Where does the phrase "Sit down, you're making me nervous" come from?
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trumi (
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April 18th, 2010
Throughout my life, my father has often said “Sit down, you’re making me nervous.” At the moment I’m watching Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep and he just said that (about 84 mins in) in the same fashion. That got me thinking, “where does this expression come from?”
After reading a few internet posts, I’ve discovered that it was also used in the 1993 film Benny and Joon, and also that this is a semi-common saying, at least in the Mid-West. Both of those facts point to the idea that this could have originated with Bogart (or one of the four writers responsible). My father has probably seen the film, but would most likely not remember whether or not he picked the line up there.
Have you used/heard this? Do you have a usage prior to 1946 or some other idea about it’s inception?
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10 Answers
I use it. Because when people pace… it makes me nervous. I didn’t pick it up from anywhere as a saying.
Hmm…interesting question. I know I’ve said it, and people have said it to me. You got me thinking! :)
I don’t think you have to have seen a movie to feel the need to say it to someone. People who pace or fidget communicate their nervous energy to others and it is unsettling. “So sit the hell down, you’re rubbing your nervous tension off on me.” Or if you prefer the short version, “Sit down, you’re making me nervous!”
Or natural variations, such as, “Stop fidgeting,” or “Stop slouching.” It may be simply common parlance or common sense.
My father used to nag me regularly about my fidgeting and slouching. Needless to say, it made me more of a nervous wreck in his presence than I had been.
I think it’s a natural occurrence. The same goes for when everyone in the room is sitting and you’re standing, it makes other people uncomfortable.
I say it all the time, because it does make me nervous. Some people need to relax otherwise it makes me anxious!
I recall the Three Stooges saying that often.
If a discussion is becoming heated, you don’t want to be sitting and have someone standing over you. It can be regarded as threatening.
If you watch benny & joon with the subtitles on, when she says “sit down son, you’re making me nervous” it says ‘immitating mae west’ above the subtitles… so the screenwriter must have meant for it to relate to Mae West in some way.
Same thing for me. My dad (1915–76) used it on me all the time. Thanks for doing the research. Bogey was huge to him. Peace.
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