Paul Revere is often credited with the phrase "The British are coming," which he supposedly shouted during his famous midnight ride on April 18, 1775.

Revere embarked on a mission to warn the colonial militias about the approaching British troops heading for Lexington and Concord to confiscate military supplies. While the precise phrasing he used is a matter of debate—many historians suggest he likely said something akin to "The regulars are coming out," reflecting the colonial vernacular—his ride has come to symbolize the revolutionary fervor of the time. Revere's efforts were instrumental in preparing the militias, playing a vital role in the events that sparked the American Revolution.