Catchphrases
"You stupid boy" - his most famous line, to Pike, on average a couple of times an episode.
"Is that you, Jones?" - usually uttered when Jones has donned some outlandish disguise.
"I think you're entering the realms of fantasy here, Jones" - Often his response to some of Corporal Jones' more fanciful plans or ideas
"Ah, just waiting to see who'd be the first one to spot that" - whenever a member of the platoon makes a good suggestion that he's missed, or spots an obvious flaw in one of his plans
"Oh, there's no time for that sort of thing" - Usually to Wilson if his deputy is pointing out that permission ought to be obtained first.
"Hello...Elizabeth" - When answering the calls from his wife Elizabeth, in an almost sheepish and low voice.
"Don't be absurd" - Usually in response to a statement that contradicts Mainwaring's delicate British sensibilities.
"Come away Wilson" - Always in response to one of Hodge's tantrums.
"Let's not have any of that sort of talk here" - Whenever a member of the platoon makes a comment even slightly criticizing the British or a positive comment about the Germans.
"Good, good" - When told some bad or distressing news which he, at first, does not recognise or comprehend.
"This is war, you know!" - Usually spoken to a platoon member (usually Wilson or Godfrey) whenever an aspect about the war is trivialised.
"That's a typical shabby Nazi trick!"
"We're not savages, we're British!" - Mainwaring uses this remark when a member of the Platoon attempts some sort of vandalism or damage to achieve a goal. An example is in Menace from the Deep where the Platoon are trapped on a pier overnight with no food. Mainwaring makes the Platoon win the chocolate from a machine fairly when breaking the glass would allow them easy and convenient access to the only nutrition available to them.
"Stop talking in the ranks!" - said when Mainwaring wants silence.
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