Said the actress to the bishop
Encyclopedia
"Said the actress to the bishop", sometimes "as the actress said to the bishop", or simply "that's what she said" is an informal (and occasionally vulgar) exclamation, usually said for humour after an inadvertent use of a double entendre
. It is said in the style of a punch line
, comically implying that the original double entendre was spoken by a woman in a risqué manner.
On occasion, the term is swapped when appropriate to "said the bishop to the actress", or "that's what he said".
The phrase is an example of a Wellerism
, a literal "turn" of a phrase, changing its meaning. The versatility of the phrase and its popularity leads some to consider it a cliché
.
in origin.
The phrase is frequently used (in various contexts) by the fictional character Simon Templar
(alias "The Saint") in a long-running series of mystery books by Leslie Charteris
. The phrase first appears in the inaugural Saint novel Meet the Tiger
which was published in 1928.
The phrase "as the girl said to the soldier" is recorded in a sound test for Alfred Hitchcock
's 1929 film Blackmail
.
As the Actress Said to the Bishop - Star-studded stories from stage and screen is the title of a book published in 1989, written by English character actor and comedian Derek Nimmo
.
and Canadian
phrase used in response to an accidental double entendre, especially one that is sexual in nature. Typically, 'TWSS' is said in response to another speaker's double entendre, and rarely by the original speaker.
The phrase was popularized as a recurring joke in the Saturday Night Live
sketch Wayne's World
. In the movie of the same name
, the titular character, Wayne, uses the phrase after his partner Garth says "Are you finished yet? I'm getting tired of holding this" in regard to a picture he is holding.
In the original BBC version of The Office
, Ricky Gervais
's character David Brent
frequently used the phrase "as the actress said to the bishop" as an inappropriate joke. When the show was adapted for American audiences, the phrase was translated to "that's what she said" for Steve Carell
's character Michael Scott
. 'TWSS' became a catchphrase of The Office and was used for the show's "That's What She Said" Sweepstakes.
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
. It is said in the style of a punch line
Punch line
A punch line is the final part of a joke, comedy sketch, or profound statement, usually the word, sentence or exchange of sentences which is intended to be funny or to provoke laughter or thought from listeners...
, comically implying that the original double entendre was spoken by a woman in a risqué manner.
On occasion, the term is swapped when appropriate to "said the bishop to the actress", or "that's what he said".
The phrase is an example of a Wellerism
Wellerism
Wellerisms, named after Sam Weller in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers, make fun of established clichés and proverbs by showing that they are wrong in certain situations, often when taken literally. In this sense, wellerisms that include proverbs are a type of anti-proverb...
, a literal "turn" of a phrase, changing its meaning. The versatility of the phrase and its popularity leads some to consider it a cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
.
History and background
The term may have been used as far back as Edwardian times, and is apparently BritishBritish people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
in origin.
The phrase is frequently used (in various contexts) by the fictional character Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
(alias "The Saint") in a long-running series of mystery books by Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
. The phrase first appears in the inaugural Saint novel Meet the Tiger
Meet the Tiger
Meet the Tiger is the title of an action-adventure novel written by Leslie Charteris. In England it was first published by Ward Lock in 1928; in the United States it was first published by Doubleday's The Crime Club imprint in 1929. It was the first novel in a long-running series of books ...
which was published in 1928.
The phrase "as the girl said to the soldier" is recorded in a sound test for Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's 1929 film Blackmail
Blackmail (1929 film)
Blackmail is a 1929 British thriller drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anny Ondra, John Longden, and Cyril Ritchard, and featuring Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood and Charles Paton. The film is based on the play Blackmail by Charles Bennett, as adapted by Hitchcock, with dialogue by...
.
As the Actress Said to the Bishop - Star-studded stories from stage and screen is the title of a book published in 1989, written by English character actor and comedian Derek Nimmo
Derek Nimmo
Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor. He was particularly associated with upper-class "silly-ass" roles, and clerical roles.-Career:...
.
"That's What She Said"
"That's what she said", occasionally shortened as TWSS, is a chiefly AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
phrase used in response to an accidental double entendre, especially one that is sexual in nature. Typically, 'TWSS' is said in response to another speaker's double entendre, and rarely by the original speaker.
The phrase was popularized as a recurring joke in the Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
sketch Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
. In the movie of the same name
Wayne's World (film)
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike Myers in his film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of the Aurora, Illinois-based Public-access television cable TV show Wayne's World...
, the titular character, Wayne, uses the phrase after his partner Garth says "Are you finished yet? I'm getting tired of holding this" in regard to a picture he is holding.
In the original BBC version of The Office
The Office
The Office is a popular mockumentary/situation comedy TV show that was first made in the UK and has now been re-made in many other countries, with overall viewership in the hundreds of millions worldwide. The original version of The Office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It...
, Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
's character David Brent
David Brent
David Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
frequently used the phrase "as the actress said to the bishop" as an inappropriate joke. When the show was adapted for American audiences, the phrase was translated to "that's what she said" for Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
's character Michael Scott
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
. 'TWSS' became a catchphrase of The Office and was used for the show's "That's What She Said" Sweepstakes.