It's a good sign that a line from a movie is great when people quote it without even knowing where it came from. "You're killing me, Smalls" is a great example. It's a common thing for people to say in frustration, and everyone knows what it means. Yet, its origins from the classic coming-of-age movie, The Sandlot, may not be quite as well known as the phrase itself.

Released in 1993, The Sandlot follows the quiet and sheltered Scotty Smalls as he tries to make friends after moving to a town where baseball is all the rage. However, there's one small problem: Scotty can't throw or catch a ball, and the local group of boys laughs when he proves his obvious inability. Scotty tries to learn with his stepfather, only to get a black eye from their unsuccessful practice session.

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Where 'You're Killin' Me, Smalls' Is Mentioned in The Sandlot

A group shot of The Sandlot's baseball team

As The Sandlot progresses, Scotty's friends teach him about baseball and many other things, which often leaves catcher Hamilton 'Ham' Porter exasperated with the boy's inability to handle himself. On one particular occasion, Ham asks Scotty if he wants a s'more. In response, Scotty responds, "S'more what?" After some back and forth, it's clear that Scotty has never heard of a s'more, to which Ham says in obvious frustration, "You're killing me, Smalls."

A similar situation happens when Scotty is offered some chewing tobacco at a fair. In confusion, he asks, "What do you do with it?" Once again, Ham is put out by Scotty's lack of knowledge and says the iconic line for a second time in the film. Nevertheless, Scotty is accepted into the boys' group and gets better and better at baseball. By the end of the film, he hits his first home run. That, however, causes its own set of problems.

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Ham's Sandlot Catchphrase Achieved Surprising Fame

Ham from Sandlot puts his arm in the air while holding a baseball bat

Patrick Renna is the child actor who famously said the ubiquitous phrase, "You're killing me, Smalls." Clearly, he must have conveyed Ham's frustration well because the line has found its way into the official English lexicon. Dictionary.com defines the phrase as a "general expression of exasperation," and there is a similar definition in the Urban Dictionary.

"You're killing me, Smalls" has definitely defined Renna's career. While some might be upset that such a simple line has stuck with them for decades, Renna doesn't seem to mind. He even went on record to say, "The cool thing about it is when people say it, it just means I did my job as an actor, and there's something so lasting that has been part of so many people's lives that you can't help but be honored and flattered by it." What's astounding about it all is that, according to The Sandlot cast, the line was improvised while filming. Sometimes, inspiration swings and knocks it out of the park.