Where did the phrase "Not so much" come from?

[bif]

And does it annoy anyone else?

[Richardo]

1. I first became aware of it from Paul Reiser in 'Mad About You'

Which probably explains the annoyance factor. :shrug:

[arbusto_baboso]

2. Like everything else Reiser said, it did not originate with him.

It's an old yiddish-ism, probably originating on the east coast in New York, Boston or Philly areas.

[Richardo]

4. Oh I have no doubt about that.

Just where I first heard it, not being around old-yiddishers much :)

[cemaphonic]

8. Its amazing how influential those old Jewish vaudville and comedy acts have been in our culture

People are still riffing off the Marx Brothers, and they were just a continuation of a theatrical tradition that mostly doesn't even exist anymore.

[arbusto_baboso]

9. I loves me some Marx Brothers!

They still crack me up, even though I've seen those old flicks as many times as I've seen Star Wars. You don't see banter like that anymore.

[cemaphonic]

10. yeah, I don't think I've ever seen a scene that was as successful at sustaining the funny

than the stateroom bit from Night at the Opera. Plus, it always amuses me that they got all that somnambulant groping by Harpo past the censors. (Actually they were pretty good at sneaking a lot of stuff by the censors.)

[arbusto_baboso]

11. Yes, exactly the scene I was thinking of! "And two hard boiled eggs." "HONK!"

[gmoney]

3. does it annoy me? not so much

:hide:

[Shell Beau]

5. Uh oh! I use it. Often!

[DarkTirade]

6. Do I know where it came from?

Not so much. :P

[targetpractice]

7. Look here...

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2007/10/language-health.html

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/pop/articles/1031catchphrases1031.html