"You can say that again"

englishstudent · #1 (**permalink**) 29-Aug-2006, 21:30

Hi,

What is the exact meaning of "You can say that again"?
Does it mean that I am in strong agreement with
what you said?

In comic scenes on TV, when a person says "You can say that
again", I have seen the other person actually repeat
the sentence.

Thanks

mykwyner · #2 (**permalink**) 29-Aug-2006, 21:41

Once again, your first impression is correct.

In the comic scenes you mentioned, the writers were trying to get a laugh from someone taking an idiom literally.

This is usually considered funny only by people under the age of 7.

englishstudent · #3 (**permalink**) 29-Aug-2006, 22:27

Thank you mykwyner. :)

MrPedantic · #4 (**permalink**) 29-Aug-2006, 23:43

Yes; maybe we could interpret "you can say that again!" as "I have no objection to your repeating that statement", thus "I agree with your statement".

MrP

englishstudent · #5 (**permalink**) 30-Aug-2006, 04:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPedantic

Yes; maybe we could interpret "you can say that again!" as "I have no objection to your repeating that statement", thus "I agree with your statement".
MrP

That is a good way to understand/remember it. Thanks, MrP.

retro · #6 (**permalink**) 09-Sep-2006, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykwyner

Once again, your first impression is correct.

In the comic scenes you mentioned, the writers were trying to get a laugh from someone taking an idiom literally.

This is usually considered funny only by people under the age of 7.

So, using it in front of an adult, won't work?

MrPedantic · #7 (**permalink**) 10-Sep-2006, 20:50

Hello Retro

I've no doubt it would often work.

All the best,

MrP


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