In the rich history of television sitcoms, few characters have assaulted the English language with the poetic, unintentional genius of Sunnyvale Trailer Park’s own Ricky Lafleur.
Portrayed with chaotic conviction by Robb Wells across 12 seasons, countless specials, and movies of Trailer Park Boys, Ricky possesses a brain wired for supreme confidence matched with profound linguistic confusion. His legendary verbal blunders—officially christened by comedy fans as “Rickyisms”—are not simple typos or slips of the tongue. They are phonetically brilliant, subconscious mashups of idioms, pop-culture clichés, and everyday logic.
Following our guide to Canadian slang in Letterkenny and our deep dive into Australian colloquialisms in Colin from Accounts, Rickyisms have transcended Canadian television to become permanent fixtures of internet meme culture.
Here is the definitive ranking of the 15 funniest Rickyisms in Trailer Park Boys history, ranked by linguistic creativity, delivery, and timeless hilarity.
The 15 Funniest Rickyisms at a Glance
★ 1. "Worst case Ontario" (Worst-case scenario)
★ 2. "Get two birds stoned at once" (Kill two birds with one stone)
★ 3. "It's not rocket appliances" (It's not rocket science)
★ 4. "Water under the fridge" (Water under the bridge)
★ 5. "Passed with flying carpets" (Passed with flying colors)
★ 6. "Supply and command" (Supply and demand)
★ 7. "What goes around is all around" (What goes around comes around)
★ 8. "Survival of the fitness, boys" (Survival of the fittest)
★ 9. "Friends with the Benedicts" (Friends with benefits)
★ 10. "Beauty is in the eye of the hold-her" (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
★ 11. "Denial and error" (Trial and error)
★ 12. "Make my words" (Mark my words)
★ 13. "Peach 'n cake" (Piece of cake)
★ 14. "Sweet-empowered chicken" (Sweet and sour chicken)
★ 15. "Good things come to those at the gate" (Good things come to those who wait)
1. “Worst Case Ontario”
- Actual Idiom: Worst-case scenario.
- The Context: Season 2, Episode 2.
- The Delivery: Facing imminent police scrutiny, Ricky reassures Julian: “Worst case Ontario, we just cancel the mobile home and find another spot.”
- Why It’s #1: Replacing a Latin-derived psychological phrase (“scenario”) with Canada’s most populous province is the crown jewel of Canadian comedy. It rolls off Ricky’s tongue so smoothly that first-time viewers frequently don’t even catch the error until Julian blinks in utter disbelief.
2. “Get Two Birds Stoned at Once”
- Actual Idiom: Kill two birds with one stone.
- The Philosophy: Rather than the violent act of throwing stones at birds, Ricky’s mind naturally pivots toward cannabis relaxation.
- Why It Works: It is arguably the most quoted line in the entire franchise. It solves two problems simultaneously while staying completely true to Ricky’s worldview.
3. “It’s Not Rocket Appliances”
- Actual Idiom: It’s not rocket science.
- The Logic: Ricky merges “rocket science” with kitchen appliances (microwaves, toasters), creating a brand-new field of culinary aerospace engineering.
- The Usage: Whenever Bubbles or Julian overcomplicate an illegal scheme, Ricky barks back that understanding electricity or plumbing isn’t difficult: “Look, Julian, it doesn’t take rocket appliances to figure out how to wire a trailer.”
4. “Water Under the Fridge”
- Actual Idiom: Water under the bridge.
- The Sunnyvale Reality: Bridges are majestic architectural crossings; refrigerators in trailer parks frequently leak mysterious puddles of condensation onto linoleum floors. To Ricky, past grievances are simply puddles that you sweep under the fridge and forget about forever.
5. “Passed with Flying Carpets”
- Actual Idiom: Passed with flying colors.
- The Context: Ricky attempting to brag about his Grade 10 high-school equivalency examination.
- The Humor: Rather than naval signal flags (“flying colors”), Ricky imagines a magical Arabian carpet soaring through the examination hall.
6. “Supply and Command”
- Actual Idiom: Supply and demand.
- The Economics: In high-school economics, market forces determine prices. In Sunnyvale, Ricky supplies stolen patio furniture and commands local residents to purchase it. It is basic capitalist authoritarianism at its finest.
7. “What Goes Around Is All Around”
- Actual Idiom: What goes around comes around.
- The Delivery: Ricky trying to explain the universal concept of karmic retribution to park supervisor Jim Lahey. By changing “comes around” to “is all around,” Ricky accidentally turns karma into a localized atmospheric fog of chaos.
8. “Survival of the Fitness, Boys”
- Actual Idiom: Survival of the fittest.
- Darwinian Revision: Ricky trying to explain evolutionary biology while smoking in the front seat of his doorless Chrysler New Yorker (“The Shitmobile”). In Ricky’s mind, nature rewards those who do push-ups and eat pepperoni sticks.
9. “Friends with the Benedicts”
- Actual Idiom: Friends with benefits.
- The Culinary Twist: Mashing modern casual dating terminology with classic Eggs Benedict breakfast sauce.
10. “Beauty Is in the Eye of the Hold-Her”
- Actual Idiom: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- The Romantic Logic: To Ricky, aesthetic appreciation is strictly physical and tactile: whoever is holding the woman gets to decide if she’s pretty.
11. “Denial and Error”
- Actual Idiom: Trial and error.
- The Criminal Truth: When a scheme fails, most people use trial and error. Ricky uses complete denial of responsibility, followed by repeating the exact same error five minutes later.
12. “Make My Words”
- Actual Idiom: Mark my words.
- The Warning: Ricky pointing an aggressive finger at Trevor and Cory, commanding them to remember his proclamation: “Make my words, boys, we are getting that money back.”
13. “Peach ‘n Cake”
- Actual Idiom: Piece of cake (mixed with “peachy keen”).
- The Confectionery Hybrid: A task so effortless that it combines the ease of sliced fruit with birthday dessert.
14. “Sweet-Empowered Chicken”
- Actual Idiom: Sweet and sour chicken.
- The Chinese Takeout Order: Ricky attempting to order dinner over a walkie-talkie, turning standard takeout poultry into a feminist culinary revolution.
15. “Good Things Come to Those at the Gate”
- Actual Idiom: Good things come to those who wait.
- The Sunnyvale Philosophy: Patience isn’t about time; it’s about waiting by the security gate at the front entrance of the trailer park for the weed delivery van to arrive.
Rickyisms Master Translation Table
| Rickyism | Intended Saying | Primary Sunnyvale Theme |
|---|---|---|
| “Worst case Ontario” | Worst-case scenario | Canadian geography & legal panic |
| “Two birds stoned at once” | Kill two birds with one stone | Multitasking & cannabis culture |
| “Rocket appliances” | Rocket science | Technical repairs & appliances |
| “Water under the fridge” | Water under the bridge | Forgiving grudges & leaking kitchens |
| “Supply and command” | Supply and demand | Black-market business economics |
| “Survival of the fitness” | Survival of the fittest | Evolutionary theory & street smarts |
| “Denial and error” | Trial and error | Police interrogations & courtrooms |
| “Friends with Benedicts” | Friends with benefits | Romance & breakfast condiments |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a “Rickyism” in Trailer Park Boys?
A “Rickyism” is a malapropism spoken by the character Ricky (Robb Wells) on Trailer Park Boys, where two common sayings, idioms, or similar-sounding words are humorously blended together with total confidence.
Did Robb Wells improvise Rickyisms?
While the writing team (including Mike Clattenburg, Robb Wells, and John Paul Tremblay) scripted many iconic phrases, Wells frequently improvised malapropisms on set. The key to the comedy was delivering each line without breaking character or acknowledging the linguistic error.
What was the first famous Rickyism?
“Worst case Ontario” from Season 2 is widely considered the breakthrough Rickyism that codified the trope into a permanent staple of Canadian comedy history.
Where can I stream Trailer Park Boys?
All 12 original seasons of Trailer Park Boys, along with animated seasons, holiday specials, and spin-off series, are available to stream globally on Netflix.