It takes one to know one


The person who expressed criticism has similar faults to the person being criticized. This classic retort to an insult dates from the early 1900s. For example, You say she’s a terrible cook? It takes one to know one! For a synonym, see pot calling the kettle black A near equivalent is the proverbial it takes a thief to catch a thief , meaning “no one is better at finding a wrongdoer than another wrongdoer.” First recorded in 1665, it remains current.

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  • It takes two to tango

    Certain activities cannot be performed alone — such as quarreling, making love, and dancing the tango. sentence This cannot happen or have happened without more than one person; cooperation or connivance is indicated: It takes two to tango, said the mediator/ Now, it takes two to tango, but I still think it was more her […]

  • Itty

    adjective extremely small; also called itty-bitty adj. 1798, in a letter of Jane Austen, baby-talk form of little. Related: itty-bitty (1855); tiddy-itty (1852).

  • Itty-bitty

    [it-ee-bit-ee] /ˈɪt iˈbɪt i/ adjective, Informal. 1. very small; tiny. adjective See itty adjective Tiny; esp, small and cute; little bitty, teensy-weensy: I can’t find even an ittybitty scrap of paper to show who these Wunderkinds are [late 1930s+; fr baby talk]

  • ITU

    1. International Telecommunication Union. 1. International Typographical Union. abbreviation 1. Intensive Therapy Unit 2. International Telecommunications Union International Telecommunications Union International Telecommunication Union

  • I.T.U.

    1. International Typographical Union.


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