It’s that man again


What's the meaning of the phrase 'It's that man again'?

The full title of the popular 1940s BBC radio comedy – ITMA.

What's the origin of the phrase 'It's that man again'?

The title derived from newspaper references to Adolf Hitler. The show became very popular and after a while the ‘man’ of It’s That Man Again came to be thought of as Tommy Handley, the lead actor. The show made heavy use of catchphrases, some of which have been assimilated into the language:

“I don’t mind if I do” (From the comic device where Colonel Chinstrap invariably turned remarks into offers of a drink.)
“After you, Claude – no, After you Cecil.”
“TTFN” (Ta ta for now.)

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.