Where's the Beef?

The phrase was originally spoken by actress Clara Peller in a television commerical for the Wendy's chain of hamburger resturaunts. After receiving a competitor's burger, the small patty prompts the gruff Peller to angrily exclaim "Where's the beef?!"

The humorous ad and Peller's memorable character soon gave the catchphrase a life of its own, and was repeated ad nauseum in countless TV shows, films, magazines, and other media outlets.

In the 1984 United States Democratic Party primary, former Vice President Walter Mondale even used the phrase against his opponent, Congressman Gary Hart when he stated that Hart's policies made him wonder "Where's the beef?"