Takes two to tango (idiom)

It takes two to tango is a common idiomatic expression which suggests something in which more than one person or other entity are paired in an inextricably-related and active manner, occasionally with negative connotations.[1]

The tango is a dance which requires two partners moving in relation to each other, sometimes in tandem, sometimes in opposition.[2] The meaning of this expression has been extended to include any situation in which the two partners are by definition understood to be essential -- as in, a marriage with only one partner ceases to be a marriage.

Contents

History

The phrase originated in a song, Takes Two to Tango, which was written and composed in 1952 by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. The lyrics and melody were popularized by singer Pearl Bailey's 1952 recording.[3]

The phrase was reported widely in the international media when Ronald Reagan quipped about Russian-American relations during a 1982 presidential news conference.[3] Reagan said, :"For ten years détente was based on words by them [the Russians] and not any words to back them up. And we need some action that they — it takes two to tango — that they want to tango also." [4] Since that time, the tango metaphor has appeared regularly in the headline of the international press. The phrase has gained currency as a proverb in loan translation in other languages.[3]

This expression has become a familiar proverbial expression; and it has also found its way into American legal writing, as in:

More generally in instances involving a dubious transaction, like a bribe, conventional wisdom in America and in the United Kingdom presumes that if one is guilty, both are.[6]

Variations on a theme

The phrase is incorporated in the lyrics of a song about romance, but the open-ended possibilities of the idomatic expression are available for a wider range of prospective applications. One stanza of the song explains:

You can sail in a ship by yourself,
Take a nap or a nip by yourself.
You can get into debt on your own.
There are lots of things that you can do alone.
(But it)
Takes two to tango ... etc.[7]

Comedian George Carlin observed: "It takes two to tango. Sounds good, but simple reasoning will reveal that it only takes one to tango. It takes two to tango together, maybe, but one person is certainly capable of tangoing on his own."[8] The phrase is conventionally used in which one person is being blamed, but two are actually at fault.[9]

It takes two to cooperate

"It takes two to tango" may be used to mean that some things need the active cooperation of two parties in some enterprise -- for example, as in the following comment:

It takes two to make a bargain

"It takes two to tango" may be used to mean "an agreement or a consensual bargain requires the assent of both parties for the deal to be deemed successful -- for example, as in the following exchange:

It takes two to make a quarrel

"It takes two to tango" may be used to mean "a quarrel requires two disputing parties," is an expression which is often used in situations in which both partners in the dispute should or could be said to share responsibility -- for example, as in the following observation:

Not always

There is an issue in domestic violence which it is difficult to comprehend -- that somehow it takes two to tango, even when one is always the victim and the other is always the victimizer.[12]

Alternate expressions

The meaning and intent of the English idiomatic expression is sometimes presented in different terms.

Like brother and sister; they need each other

Protesters and police clashed at the 2009 NATO summit. No one could have been surprised when one of the protest organizers condemned police tactics; but he also argued that a peaceful demonstration had been hijacked by a small group of anarchist troublemakers known as the Black Bloc. In essence, Reiner Braun was saying something like "it takes two to tango" when he explained,

"I do not accept the behavior of the Black Bloc, but it was pure provocation from the police. They and the Black Bloc are like brother and sister; they need each other."[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Hirsch, Eric. (2002). The new dictionary of cultural literacy, p. 52,
  2. ^ Howell, Anthony. "Tango with an axe to grind," The Times Literary Supplement. April 19, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c Mieder, Wolfgang. (1997). The Politics of Proverbs: From Traditional Wisdom to Proverbial Stereotypes, p. 125.
  4. ^ "Transcript of President's News Conference on Foreign and Domestic Affairs," New York Times. November 12, 1982.
  5. ^ a b Brooks, Peter. (1998). Law's Stories, p. 185.
  6. ^ Partridge, Eric. A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, p. 255.
  7. ^ Mieder, Wolfgang. (2004). Proverbs: a Handbook, p. 233.
  8. ^ Carlin, George. (1998). Brain Droppings, p. 138.
  9. ^ Michael LaFargue, Michael. (1994). Tao and Method, p. 138.
  10. ^ Ammer, Christine. (1997). The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms," p. 348.
  11. ^ a b Dolgopolov, Yuri. (2004). A Collection of Confusable Phrases: False 'Friends' and 'Enemies' in Idioms and Collocations, p. 255.
  12. ^ Berns, Nancy. (2004). Framing the Victim. p. 114.
  13. ^ Catle, Stephen and Steve Erlanger. "Riots Erupt Near Bridge That Links 2 Countries," New York Times. April 5, 2009.

References