“It takes two to tango”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase It takes two to tango means that a situation or conflict involves two parties or that both parties are necessary for a particular action or situation to occur.
Tone Neutral
Where it comes from
The phrase originated from the title of a popular 1952 song Takes Two to Tango by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning, and it suggests that cooperation or mutual responsibility is needed.
Examples
- You can’t blame her for the argument. It takes two to tango, after all.
- For the deal to go through, both companies need to agree. It takes two to tango.
- The negotiations failed because both sides were uncooperative. It takes two to tango.
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