Ever met my mom, The Bevinator? If you had, you’d instantly know all of her distinct, noteworthy catchphrases—of which there were many. To this day, I often find myself peppering in the occasional Bev-ism, mainly because after 40+ years of hearing them, they’re engrained in my essence.

Here now—my Top 5 Fave Bev-isms:

5) “Who are you? The big butter and egg man from Adel?” This was my mom’s go-to line if you ever dropped a humblebrag around her. My mom worked hard for everything she had (and would be the first to tell you of that fact). If you were boastful in any way, The Bevinator would put you in your place. Turns out, there was a gentlemen who owned both a chicken farm and dairy farm in Adel, Iowa. I guess he was kind of a big deal back in the day—at least in Mom’s eyes. Want to strive for greatness? Better plan on surpassing the aforementioned butter and egg dude. His success was the barometer by which all other success was measured. #thebevinatorisnotimpressed

4) “One, two, three, drop where you be.” Mom was notorious for putting the aggressive in passive-aggressive. If there were a kingdom, she’d be the ruler of the Land of Passiva Aggressiva, and “one, two, three” would be her battle cry. Why? Because I was notorious for leaving my “crap” strung throughout the house. I was a slovenly teenager and a sloppy 20-something. Today, I’m a bit of a neatnik. (Thanks, Mom.) I remember dozens of times she’d bellow that line before picking up said rogue item that I’d left misplaced and hurl it in my direction. Clothes were fine. Tennis rackets would hurt like hell.

3) “Asshole!” The Bevinator was never a dainty flower. She was more like a Venus Flytrap and if you were in her crosshairs, she’d devour you whole. Mom didn’t swear much, but to her everyone was somehow an asshole. She’d yell “asshole” to a reporter on TV. She’d yell “asshole” to someone going too slow, too fast or driving the wrong color car. Asshole was her go-to word of annoyance, and she could utilize it as a verb, noun, adjective or dangling participle. Don’t ask me how. #thebevinatorthinksyoureanasshole

2) “Hoo-Hoo!” Standard greetings are for losers. Mom would always her announce her arrival by lilting her low-pitched voice into a high-pitched, singsong voice and belting “who-who” when walking in someone’s house. Doorbell? Mom didn’t need no stinkin’ doorbells—all she needed was a door handle. Many of my family members still use this trait to this day. Only recently has it stopped scaring the hell out of me. (And no, before you ask, she didn’t yell “yoo-hoo”—because that would have been trite.)

1) “WHOABOB!” or “WHOAKAY!” or “WHOATOM!” If Mom wanted to get your attention, she’d usually bark out your name. If, God forbid, you didn’t answer, she would then precede your name with a hearty WHOA! Normally, “whoa” is used when trying to get someone to cease and/or desist. For The Bevinator, “whoa” meant “you-better-listen-the-hell-up-before-I-knock-your-block-off”. If your name had two or more syllables, she couldn’t be bothered. Instead of Karen, she’d boom “WHOAKARE!” If she didn’t know your name (or didn’t care), she’d holler “WHOAYOU!”—which had a multi-purpose, near-universal use.

Tomorrow, Mom would have turned 83 and chances are she would have used most if not all her Bev-isms. Her euphemisms still ring out in my head and I often find myself utilizing them at the most inopportune times. True story—once Ashton Kutcher was yammering on about himself in an interview I had with him and I said, “Well, aren’t you the big butter and egg man from Adel!?!” And he said, “I’m from Iowa! I think I know that guy.”

I told my mom that amusing exchange, and she said, “What an asshole.”