Meaning of I know you are but what am I? | Babel Free
Definitions
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.
childish, colloquial, rhetoric
Equivalents
Italiano
il bue che dice cornuto all'asino
Nederlands
wat je zegt, ben je zelf
Polski
chyba ty
Português
quem o diz é quem o é
Русский
от такого и слышу
Svenska
den som sa det kan va det
Examples
“I know you are but what am I? Jeannie would say out loud, whenever I mouthed a name at her.”
“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?"”
“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?"”
CEFR level
C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.