Yogiisms

Yogiisms are quotes of Yogi Berra, who, besides being a baseball player, was also famous for fracturing the English language in provocative, interesting ways. Similar phrases, spoken by other people, are also sometimes called "Yogiisms". Many Yogiisms are oxymorons.

Examples

:It ain't over 'til it's over.

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This quote is undoubtedly the most well known Yogi-ism. However, what he really said was You're never out of it 'til you're out of it in regards to the 1973 National League pennant race.

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:I want to thank you for making this day necessary.

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This was said at Yogi Berra day in St Louis in 1947. It is supposed to be the first Yogi-ism. By his account, he asked a teammate to write a short speech, and he misspoke, replacing the word 'possible' with 'necessary'.

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:It's like déjà vu all over again.

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Many people think that Berra would have never said the word déjà vu, as it wasn't his kind of language. But Yogi himself insists that he said this in reference to home runs by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, who often hit homers.

Related Topics:
Roger Maris - Mickey Mantle

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:When you get to a fork in the road, take it.

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Berra insists that this is part of some driving directions to his house. In his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, there is a fork in the road and either way you take, you will get to his house. Some people find this to be a very poignant quote, thinking it means that when you find a challenge, overcome it.

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:I didn't really say everything I said.

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Yogi can't even escape creating a Yogi-ism in his disclaimer for not creating all of the Yogi-isms. He was pointing out that he didn't say everything that people think he said, which is very likely.

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:Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

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This one may have been invented by someone else. Yogi said it regarding a restaurant that had become very popular.

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:Tomorrow night is another day.

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Yogi said it when his team lost a night game. He knew they would play better tomorrow.

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:We have a good time together, even when we're not together.

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This quote was talking about his wife Carmen. Apparently it makes perfect sense to them, and it means that he likes to spend a little time away from her, but wants to be back together after it.

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:Our similarities are different.

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This quote was actually said by Dale Berra, Yogi's son. It's interesting to note how similar they are in their linguistic ability.

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:I thought they said steak dinner, but then I found it was a state dinner...

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:...It was hard to have a conversation with anyone; there were so many people talking.

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This was about a fancy dinner he attended at the White House.

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:We make too many wrong mistakes.

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This quote was about his team, the New York Yankees, when they lost the World Series in 1960.

Related Topics:
New York Yankees - World Series

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