of fear in Herbie comics, most often uttered by Dad, villains, and male characters, but also heard from Herbie as an expression of surprise.

Created: 2013-01-04 Updated: 2013-01-06

Stories: 42 Examples: 72

43.

44. Says 'AWAY'

When Fat Fury flies into action, he exclaims AWAY! AWAY-YY! Often, something goes wrong right after he says it, such as a plunger problem.

Created: 2013-01-06 Updated: 2013-01-12

Stories: 7 Examples: 14

44.