A Christmas Story Quotes

Context

This line is spoken by Ralphie's mom, played by Melinda Dillon, in the movie A Christmas Story, directed by Bob Clark (1983).

A Christmas Story is a holiday staple—a classic flick that you've inevitably seen during one of those all-day movie marathons around Christmas. In case you're a Grinch and don't watch Christmas movies, we'll tell you that it's about a kid named Ralphie who wants a Red Rider BB gun more than anything else for Christmas. Loveable, family-friendly hijinks ensue.

The dire consequences of owning a BB gun are first voiced by Ralphie's mom and then echoed by his teacher and a mall Santa Claus. Despite it all, Ralphie does indeed get his Christmas wish, causing his Mom's prophecy to almost come true. Luckily, the ricocheting BB shatters Ralphie's glasses instead of his eyeball. This was probably a good idea; ending the film with a one-eyed Ralphie would've put a damper on generations of Christmas spirit.

Here's a present for you: it's a montage of all the places the quote is said in the movie.

Where you've heard it

One of most recent references comes in the CW's bloodsucking soap opera The Vampire Diaries, when Damon Salvatore says, "She'll shoot her eye out" about Elena Gilbert. You might've also heard it in Futurama, when Leela, the Cyclops, mentions BB gun safety (which as we all know is especially important for Cyclopses). You probably didn't hear the line get quoted in the less-than-memorable The Year Without Santa Claus because you were busy watching the Christmas Story marathon on another channel. 

Additional Notable References:

TV

• Psych
• Nostalgia Critic

Video Games

• The Darkness II
• Borderlands
• Back to the Future

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This pop culture gem is known to one and all, so nobody's gonna think you're full of yourself.