20 celebrities who popularized common phrases

People don’t say “Hammer time” like they used to, but it was once a huge part of American vernacular. MC Hammer coined the phrase, and even though it’s not spoken like it once was, it’s still a notable example of a celebrity popularizing a common phrase. 

Sure, “EVOO” is the natural acronym for extra virgin olive oil, but would any of us call it that without the influence of Rachael Ray? Perhaps some of us would, but the celebrity chef definitely made the term mainstream. 

No one ever uttered the abbreviation “YOLO” until Drake did in his hit “The Motto.” The phrase became so big that there were plenty of people saying it without even knowing its origin. 

Whether because we’ve been on the receiving end of one, delivered one, or just bore witness to one, we all know what a “Clapback” is. And as it turns out, rapper Ja Rule is credited with popularizing the term thanks to his song of the same name. 

Tyra Banks has done lots of interesting things in her life, including creating the word “smize.” It’s a portmanteau that means "to smile with the eyes," and she popularized it on her series, America’s Next Top Model. 

Stephen Colbert has been highly influential in the United States as well. He’s been so influential that he’s responsible for popularizing the word “Truthiness.”

If you’ve ever said “Okurrr” with as many rolls of the R as you possibly can manage, you have Cardi B to thank. The rapper popularized the specific pronunciation of the word. 

You’ve probably referred to someone in the zeitgeist as the “GOAT,” or the greatest of all time. It was LL Cool J who coined the phrase, which some might use to refer to him, with his album of the same name. 

Everyone was saying “That’s hot” in the 2000s, and it was all thanks to Paris Hilton. The reality star was so steadfast in her dedication to the phrase that she trademarked it. 

Not to be confused with the aforementioned socialite, the OG celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton coined a phrase, too. You can thank Hilton the next time you use the word “amazeballs.”

Eminem’s influence is so great that he got a word added to the dictionary. The rapper first used the term “Stan” in his song of the same name, referring to an actual person. The term has since evolved to refer to anyone who’s an intense fan of someone or something. 

We didn’t have the word “Bootylicious” until Destiny’s Child wrote a song about being it in the early 2000s. And now we do have that word and its accompanying definition. 

Swifties know about the word “Swiftmas.” The word entered public consciousness, thanks to Taylor Swift’s generous tradition of sending Christmas gifts to her fans. 

The cast of the Jersey Shore had an unbelievable influence on culture in the late 2000s. One of their most notable contributions was “GTL,” the acronym that stands for “gym, tan, laundry,” which was many of the cast members’ plans for their days at the time. 

The influence of Laguna Beach is still being felt today. The cast popularized the word “dunzo,” which is just a cute way of saying the word “done.” But the Laguna Beach cast’s version is much more fun to say. 

In one episode of Parks and Recreation , characters Tom and Donna, played by Aziz Ansari and Retta, respectively, declared a “Treat yo self” day. Ever since then, everyone has been using the phrase as encouragement for buying a little treat for themselves. 

Other members of the Parks and Recreation cast are responsible for popularizing common phrases, too. Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, created “Galentine’s Day,” the day before Valentine’s Day, where women celebrate the friends in their lives.  

The term “Rizz” isn’t popular across all demographics, but many have heard of it and used it. It was popularized by famous YouTuber Kai Cenat. 

We live in a world where online personalities are just as famous as some actors, singers, and athletes. Kayla Newman, a celebrity in her own right thanks to her popularity on Vine, coined the term “On fleek,” first used as a way to describe her eyebrows. 

Say what you want about Kanye West, but you can’t deny he’s influential. The rapper is credited with popularizing the term “Cray.”