“On October 3, he asked me what day it was. It’s October 3rd.” A mere five seconds in the classic teen comedy has become synonymous with the 2004 flick — even leading to October 3 becoming “Mean Girls” day among millennials who fell in love with the Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams-led movie. 

Providing commentary on the high school experience — and the complex social dynamics that define such hallway happenings and cafeteria crises — the film traversed themes of self-acceptance, friendship and betrayal, conformity vs. individuality… all while maintaining a comedic and oft-heartfelt tone. Now, almost twenty years later, the film still significantly reflects the early 2000s zeitgeist. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look back on some of the film’s most iconic quotes. 

“On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”

A symbol of exclusivity, wearing pink on Wednesdays was not merely an aesthetic choice, it was a demonstration of The Plastics’ social status and superiority. The choice merely emphasized the ridiculous nature of maintaining clique status, satirizing the very arbitrary high school standards The Plastics held dear. Though not necessarily an intentional homage to Grease, we can’t help but connect this to the Pink Ladies of the 1978 film. Both groups had fashion choices that functioned as emblems of their social exclusivity. 

“That’s so fetch.”

All Gretchen wants to do is make fetch happen, but Regina refuses to allow her vernacular hopes and dreams to come to fruition. Ironically, fetch went on to become quite the popular phrase from the movie — used in a sort of playful, inauthentic manner. Today, it’s mostly used when directly referencing the film.  

“You can’t sit with us!”

There are rules to sitting at The Plastics’ lunch table. Break them. You are out. Not a member of The Plastics? You’re not welcome in the first place. The line went on to become quite the commonly uttered phrase among friend groups when teasing one another. Once again, it was about exclusivity, but it was so ridiculous in nature that it was hard not to mock in everyday situations. 

“She doesn’t even go here!”

Damian says this during the school assembly when an adolescent wants to contribute to the trust fall exercise, bearing her soul to the student body, even though she doesn’t attend North Shore High. He’s somewhat disguised in a hoodie and a big pair of black sunglasses and utters this phrase with a deepened, dismissive tone. It’s perfect. It’s, not to overuse this word, iconic. The line has since become a go-to phrase when commenting on anyone’s presence at a venue they don’t normally attend or seemingly don’t belong at. Again though, it’s normally (we like to hope) employed with a sense of harmless fun, as opposed to the actual tinge of bitterness that lies beneath Damian’s declaration.

“It’s like I have ESPN or something.” 

Oh Karen, how we love you so. You’re not the brightest in the bunch, but at least your heart is normally in the right place. Karen says this, meaning “ESP,” but her lack of such general knowledge only adds to the humorous depiction of her dimwitted characterization. 

Boo, you whore!”

Regina says this line on the phone when speaking with Karen who pretends to be sick (cue terribly unrealistic cough) to avoid going out. Now, it’s a perfectly quippy go-to whenever a friend denies an activity or does anything mildly disappointing. 

“I’m not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.” 

Who could forget Amy Poehler’s memorable take on Mrs. George, Regina’s mother, in Mean Girls? With total obliviousness to inappropriate behavior and a desire to be her daughter’s bestie, as opposed to her mother, Mrs. George declares herself a “cool mom —” only adding to her very uncool, try-hard persona. 

“So you agree, you think you’re really pretty?”

When Regina confronts Cady regarding her appearance —  following a compliment solely designed to trap her formerly homeschooled prey — it’s clear that she wants to make Cady look like a narcissist. Regina will do anything to maintain her top-dog status, and she will manipulate and con her way into making others doubt themselves. It’s a ploy that shows Regina’s ruthless social snaking. We don’t approve of the messaging here, but, it’s nonetheless, one of the movie’s signature moments for it, out of the gate, defines Regina and sets expectations for her character moving forward. 

“I want my pink shirt back!”

Another Damian classic, he utters this line while angrily driving away with Janis, who just finished scolding Cady for becoming a “Mean Girl” herself. While Damian is complicit in Janis’ plan to take down the pink-clad crew, he seems to admire their ruthless exclusivity and sickening superiority with a slight tinge of longing and admiration. He lends Cady a shirt for Wednesdays and, well now, he wants it back. She doesn’t deserve his clothing anymore. Huff. Puff. Drive away.

“The limit does not exist!” 

Cady reclaims her mathematic proclivity and helps her school win the mathlete competition when she solves this problem. It’s a quick moment that underscores Cady reclaiming her individuality — and all the quirks and qualities that go along with that — whether or not they’re cool (does fetch work here?) in the typical sense of the word. 

And on that note, “Get in loser, we’re going shopping” to celebrate the holiday. Pink anyone?