Meaning
Used to say that certain situations, especially quarrels and shared undertakings, require two willing participants, so responsibility or blame cannot rest on one side alone. It can also simply note that cooperation needs both parties. Informal and general English, often mildly reproachful when deflecting an accusation. Informal and conversational; often carries a mildly reproachful edge when used to spread blame between two parties. Regional use: General English (American in origin).
Origin
American in origin, and popularised by the song 'Takes Two to Tango', written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and published in 1952. Pearl Bailey's recording entered the Billboard Best Seller chart on 19 September 1952 and peaked at number 7, with Louis Armstrong also charting a version that autumn; The Phrase Finder attributes the idiom to this popular 1952 song, and Etymonline likewise notes that the phrase 'was a song title from 1952'. The underlying image was already available: the tango, an Argentine dance, became a craze in Britain and America in 1913, and a partner dance is an obvious metaphor for mutual involvement. Precisely when the figurative use detached itself from the song is not documented.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- it takes two
- it takes two to make a quarrel
- it took two to tango
- takes two to tango
Usage Examples
- You can blame your brother for starting the argument, but it takes two to tango.
- The merger will only succeed if both boards actually want it - it takes two to tango.
- As her assistant pointed out, the feud had wrecked both their reputations, and it took two to tango.