The Brady Bunch was more than just a wholesome family TV show—it was a cultural touchstone for an entire generation. Whether you watched it when it first aired or caught reruns after school, there’s no denying that the Brady kids had some of the most memorable one-liners and catchphrases of the 70s. These are the sayings that stuck with us, that we couldn’t help but repeat at school, at home, and with friends. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and relive the Brady Bunch quotes we all know by heart.
1. “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”
This is the ultimate Brady Bunch quote. When Jan had that meltdown about her older sister, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” became a rallying cry for anyone who felt overshadowed by their siblings. Whether you were an only child or had six brothers and sisters, you could feel Jan’s frustration. We all said it, and we all understood it.
2. “Oh, my nose!”
Marcia’s tragic football-to-the-face incident gave us one of the funniest—and most repeated—lines in Brady history. We reenacted that moment on the playground, holding our noses and whining, “Oh, my nose!” It became the go-to phrase for any minor injury. Marcia was a trooper, and we all felt her pain (and probably laughed a little too).
3. “Pork chops and applesauce.”
Peter Brady’s goofy impression of Humphrey Bogart turned “Pork chops and applesauce” into a classic line that we couldn’t stop saying at dinner. It didn’t matter if we were actually having pork chops—we said it anyway, using that exaggerated voice that Peter did. It became a part of our regular mealtime vocabulary.
4. “Mom always said, don’t play ball in the house.”
This line wasn’t just something Bobby said after breaking Carol’s favorite vase—it became a universal truth. Every time we got in trouble for doing something we knew we shouldn’t have, we’d echo Bobby’s words. It was the ultimate “I told you so” moment, and it still sticks with us today whenever we push the boundaries of house rules.
5. “Cindy, you’re such a tattletale!”
Oh, Cindy! As the youngest Brady, she had a habit of spilling the beans at the worst possible times. Her siblings would call her a “tattletale” and the rest of us followed suit, using it on our own friends and siblings when they ratted us out. Cindy made tattling sound like the ultimate crime.
6. “Groovy!”
No Brady episode was complete without someone saying “groovy.” It was the ultimate 70s slang word, and we used it as much as possible. Whether we actually thought something was groovy or not, it became a catch-all word that felt perfectly Brady-esque. It’s one of those terms we wish would make a comeback.
7. “When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange!”
This classic line comes from Peter Brady’s unforgettable voice-changing episode, where he struggles with hitting the right notes during a family performance. “When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange!” became a rallying cry for any awkward transition we faced, whether it was growing up or dealing with a tricky situation at school. The catchy tune and Peter’s pubescent voice crack stuck in our heads for years—and we couldn’t help but sing it at every opportunity!
8. “Something suddenly came up.”
When Greg had to break his date with Marcia’s friend Rachel, he used the classic excuse, “Something suddenly came up.” It became the go-to phrase for getting out of plans you didn’t want to go through with. Didn’t finish your homework? Missed the school bus? Just say something suddenly came up, and your teachers and friends were none the wiser (or so we hoped).
9. “Sure, Jan.”
This sarcastic gem didn’t actually become iconic until long after The Brady Bunch aired, but we all knew the sentiment well. When Jan was desperately trying to outshine Marcia or get attention with her wild stories, the dismissive, “Sure, Jan” response was the perfect way to undercut her. It became a phrase we’d use whenever a friend was clearly exaggerating or making a story seem bigger than it was. Even if we didn’t realize it at the time, it was the ultimate subtle sibling burn!
10. “The new Jan Brady!”
Speaking of Jan, who could forget her attempt to reinvent herself with that awful black wig? “The new Jan Brady” was supposed to be edgy and cool, but it just ended up being one of the most awkward moments in Brady history. Still, whenever any of us tried a new look or persona, we couldn’t help but reference the new Jan Brady. It was too iconic not to.
11. “Here’s the story…”
Who could forget the opening line to The Brady Bunch theme song? “Here’s the story…” was more than just the beginning of a catchy tune—it became a universal way to kick off any tale we were about to tell. Whether we were about to dive into something dramatic, funny, or totally mundane, this line was the perfect setup. It added a bit of Brady charm to our storytelling, and whenever someone started with, “Here’s the story,” you knew you were in for a good one.
12. “Put on your Sunday best, kids, we’re going to Sears!”
Mike Brady delivered this memorable line, and it was a gem for anyone who remembers when a trip to Sears (or any department store) was an actual event. We repeated this phrase whenever our parents dragged us out shopping, even if we weren’t exactly putting on our best clothes. Somehow, Mike made it sound like a grand adventure.
The Brady Bunch was full of sayings that stuck with us long after the show ended. These catchphrases became part of our daily conversations, reminding us of the simple joys of watching the Brady family navigate their hilarious and wholesome lives. Even today, we can’t help but smile—and maybe even quote a line or two—whenever we think about those sunny days with the Bradys.
