‘Clueless’ at 30: The 10 Best Quotes

Clueless is the Mean Girls of the 1990s. A loose modern adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen, it’s become a classic teen comedy in the — brace yourself, Millennials — 30 years since its release. The film stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a stylish and popular girl with a wealthy family and matchmaking tendencies. The movie follows Cher as she navigates high school drama and her search for young love.

With its fashion trends and iconic catchphrases, Clueless dominated mid-1990s pop culture, especially in schools across America. You could barely take a step down the hallway without hearing one of the film’s iconic lines. Its words have since been woven into pop-culture and have become a part of our lives. It’s been 30 years, and yet we still find ourselves reciting these ten famous lines from Clueless and then laughing at them afterward.

10

“Do you prefer ‘fashion victim’ or ‘ensembley challenged?’” – Cher

Cher is the epitome of 1990s fashion. While walking through a party, she spots her rival, Amber Mariens (Elisa Donovan), wearing an outfit that Cher herself had worn just the other day.

Insulted by this copycat move, she calls Amber over, only to drop this harsh, judgmental line right to her face: “Do you prefer ‘fashion victim’ or ‘ensembley challenged?’”

Related

10 Things About Clueless You Never Knew

Even if you’ve seen the cult comedy smash Clueless a million times we guarantee there are still some buried secrets about Cher and her friends you just don’t know.

9

“She’s my friend because we both know what it’s like to have people be jealous of us.” – Cher

A queen bee is nothing without her best friend and trusty sidekick, with whom she can share gossip, complain about parents, and woo over teenage heartthrobs. In Clueless, that role is filled by Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash). In Dionne’s introduction, Cher tells us, “She’s my friend because we both know what it’s like to have people be jealous of us.” Um, not exactly the best reason or criteria for a friendship. We’re sure there’s something deeper between the two of them, even if Cher doesn’t realize it.

8

“Well, there goes your social life.” – Dionne

During gym class, Amber pulls the typical snobby rich girl move and complains about doing any physical activity. “My plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls are flying at my nose,” she says.

Dionne, looking at Amber with disapproval, then hits her with this classic line: “Well, there goes your social life.” It’s a funny, well-timed jab that sarcastically comments on the importance of high school status while oozing with sexual innuendo.

7

“I’m not a prude, I’m just highly selective.” – Cher

While dining out, Dionne jokes, “Cher is saving herself for Luke Perry.” This revelation causes another one of Cher’s friends, Tai (Brittany Murphy) to exclaim in shock, “Cher, you’re a virgin?!” But Cher coolly shrugs it off. “I mean, I’m not a prude, I’m just highly selective.”

This line probably resonates with anyone who’s involved with the painstaking, tedious process of online dating. We have a sneaky suspicion that if Cher had access to a dating app, she would be swiping left an awful lot.

6

“She’s a full-on Monet.” – Cher

Cher has nothing but mean things to say about her rival, Amber. While admiring Amber from afar, Tai wistfully asks Cher, “Do you think she’s pretty?” You can tell in Tai’s eyes that she believes the answer to be, “Yes.” But Cher has a very different and comical answer to Tai’s question. “She’s a full-on Monet. It’s like a painting, see? From far away, it’s okay. But up close, it’s a big old mess.”

Some art historians might argue that this is a very simplified explanation of Monet and his art. But for many ’90s kids, this was the extent of their education in Impressionist art.

5

“I totally paused!” – Cher

Cher excels at a number of things, like fashion, matchmaking, and popularity. But one thing she is not good at, at all, is driving. Throughout the film, we see the teenager commit many egregious driving mistakes and violations, including failing her driving test within just a few minutes. At one point, Dionne calls out Cher for driving through a stop sign. “I totally paused!” Cher replies. Uh, Cher, it’s called a stop sign for a reason.

4

“Oh my God, I’m totally buggin’.” – Cher

This one is a two-parter. At one point, Cher sets her sights on a fashion-conscious new student named Christian (Justin Walker) and is baffled when he denies her advances. Dionne’s boyfriend, Murray (Donald Faison, who would later star in the popular TV sitcom, Scrubs), laughs at Cher’s bewilderment and informs her that Christian is gay. “Uh-uh, no way, not even!” Cher refutes with a smile, a classic line from Clueless that serves as a precursor for the modern phrase, “I can’t even!”. But as the truth sets in, the smile drops from Cher’s face, and she delivers this laugh-out-loud quote: “Oh my God, I’m totally buggin’.'”

3

“You’re a virgin who can’t drive.” – Tai

This one is another two-parter. Tai is like Cher’s puppy dog; she loyally follows Cher around and worships the ground that she walks on. But we see an unexpected feisty side of Tai when Cher implies that she and her romantic interest will never work out.

With a look of death in her eyes, Tai delivers one of the harshest jabs in cinematic history: “You’re a virgin who can’t drive.” Mic drop. Stunned by her friend’s attack, Cher responds with an equally iconic line: “That was way harsh, Tai.”

Related

10 ’90s Kids Show That Have Faded Into Obscurity

These forgotten gems may or may not have been popular during the ’90s, but they certainly bring back memories.

2

“Whatever!” – Amber

Has anyone ever shaped their fingers into a “W” and hit you with a “Whatever“? If so, then you can thank Clueless for that memory. After losing a classroom debate against Cher, Amber throws up the “W” and then drops this line.

“Whatever” is one of the most iconic catchphrases in Clueless , so much so that the special edition of the film was titled, Clueless: The Whatever Edition. It’s impressive work by Amber. But unfortunately for her, it’s her rival, Cher, who owns the movie’s most famous quote.

1

“Ugh, as if.” – Cher

If you’re a fan of Clueless or grew up in the ’90s, then you knew this one was coming. The film’s most quotable and iconic line, the one that’s imprinted on the hearts of ’90s girls everywhere, are these three little words: “Ugh, as if!” Cher exclaims this after one of her high school peers grabs her in a forceful way that would probably get him canceled in today’s age.

This catchphrase immediately hit pop culture, becoming a sensation in schools across the country. It’s become synonymous with Clueless and is one of the most famous movie lines from the ’90s, helping to define an entire generation.