There is a book called the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations, which is updated and republished every few years.

On August 27^th 2007 the Belfast Telegraph ran an article about some of the people that were going to be in the latest edition – which I think is this one here (3^rd edition, released August 23^rd 2007).

Jimmy Carr (listed as “Irish Comedian”) had been added in with:

On your way out be aware of women and children – they tend to slow you down.

I’m not sure whether the actual book gives the background to this – but I had just happened to have recently read some press relating to the Edinburgh Festival, August 2006.

Jimmy had played the EICC for 6 nights (17-19^th and 24^th to 26^th) on his Gag Reflex tour (see here).

At one of these shows the fire alarm had gone off and everyone had had to leave the hall and, before confirming that they had to leave, he had made the above joke.

This dictionary edition covers 20^th and 21^st century quotes from modern culture, politics and media but of all the jokes Jimmy’s told / things he’s said the choice of this one puzzles me as it would only be recognisable to the 2,000 people in that audience.

Entries for other comedians are more understandable as lots of people would recognise Peter Kay’s “Garlic bread” or Little Britain’s “Yeah but, no but” because of their exposure through TV shows.