Definition:

"Bueller?"

=

"I think you are not listening to me, but you should listen to me."

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Application:

People use this expression when they address a group which they

think is not paying attention to them. "Bueller?" may be said once 

or more. It is usually said two times.

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Example:

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Professor:   “In conclusion, this bacterium, although harmful in

                             many cases, may serve some evolutionary advantage

                             as it has been present in the human digestive tract for

                             at least 10,000 years. Does anyone have any questions?

                             Um, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?"

 

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Notes: 

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1. This expression originated in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, in which a high school teacher takes the attendance of a disinterested class. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS6f1MKpLGM) (At 5 minutes and 1 second into the film.)

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2. Literature Reference: Author Cora Frazier uses this expression in an October 12th, 2015 short story for The New Yorker ("New Harlequin Titles") to describe a character who is ignored by others: "She slid out onto the deck, unobserved. She walked up to the landing on the starboard side, where she was in full view. She let the strap of her bodice slip over the curve of her pale shoulder. She let a loose brown curl fall from her chignon. 'Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?' one of the pirates said. The pirates laughed." 

(https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/new-harlequin-titles)

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3. Media Reference #1: Journalist Ben Stein uses this expression in a September 23rd, 2007 article for The New York Times ("The Great Inflation Mystery, Still Unsolved") to acknowledge that non-specialists may be confused by a technical subject: "This famous equation, MV = PT, had long been thought to explain everything, and maybe it did. But why, then, if M rose and V and T showed only modest growth, if any, didn’t P rise? (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?) No one knew." 

(https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/business/23every.html)

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4. Media Reference #2: Journalist Touré Neblett uses this expression in a January 23rd, 2008 NPR piece ("Heath Ledger, Actor, Father") to encourage the audience to care about an economics issue which impacts them: "Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?" (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18328907) (At 1 minute and 51 seconds into the broadcast.)

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5. Media Reference #3: Dean Norris's character of "Hank Schrader" uses this expression in season 2, episode 13 of the television series Breaking Bad ("ABQ") to engage his team during a briefing: "This dude was so low-rep, he never showed up on our radar. So, why am I talking about him? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?" (At 17 minutes and 6 seconds into the episode. Originally aired May 31st, 2009.)