The phrase comes from Star Trek, where Captain Kirk would ask chief engineer Montgomery Scott, nicknamed Scotty, to transport him back to the Enterprise using the ship's transporter. The exact wording Beam Me Up Scotty became a popular catchphrase through repeats, parodies, and references far beyond the original television series, even becoming a general expression for wanting an instant escape. It spread through sci-fi fandom, comedy sketches, and later memes and soundboards, where the short line is now used whenever someone disappears or wants to leave a scene immediately.