Nancy Pelosi House speaker Democrats leadership.

Nancy Pelosi is bringing her history-making career in the U.S. House to an end, but she leaves a linguistic legacy in Congress and beyond. The turns of phrases she uses — her Pelosi-isms — endure. “Throw a punch, for the children.” “Know your Why.” In Thursday’s video announcement that she will not seek reelection, Pelosi called on the San Francisco voters who first sent her to Washington to “Know your power.” As the Democratic Party is hungry for new leaders, the words she used over the years may provide touchstones for the next generation. Pelosi, now the speaker emerita, spoke to The Associated Press this summer in Washington.