Mama Mia, that's a spicy meatball.

The line is best known as a catchphrase from American popular culture rather than a traditional proverb. It is commonly associated with mid‑20th‑century Italian‑American caricature in comedy and advertising, where exaggerated Italian exclamations (“mamma mia”) were paired with food-related punchlines. The phrase circulated widely in the U.S. as a humorous reaction to unexpectedly strong seasoning or heat, and it later persisted through re-use in sketches, commercials, and casual imitation. Because it spread primarily through performance and repetition rather than a single attributable text, it is often credited to “Anonymous,” though it likely has a specific media origin that is frequently misremembered.

Often used as a comic exclamation, the line plays on exaggerated Italian-American stereotypes (“mamma mia”) and the incongruity of treating an ordinary food item as dramatically intense (“a spicy meatball”). In modern usage it functions less as a literal comment on food than as a humorous reaction to any situation that feels suddenly heated, chaotic, or over-the-top. Its staying power comes from its punchy rhythm and broad recognizability as a pop-culture catchphrase, making it a shorthand for mock alarm or playful astonishment rather than a serious statement.