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English
Alternative forms
Proverb
it takes one to know one
- (idiomatic) expressing the same underlying character-judgment themes as pot calling the kettle black or set a thief to catch a thief.
- (colloquial, childish) A retort to a negative accusation, implying that the accuser shares the fault.
- Bob: You're an idiot!
- Tony: Takes one to know one!
1949, Nial Kent, The Divided Path, page 358:There's an unkind saying that it takes one to know one, and it's almost true.
1947, Poet Lore, page 280:Anyone who appreciates Shakespeare as this author unquestionably does is another Shakespeare — it takes one to know one!
1946, Gore Vidal, Williwaw, page 45:“I’ve got a bad egg,” said Bervick. “I guess this was a pre-war egg.” […]
“It takes one to know one,” said the Chief, referring back to the eggs.
1980, Gerald Ford, “Problems Multiply”, in A Time to Heal, New York: Berkley Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 209:Brezhnev pretended a scowl. "Kissinger is such a scoundrel," he said.
But Henry was ready for that. "It takes one to know one," he replied.
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:it takes one to know one.
Translations
an insult which is true about both the sender and the receiver
See also