To Holden, a phony is not simply a liar. "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life," Holden says. "It's awful." He uses the term for people who try too hard to fit in.

Holden looked at his watch. Noticeably but not too noticeably. He never wanted to hurt Leon, who was doing his best, more's the pity. "Geez," he said, "Wouldya look at the time!

Holden returns to an apartment on E 71st and Fifth Avenue, ... and he even calls Ernie the piano player a "phony" ... and it spawned the book's most famous quote.