I know you are but what am I

English

Alternative forms

• I know you are, but what am I

Etymology

Uncertain, but dates back at least to the 1970s, as reported in Lee Thayer, Communication (1974), page 21. Often attributed to Pee-Wee Herman.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Phrase

(deprecated template usage) I know you are but what am I?

1. (rhetorical question, colloquial, childish) Assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party, and not of the person using the phrase. Usually considered to be a playground taunt.
   • 2005, American Numismatic Association, The Numismatist, page 14:

     So when Mr. Macchia states that people who collect state quarters are fools, my son says I should reply, "I know you are, but what am I?"

   • 2003, Mark E. Jones, Echoes of Heaven, page 7:

     At this point Johnny changes tactics and hollers, "I know you are, but what am I?" and the voice echoes, "I know you are, but what am I?"

   • 1984, McCall's, volume 111, page 62:

     I know you are but what am I? Jeannie would say out loud, whenever I mouthed a name at her.

Translations

assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party

• Dutch: wat je zegt, ben je zelf
• French: c’est celui qui dit qui y est, c’est celui qui dit qui l’est (fr)
• Georgian: ჩემი შენ გითხარიო (čemi šen gitxario)
• German: wer es sagt, der ist es selber, selber, selber, lachen alle Kälber
• Greek: όποιος το λέει είναι (ópoios to léei eínai)
• Hungarian: aki mondja másra, az mondja magára
• Italian: il bue che dice cornuto all'asino
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: det kan du være selv, jeg vet du er, men hva er jeg?
• Portuguese: quem o diz é quem o é pl
• Russian: от такого и слышу (ot takovo i slyšu) (I hear it from such one)
• Spanish: el burro hablando de orejas, el comal le dijo a la olla, mira quién habla
• Swedish: den som sa det kan va det
• Turkish: kendi diyen kendi olur, sensin o
• Zazaki: Kam vano zana beno ey

See also

• it takes one to know one
• I'm rubber, you're glue