What phrase does Bugs Bunny often say while munching a carrot?

While munching a carrot, Bugs Bunny often says, “What’s up, Doc?”

The line became Bugs Bunny’s signature greeting, especially when he calmly chews a carrot while an adversary reacts with confusion or anger. Director Tex Avery wrote it for A Wild Hare, the 1940 short generally regarded as Bugs Bunny’s official debut in his familiar form. Mel Blanc supplied the character’s voice.

The carrot-chewing mannerism also has a famous film connection. Several Warner Bros. directors recalled being inspired by a scene in Frank Capra’s 1934 comedy It Happened One Night, in which Clark Gable’s character talks while eating a carrot. Bugs’s relaxed delivery and comic confidence helped turn the borrowed visual idea into a defining character trait.

“What’s up, Doc?” is sometimes confused with catchphrases belonging to other Looney Tunes characters. “I tawt I taw a puddy tat!” is associated with Tweety, “Sufferin’ succotash!” with Sylvester, and “That’s all, folks!” most strongly with Porky Pig. The word “doc” originally functioned as a casual form of address, much like “dude.”