Wheel of Fortune Quotes

Context

This famous line is spoken by contestants on the game show Wheel of Fortune (nighttime version from 1983 – present).

In case you've been living under a really boring rock that doesn't have a TV (you need to find a new rock), Wheel of Fortune is a game show version of hangman in which contestants spin a wheel and guess letters in a puzzle.

A long time ago, Pat Sajak was nice, Vanna White actually turned letters, and contestants didn't get to keep the money they won on the wheel. They had to spend it at the Shoppers' Bazaar on furniture, drapes, tiny televisions, and spotted Dalmatian statues.

Now, the only thing contestants have to spend their money on is vowels. Vowels—A, E, I, O, U, and never Y—cost $250. So when a contestant has enough money, and needs a hint on the puzzle, they say "I'd like to buy vowel," and buy one. 

Easier than clicking "Buy It Now" on Amazon.

Where you've heard it

You hear this phrase if you ever meet someone with no vowels in their name (nice to meet you, Kymbyll; you will never be president), or if you're vacationing in Bwlchgwyn, Wales.

If you hear it on Jeopardy!, you're on the wrong game show, and you failed to phrase your answer in the form of a question.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Vowels are a bargain, and you're pretentious (and a terrible Wheel player) if you're not buying them. Vowels have always cost $250, ever since the primetime version of the show in 1983. Adjusted for inflation, a vowel today would cost $586.61.