ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS
You And Me Both
Definition:
"You and me both." = "I agree with you."
Application:
People usually use this expression to empathize with
someone else who has the same problem. As such,
this expression is normally a response to a complaint.
Carmen: "The professor changed the due date to tomorrow!"
Miranda: "He's crazy! He can't just do that!"
Carmen: "I hate him so much."
Miranda: "You and me both."
Notes:
1. This expression is usually followed by a friendly, informal term of address, such as "brother," "sister," "buddy," "pal," "friend," or "amigo," among others.
2. Literature Reference: Author David Edgerley Gates uses this idiom in a 2012 short story for Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine ("The Devil to Pay") to describe two characters agreeing on not wanting a gun shipment to fall into the wrong hands: "'I don't care where it's going, I want it to stay here, or we keep track of it, and it goes where it's supposed to go.' 'You and me both,' Babs said."
3. Media Reference #1: Journalist Michelle Cottle uses this expression in a January 31st, 2020 article for The New York Times ("What’s Impeachable? They’ll Know It When They See It ") to agree with a reader who writes in regarding the Supreme Court: "Gail Mangham, Prescott, Ariz.: I’m trying to square my view — that the refusal of the Republicans to allow witnesses is a form of obstruction of justice — with the Republican view that Trump’s decision to disallow witnesses, like John Bolton and others, is not obstruction of justice. Need some help on this point. MC: You and me both. The defense’s claim is all about process. They insist the House did such an unfair, slapdash job with its inquiry that the entire impeachment, including many of the subpoenas it issued, were illegitimate and, as such, the president would have been irresponsible to participate. Furthermore, they argue, if the Senate now validates the House’s shoddy work, it will set a terrible precedent, making it too easy for the House to impeach future presidents."
4. Media Reference #2: Journalist Mary Louise Kelly uses this expression in a May 22nd, 2020 NPR piece ("Pandemic Strikes Jazz Community") to empathize with a musician, Christian McBride, who complains of growing older:
McBride: "Jazz has always been a mentor-student kind of community, and, um, we really cherish our elders, you know? So this has taken a lot of our elders away from us. And you don't necessarily need to be in your 70s or 80s to be an elder. Some musicians who we've lost weren't in their 70s and 80s. They were in their 50s, you know? And, um, that's been particularly difficult for somebody like me because although I'm not in my 50s, I am mighty, mighty close."
Kelly: You and me both. [laughing]" (https://www.npr.org/transcripts/861202532)
5. Media Reference #3: Finn Jones's character of "Danny Rand" uses this expression in a conversation with his friend "Joy Meachum" (as played by Jessica Stroup) in season 1, episode 4 of the television series Iron Fist ("Eight Diagram Dragon Palm ") to agree with her:
Joy: "That doesn't mean I don't wanna know what the hell was going on tonight."
Danny: "Yeah. You and me both."
At 47 minutes and 5 seconds into the episode. Originally aired March 17th, 2017.)
