Foghorn Leghorn Sayings

During the Golden Age of American animation, some Foghorn Leghorn sayings became very popular. Foghorn was opinionated, full-of-himself, and yet, endearing. He loved a good practical joke, too. Foghorn Leghorn sayings and his attitude are still funny today. Let look at some of them.

Foghorn Leghorn Sayings

During Foghorn’s career, many of his catch phrases came from a character on the Fred Allen radio show. When the cartoons first aired, many people understood the reference to Senator Claghorn, who was a Southern politician. If you are young, you will enjoy these Foghorn Leghorn sayings. If you are older, you can stroll down memory lane and enjoy the memories and laughs.

One-liners:

• Nice girl, but about as sharp as a sack of wet mice.
• He's about as sharp as a bowling ball.
• Any of this getting through that little old blue bonnet of yours.
• Course you know this means war.
• Fortunately I always carry a spare set of feathers.
• Gal reminds me of the highway between Forth Worth and Dallas - no curves.
• I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.
• Looks like the boy genius is tryin' to show me up.
• Nice boy but he's got more nerve than a bum tooth.
• Now let me know when I come to something that interests you.
• Now looka, I say looka here.
• Oh, that woman, got a mouth like an outboard motor.
• Scared - who me - course I'm not squared.
• Smart boy, got a mind like a steel trap - full of mice.
• That boy's as strong as an ox, and just about as smart.
• That dog's as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrrel of oat meal.
• This boy's more mixed up than a feather in a whirlwind.
• What in the name of Jesse James do you suppose that is.
• What in the world's that hen up to now.
• What's the big idea bashing me on the noggin with a rolling pin.
• Who's responsible for this unwarranted attack on my person.
• You just know I'm gonna do something about this.
• You know, there just might be a market for bottled duck.

One-liners spoken to “the boy”

• Boy, you cover about as much as a flapper's skirt in a high wind.
• You'd like that, wouldn't you boy.
• Put that egghead book down boy.
• I say, boy, pay attention when I'm talkin' to ya, boy.
• Pay attention to me boy! I'm not just talkin' to hear my head roar.
• That's what I've been - I say, that's what I've been telling you, boy!
• Go, I say go away boy, you bother me.
• What's all the whoopin' and hollerin about, boy.
• Now cut that out boy, or I'll spank you where the feathers are thinnest.
• Now that's no way for a kid to be wastin his time, readin' that long-haired gobbledegook.

Classic dialogues:

Foghorn Leghorn: Let me guess, dearie. You're looking for a husband. 

Prissy: Yes! 

Foghorn Leghorn: Well, you're going about it the wrong way, sister. You don't bat 'em on the bean with a rolling pin. That comes later.

Foghorn Leghorn: Looky here, son, I'm no loud-mouthed schnook. 

[Hits dog as he talks] 

Foghorn Leghorn: This is a dog, not a chicken. Chickens don't look like dogs. Who told you this was a chicken, son? Nice boy, but doesn't listen to a thing you say. You got a bum steer, son. I'm a chicken, not a schnook. You're wrong, son.

Lookit here son, I say son, did ya see that hawk after those hens? He scared 'em! That Rhode Island Red turned white. Then blue. Rhode Island. Red, white, and blue. That's a joke, son. A flag waver. You're built too low. The fast ones go over your head. Ya got a hole in your glove. I keep pitchin' 'em and you keep missin' 'em. Ya gotta keep your eye on the ball. Eye. Ball. I almost had a gag, son. Joke, that is.

Okay, I'll shut up. Some fellas have to keep their tongues flappin' but not me. I was brought up right. My pa used to tell me to shut up and I'd shut up. I wouldn't say nothin'. One time darn near starved to death. WOULDN'T TELL HIM I WAS HUNGRY!!  

Foghorn J. Leghorn

Now that you have read most of the Foghorn Leghorn sayings that he is famous for, perhaps you would like to read about his animated life. This loud, outspoken character first appeared as a guest for Henery Hawk in the 1946 Warner Brothers cartoon Walky Talky Hawky. From 1946 to 1963, he starred in 28 cartoons, all of which were directed by Robert McKimson. 

Foghorn Leghorn was an adult rooster from Kentucky with a “gold ol’ boy attitude.  He also liked to play pranks of the other characters. He had an on-going rivalry with Barnyard Dawg as they often tried to get the better of each other. There was a character, a weasel named Bill, who joined him in aggravating the dog. Another character was Henery Hawk, who occasionally tried to catch and eat Foghorn.  Lastly, Foghorn tried to win the affections of a widowed hen named Miss Prissy, which sometimes meant watching over her son, Egghead, Jr.