The Archive

Etymology Journal · K

Keep the change, ya filthy animal

Meaning

A comedic way to tell someone to keep a small amount of money or to dismiss them with a flourish. It is a pop culture reference used when feeling particularly fed up or cheeky.

Funny, irreverent

Used in a sentence

  • When the delivery guy offered my change back, I laughed and said keep the change ya filthy animal.
  • I tipped the valet extra and muttered keep the change ya filthy animal.
  • The kids were arguing over a nickel so I told them to keep the change ya filthy animal.

The backstory

This is a direct quote from the 1990 film Home Alone. It has become a permanent fixture of holiday-themed dad humor.

Heard in

Nationwide

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