I know you are but what am I en · X
Pronunciation
Etymology
Uncertain, but dates back at least to the June 15th, 1957 issue of The New Yorker (Vol. 33 No. 17, page 23). In "The Talk of the Town", which was a collaborative effort by the magazine's staff writers: "INTERROGATIVE WISP FOUND IN GUTTER OF MACDOUGAL STREET: 'I know you are but what am I?'" The phrase is often attributed to Pee-Wee Herman.
Meanings
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(childish, humorous, rhetoric) Used to assert 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.
“Now credit card information.” “I’m putting it in right now!” “That sounds DIRTY!” “Pervert. Real mature, too.” “I know you are but what am I?” “K, I’m hitting enter! One, two, three!”
2020 November 23, Amie Gabriel, “Eighteen Dollars”, in Kintsukuroi Heart: More Beautiful for Having Been Broken, →ISBN, page 46:“Are you thinking about his cock?” snaps Holly. “Nooo! God, you’re disgusting.” “I know you are, but what am I?” I spit back as instinctively as I had when we were nine. “I know you are, but what am I?” “Infinity.”
2005 June 6, Emma Forrest, “Tingle”, in Cherries in the Snow, London: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 88:I know you are but what am I? Jeannie would say out loud, whenever I mouthed a name at her.
1984, McCall's, volume 111, page 62: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?"
2005, American Numismatic Association, The Numismatist, page 14: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?"
2003, Mark E. Jones, Echoes of Heaven, page 7:
- (Internet, rhetoric) Used to mock a retort in a dispute that tries to reverse an insult on its original speaker.
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(humorous, rare) Used to direct back a statement as a compliment.
> Smile. I see I have another admirer. How cute. I know you are but what am I?
2001 April 8, Mike Curmudgeon, “critique my Logo Number 1”, in alt.design.graphics (Usenet), archived from the original on 18 Apr 2026:This was wonderful too, being able to study him without his knowing. […] Right where he had kept me all the long night, snug against him. “Beautiful,” I whispered. He grinned. “I know you are, but what am I?”
2016 December 23, John Inman, chapter 9, in Acting Up, Tallahassee, Fla.: Dreamspinner Press, →ISBN, page 124:> Vince, you're cute! O.o I know you are but what am I?
1999 August 6, Vincent Kelgar Valentine, “Vince finally has a picture!”, in alt.games.final-fantasy (Usenet), archived from the original on 18 Apr 2026:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| I know you are, but what am I | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
it takes one to know one · pot calling the kettle black · I'm rubber, you're glue
Synonyms
Translations (30)
tr kendi diyen kendi olur (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · ja 言った方が、そうなんだよ (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fi ite oot (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · no jeg vet du er, men hva er jeg? (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fr c'est celui qui dit qui l'est (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · hu aki mondja másra, az mondja magára (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · it il bue che dice cornuto all'asino (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · hi जो बोलता है वही होता है (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fi niin oletkin (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fi nii ootki (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · de selber, selber, lachen alle Kälber (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fi itse olet (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · es el comal le dijo a la olla (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · ka ჩემი შენ გითხარიო (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · el όποιος το λέει είναι (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · tr sensin o (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · pt quem o diz é quem o é (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · de wer es sagt, der ist es selber (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · pl chyba ty (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · zza Kam vano zana beno ey (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · nl wat je zegt, ben je zelf (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · cs kdo to říká ten to je, tomu se to rýmuje (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fr c'est celui qui dit qui y est (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · ru от такого и слышу (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · es mira quién habla (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · sv den som sa det kan va det (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · cmn 駡人的罵到自己 /骂人的骂到自己 (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · es el burro hablando de orejas (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · fi joka toista haukkuu, on itse (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party) · no det kan du være selv (assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party)