Last week, we looked at how to speak geek when you’re in fantasy circles. This time around, we venture into the world of science fiction, bolding daring to go where no man (or hobbit) has gone before.

I’m pleased to present, How to Speak Geek – Sci-fi Version. Board your starship, settle back, and enjoy the ride.

Doctor Who

Phrases: wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, spacey-wacey

Meanings

• Varied, depending on the context, usually in reference to high-level concepts too complex for humans to grasp
• Spacetime is acting up again
• Bad things are happening, so hold on
• I really don’t have an explanation, so I’ll use these fancy words instead
• Don’t we love made-up words?

Phrase: bow ties and fezzes are cool

Meanings

• Uhh…they are, because they’re fashionable and worn by a Time Lord
• Don’t mock the guy with the supposed fashion problems since one day he’ll be in the position to save your life
• Think twice before you tease me about my poor dressing choices
• Only a Time Lord can rock the bow tie and fez like this, baby

Phrase: allons-y

Meanings

• Let’s go
• I’m too cool to simply say “Let’s go”
• Check out my sweet French, even if I am from another planet

Phrase: Geronimo

Meanings

• Full speed ahead, danger notwithstanding
• Close your eyes, jump, and hope you don’t die
• Here we go, ready or not
• Though the wormhole we go

Phrase: whatever you do, don’t blink

Meanings

• Keep your eyes open, because you never know when danger might be right next to you
• Taking statues of angels for granted is a dangerous mistake
• Seriously, walk around all day without closing your eyes once
• If you blink, you might never open your eyes again

Phrase: hello, sweetie

Meanings

• Traditional greeting for someone who’s moving in the opposite direction in the time stream
• Affectionate term used solely for Time Lords
• Greeting peculiar to women who sing about rivers…or something like that

Phrase: it’s bigger on the inside

Meanings

• How is this possible?
• Looks can be deceiving
• Wait, this reminds me of the brain of every creative person I know
• Let your imagination run free, because anything is possible
• IT’S NOT A POLICE BOX!

Hunger Games

Phrase: may the odds be ever in your favor

Meanings

• The likelihood of your death is high, but we’ll say this to make you feel better
• Good luck and nice knowing you
• It’s our heartfelt desire that you avoid death at all costs

• We’re not gambling folk, but if we were, we’d have to bet against you despite our encouraging words
• Hopefully the odds are in your favor, because nothing else is

Star Wars

Phrase: the Force be with you

Meanings

• Go forth protected and strengthened…because friend, you’re gonna need it
• Sci-fi variant of the elvish saying, “May your ways be green and golden”
• Depend on invisible things to survive (air, anyone?)
• Philosophical saying used to make people sound lofty and noble
• You’re headed to a dangerous place, so hope the Force sticks around

Star Trek

Phrase: live long and prosper

Meanings

• Hope you live to be old and rich
• Have an awesome life
• I’m just gonna say this to sound philosophical and so I can do that weird V-sign with my fingers
• I’m not a Vulcan, but I’ll say this in the interest of maintaining positive intergalactic relationships
• When you finally get that sports car you’ve been wanting, don’t go wild and accidentally kill yourself

Phrase: beam me up, Scotty!

Meanings

• Get me the heck out of here RIGHT NOW
• I’ve had enough of this place—I want to go home
• They’re going to shoot me, they’re going to…ah, that’s better
• Time to let me body be dispersed into trillions of bits and then reassembled, but it’s all in a day’s work

Phrase: space…the final frontier

Meanings

• Used by earthbound explorers who still want their adventure to sound impressive
• Cue the music and look up, because a spaceship is about to zip across the sky
• Take that, Alaska
• Hey all you losers back on earth, look at us cool people doing cool stuff

Phrase: to boldly go where no man has gone before

Meanings

• I’m going on an adven—wait, am I in the right fandom?
• Exempts hobbits, elves, goblins, Martians, and all other races from obligations and duties
• This is the modern version of heading west on the Oregon Trail
• We have no idea what we’re going to encounter

Marvel Movies

Phrase: I understood that reference (The Avengers)

Meanings

• Hey look, I’ve been doing my cultural research
• I might be old and behind the times, but I can still impress you with my knowledge
• Doesn’t it feel great to know what people are talking about?
• Aren’t you proud to know that I know what you know?

Phrase: I am Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Meanings

• A catchall phrase for anything, depending on the situation
• Look at this awesome hunk of tree-ness
• Check out my extensive vocabulary
• Who needs a thesaurus?
• See? English can be simple

With these phrases in your back pocket, you’re more than equipped to tread the slippery slope of sci-fi conversation.

Which phrase is your favorite? Do you ever use any in real life? I would love to hear your thoughts.