Learn English – Austin Powers: “Oh Behave” – what does it mean

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In famous Austin Powers movie series Austin often says: "Oh behave"

What does it mean?

Best Answer

What you should realize about the Austin Powers movies that may not be immediately obvious to a non-native speaker is that the character is written by USA natives to be an exaggerated parody of a British guy from the 60's. As such, a lot of his tag lines aren't so much phrases in common use in England, but rather an American's view of phrases in common use in England in the 60's.

The general concept behind the character is that he still has the mentality of a 60's Alpha male from a James-Bond knockoff movie. In his mind the "sexual revolution" has barely begun, women exist purely for his personal gratification, and are probably just waiting for a positive signal of interest in his part to jump his bones. Any attempt to talk to him as an equal, as a modern woman would, he misconstrues as sexual interest.

So you have to keep in mind when watching those movies that in nearly every scene this is a guy who is going to be inappropriately sexual in a (to an American) cartoonishly British 60's way.

Looking at the "Oh behave" in that light, what you should see is a guy who thinks the person he's talking to is making sexual advances, and is basically saying, "Great idea for later, but we have something else we have to take care of here first."

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