There were flailing limbs, zippy one-liners and plenty of intense television-camera stare downs as Stephen Harper, Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May faced off in the first leaders' debate of the 2015 campaign.

While the leaders' sparred, people took to Twitter to highlight the best and worst moments of the debate.

Almost as soon as the debate began, people started commenting on the leaders' body movements. Many tweeted about how the leaders were staring down the television cameras.

Though Harper and Trudeau were also guilty of camera staring, Mulcair might have gotten the most online reaction

The meme possibilities in this debate are huge. Harper's cut-eye, Mulcair's bug eyes. Do your thing, Internet. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a>. —@TeachRandom

Thomas Mulcair has been taught to 'smile with his eyes' And when he does it's terrifying. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canpoli?src=hash">#canpoli</a> <a href="http://t.co/ElnyyUwcpk">pic.twitter.com/ElnyyUwcpk</a> —@UinvitedU

Mulcair keeps smiling with his eyes and it makes me worry he will strangle me <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@markcritch

Others wondered why Trudeau was using his arms to talk so much.

why are trudeaus hands moving so much... he literally looks like he is waving away flies. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@MorganCrockett

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> somebody tie down Trudeaus hands, making me nauseated —@JosephSears1

Trudeau has been doing to much boxing, he's moving his hands too much <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@tehWrightstuff

Harper and 'Let's be clear'

Each of the leaders' had signature quips they brought out many times throughout the debate. Conservative leader Harper is already well-known for using the phrase, "Let's be clear." Some decided to create a drinking game out of it.

And for tonight's drinking game... every time someone says, "Let's be clear" - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@MKutney

"Let's be clear!" #8 Everybody drink! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@WayeMason

That "let's be clear" thing is a real verbal crutch for Harper. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@RosieBarton

"Let's be very clear,'' says <a href="https://twitter.com/pmharper">@pmharper</a>, ramping up his "let's be clears" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@nutgraf1

Others used the phrase to poke fun at moderator Paul Wells.

Let's be clear...this moderator sounds like a real party animal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@ChristaMarshal1

May started off many of her rebuttals by saying, 'With all due respect' … but Twitter users pointed out that didn't necessarily mean 'respect.'

"With all due respect" = I'm about to insult you. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leadersdebate?src=hash">#leadersdebate</a> —@zachristy

Love the line by <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMay">@ElizabethMay</a> "with all due respect, Mr. Harper" meaning none <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@mrdfleming

Trudeau's signature quip: Yelling 'That's not true' several times at Harper. Some thought it was the most heard phrase of the night.

Key phrase of the night? "That's not true, Mr. Harper" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@ShanesaBeach

If I hear <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> say "that's not true Mr. Harper" or "Nobody believes you" once more, I'm moving to Alaska... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@CharterLaw

Most commonly heard statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> "That's not true Mr. Harper". —@A_DoubleB

Mulcair chose to focus on himself. His signature quote was about fighting for Canada 'his whole life.'

Why the "I have fought for Canada" rhetoric, Mr. Mulcair? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@kathleenaikens

"I have fought for Canada my whole life," says Mulcair. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="http://t.co/MjDLggCoPY">pic.twitter.com/MjDLggCoPY</a> —@blinkwriter

There was also a lot of weird discussion about the number 9, prompted by Trudeau's response to a question from Mulcair about the threshold for recognizing a vote for Quebec's separation.

TRUDEAU HITS MULCAIR WITH THE NUMBER 9!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NINE?src=hash">#NINE</a> <a href="http://t.co/BJsyscY63s">pic.twitter.com/BJsyscY63s</a> —@Tor_Grit

When Trudeau don't give you his number #9 <a href="http://t.co/jb62OLqRQg">pic.twitter.com/jb62OLqRQg</a> —@SafeeyaEf

So what did people think?

Thursday's debate, hosted by Maclean's magazine, was the first not to be organized by the broadcast consortium, of which CBC is a member. Some liked the debate and the revised format.

Overall <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> was quite good. Didn't enjoy everyone speaking over May, and moderation was lacking. —@parismarx

<a href="https://twitter.com/MacleansMag">@MacleansMag</a> great format <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Macdebate?src=hash">#Macdebate</a> tonight. It allowed for a good healthy debate. Everyone had a fair shot. —@Harnettshow

Others thought it lacked moderation...

One of the worst debates I’ve seen, no moderation, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> not worth the time, I’ll go back to watching Futurama —@phoefgen

This is the worst episode of Jeopardy I've ever seen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> —@Hutch_Hogan

And Jann Arden just found it downright boring.