View source for It takes two to tango

{{Short description|Idiom}}
[[File:Pareja de Tango bailando en Caminito.jpg|thumb|Two people dancing a [[tango]] in [[Buenos Aires]]]]
{{Wiktionary|it takes two to tango}}
'''It takes two to tango''' is a common [[idiom]]atic 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.<ref>Hirsch, Eric. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?id=GAzOg4eQl2YC&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA52  ''The new dictionary of cultural literacy,'' p. 52],</ref>
 
The [[tango (dance)|tango]] is a [[dance]] which requires two partners moving in relation to each other, sometimes in [[tandem]], sometimes in opposition.<ref>Howell, Anthony. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060929192821/http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25351-2141795,00.html  "Tango with an axe to grind,"] ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]].'' April 19, 2006.</ref>  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.

==History==
The phrase originated in a song, [[Takes Two to Tango (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.<ref name="mieder125">[[Wolfgang Mieder|Mieder, Wolfgang]]. (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=AeC4DCmfaAUC&q=two+to+tango&pg=PA125 ''The Politics of Proverbs: From Traditional Wisdom to Proverbial Stereotypes,'' p. 125.]</ref>

The phrase was reported widely in the international media when Ronald Reagan quipped about Russian-American relations during a 1982 presidential news conference.<ref name="mieder125"/>  Reagan stated: "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."<ref>"Transcript of President's News Conference on Foreign and Domestic Affairs," ''New York Times.'' November 12, 1982.</ref>
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.<ref name="mieder125"/>

This expression has become a familiar proverbial expression; and it has also found its way into American legal writing, as in:
* "It takes at least two to tango for conspiracy purposes." -- ''U.S. v. Morgan'', 835 F.2d 79 (5th Cir. 1987).<ref name="brooks185">{{Cite web |title=U.S. v. Morgan, 835 F.2d 79 {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/us-v-morgan-104#p82 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=casetext.com}}</ref>
* "This is a situation where it takes more than two to tango," -- ''Gant v. Aliquippa Borough,'' 612 F.Supp. 1139 (W.D. Penn. 1985).<ref name="brooks185"/>
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.<ref>Partridge, Eric. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Nm3jbg0JalMC&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA255  ''A Dictionary of Catch Phrases,'' p. 255.]</ref>

==Meaning==
The lyric from which the phrase originated lists a variety of things one is able to do alone, then contrasting them with performing a [[tango]] dance, which requires a partner.

{{poemquote|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 (repeat).<ref>[[Wolfgang Mieder|Mieder, Wolfgang]]. (2004). [https://books.google.com/books?id=rfWFu5C-tL0C&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA233  ''Proverbs: a Handbook,'' p. 233.]</ref>}}

The open-ended possibilities of the idiomatic expression are available for a wide range of prospective applications.

===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:
* "We'll never pass this bill unless both parties work out a compromise -- ''it takes two to tango''.<ref>Ammer, Christine. (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=9re1vfFh04sC&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA348  ''The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms,'' p. 348.]</ref>

===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:
* "We decided you should make dinner tonight." and 
* "No, <u>we</u> didn't decide anything -- you made that decision by yourself and I had no part in it because you walked out the door before I could say anything one way or the other and ''it takes two to tango''."<ref name="dolgopolov255">Dolgopolov, Yuri. (2004). [https://books.google.com/books?id=wuLrTJ0wtlMC&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA255  ''A Collection of Confusable Phrases: False 'Friends' and 'Enemies' in Idioms and Collocations,'' p. 255.]</ref>

===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, or when one person is being blamed, but two are actually at fault.<ref>Michael LaFargue, Michael. (1994). [https://books.google.com/books?id=P9ilebsboeYC&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PA138 ''Tao and Method,'' p. 138.]</ref> For example, in the following observation:
* "Love, affection and honesty are the main bases for a stable and loving parent-child relationship. Fights are rarely the fault of one alone -- ''it takes two to tango''."<ref name="dolgopolov255"/>

== In popular culture ==

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."<ref>[[George Carlin|Carlin, George]]. (1998). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gz4WFeWIbK4C&dq=it+takes+two+to+tango&pg=PT153 ''Brain Droppings,'' p. 138.]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Takes Two to Tango (song)]]
* [[Two-way street]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* Ammer, Christine. (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=9re1vfFh04sC  ''The American Heritage dictionary of idioms.''] New York: [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]]. {{ISBN|978-0-395-72774-4}}
* [[Peter Brooks (writer)|Brooks, Peter]] and [[Paul Gewirtz]]. (1998). [https://books.google.com/books?id=88BQdDHU9cAC  ''Law's Stories: Narrative and Rhetoric in the Law.'']  New Haven: [[Yale University Press]].  {{ISBN|978-0-300-07490-1}}
* [[George Carlin|Carlin, George]]. (1998). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gz4WFeWIbK4C  ''Brain Droppings.''] New York: [[Disney Hyperion|Hyperion]]. {{ISBN|978-0-7868-8321-9}}
* Coleman, David and Stewart Levine. (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=OLP30jyX3WwC&q=wikipedia++and+collaboration  ''Collaboration 2.0: Technology and Best Practices for Successful Collaboration in a Web 2.0 World.''] Cupertino, California: Happy About. {{ISBN|978-1-60005-071-8}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/188535764?referer=di&ht=edition OCLC 188535764]
* Dolgopolov, Yuri. (2004). [https://books.google.com/books?id=wuLrTJ0wtlMC  ''A Collection of Confusable Phrases: False 'Friends' and 'Enemies' in Idioms and Collocations.''] Coral Springs, Florida: Media Creations.  {{ISBN|978-1-59526-334-6}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56012159 OCLC 56012159]
* [[Wolfgang Mieder|Mieder, Wolfgang]]. (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=AeC4DCmfaAUC ''The Politics of Proverbs: From Traditional Wisdom to Proverbial Stereotypes.''] Madison: [[University of Wisconsin Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-299-15454-7}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35593844 OCLC 35593844]
* __________. (2004). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54960019  ''Proverbs: a Handbook.''] Westport, Connecticut: [[Greenwood Publishing]]. {{ISBN|978-0-313-32698-1}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54960019 OCLC 54960019]
* {{in lang|de}} __________ and George B. Bryan. (1985). ''"Zum Tango gehoren zwei,"'' in [https://books.google.com/books?id=WAQLAAAAIAAJ&q=Sprichwort,+Redensart,+Zitat:+Tradierte+Formelsprache+in+der+Moderne  ''Sprichwort, Redensart, Zitat: Tradierte Formelsprache in der Moderne.'']  Bern: Peter Lang. {{ISBN|978-3-261-04009-1}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/13122327 OCLC 13122327]
* [[Robert Farris Thompson|Thompson, Robert Farris]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=t1W2AAAACAAJ&q=TANGO+An+art+history+of+love  ''Tango: The Art History of Love.''] New York: [[Pantheon Books]]. {{ISBN|978-0-375-40931-8}}

[[Category:Political terminology of the United States]]
[[Category:English-language idioms]]
[[Category:Political catchphrases]]
[[Category:Ronald Reagan]]
[[Category:Tango]]