abby-normal

Status
Not open for further replies.

IQU3838

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Taiwan
Current Location
Taiwan
Hi there

Would anyone help me with this phrase: abby-normal

I have googled and knew it is from a movie, but still don't know what it exactly mean?

The context of my sentence is like that:

A: I wonder why his magic doesn't work on Jenny?
B: Because she is abby-normal.

Thank you for your kind help.
 
One of my favorite movies of all time, Young Frankenstein, had a scene with Abby Normal. Igor was sent for the brain of a genius, but he dropped it, so he got another. He couldn't read, so the fact that it was "abnormal" was not clear to him. When it became clear that the brain was not actually that of the genius, he admitted it was from someone else. Ab... abby.. Abby Normal.

It's entered common vernacular. It's just a funny way to say "abnormal."

She's not normal.
 
Aha. - Perhaps that's where Abby in NCIS got her name... :?:;-)

b

PS: I know the character's called Abigail, and 'Abby''s a common abbreviation for that name. What I mean is that the writers chose the name as an homage to YF.
 
She's my daughter's idol. There are far worse things to be an homage to!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top