Context

This line is from the song "Mamma Mia," written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson from the album ABBA (1975).

Unless you just happen to be a fan of Swedish pop acts from the 1970s, you might know this song best from the musical Mamma Mia! The song is all about a woman who's run into an ex-lover who's just no good for her. The problem is, she just can't resist him. Darn.

Hey, we've all been there. The main chorus is kind of a cry for help. The lady's totally exasperated—"mamma mia!"—why can't she ditch this jerk? She knows he's cheated her and broken her heart, but she also knows she misses him and she's gonna go back. In the end, she just can't resist him.

Hey, love's mysterious like that.

Where you've heard it

This quote is also a world famous musical and a pretty popular exclamation—so those are two places you've definitely heard "mamma mia!"

Additional Notable References:

• The title of this song is also the name of the ABBA-inspired musical about a young girl trying to figure out which of the three guys her mom slept with is her biological dad. Mamma mia, indeed.
• The song is also featured in the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

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.

Getting back with an ex-lover is tough enough without people saying you're pretentious. You go ahead and quote ABBA and grab some tissues. You do you right now!