That’s all folks!


What's the meaning of the phrase 'That's all folks'?

The catchphrase on the banner shown at the end of Looney Tunes cartoons.

What's the origin of the phrase 'That's all folks'?

The phrase was first used at the end of a 1930 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon and was spoken by the character Bosko.

This appears to have been a development of the earlier line ‘So long, folks!’, which had been used in 1929 Bosko cartoon. The Looney Tunes lines may have been influenced by a British cartoon from 1926 in the Jerry The Troublesome Tyke series. This ended with ‘And That’s All!’.

Many other characters have uttered the line since, in both the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series. Notable amongst these was Porky Pig. His stuttered ‘Th-th-th-that’s all folks!’ is the best remembered version of the line.

The voice behind many of these characters, including Porky Pig, was Mel Blanc – probably the best-known voice actor and the person who virtually invented that medium. His grave marker includes what has become one of the best-known of all epitaphs – ‘That’s All Folks’,

Trend of that ‘s all folks ! in printed material over time

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.
That’s all folks!

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