What is the meaning of the phrase ‘you can say that again’?
Expressing complete (or strong) agreement with what has just been said.
How to use and respond to the phrase ‘you can say that again’
The phrase ‘you can say that again’ is believed to be derived from the first half of the twentieth century, or possibly earlier. It’s a casual, informal expression that’s commonly used to affirm and emphasise strong or complete agreement with what has just been said. It’s almost hyperbole.
This means that you’re likely to have ample opportunity to use the phrase. For example, you could use the phrase during small talk to confirm how bad the weather in the UK is, or how some (not all) politicians can be corrupt and self-serving.
You can also use the phrase to confirm happiness, such as when discussing how good a party is following a wedding ceremony. Or how happy you are for someone who has had a new addition to their family. Or how entertaining a sports match or film has been.
The phrase ‘you can say that again’ is usually a response to a comment which states something that may be blatantly obvious. A response to the phrase isn’t necessarily required, since once you’ve said it, you have already confirmed your agreement.
That said, however, that does not mean that the conversation has to stop there. Once someone has said ‘you can say that again’ anyone in the group can comment on why they agree so strongly and completely with the original statement.
For example, if someone says ‘what a great wedding’, which another person follows up with ‘you can say that again’, you (or anyone else) can bring up what you liked about the wedding, such as the company, the activities, the food, the music, etc.
If the conversation has a negative tone however, then you may wish to keep the conversation brief, unless someone there has a strategy for improving matters.
Note – the phrase is not usually meant literally, it is an idiom, and it is not a request to repeat what has just been said.
