"You and whose army?"

[Dog80]

"You and whose army?" What does this expression mean, how is it used and where did it originate? Is it a UK thing only?

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

Well, when I say it (and I'm not in the UK), it's generally in this type of context:

Brother: I'd have kicked his ass.
Me: Yeah? You and what army?

Meaning, he couldn't possibly do it on his own, so what army does he plan on having back him up?

Etymology I have no clue on.

[UncleBill]

Not only a UK thing, I hear it in the US.

Normally in the following exchange:

Tough Guy #1: "I'm gonna kick your ass all over this bar!"
Tough Guy #2: "Oh yeah? You and what/whose Army?"

Implying TG#1 would in no way be able to harm TG#2 without many trained reinforcements.

[Eve]

I always heard it as, "Oh, yeah—you and what man's army?"

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

For some odd reason, I find the similarities between my post and UncleBill's astonishingly funny.

I need a nap.

[kunilou]

There is a famous quote "How many divisions does the Pope have?" that falls into this context. I've seen it mostly attributed to Stalin, but also to Napolean and Frederick the Great. I suppose the idea of needing an army for support goes a long way back.

[Rick]

This is along the same lines as bring your lunch.
Other guy "I'm gonna kick your ass"
You, "You had better bring your lunch, it might take awhile."

[UncleBill]

Originally Posted by TellMeI'mNotCrazy

For some odd reason, I find the similarities between my post and UncleBill's astonishingly funny.

I need a nap.

You are Crazy.

[AskNott]

I'm pretty tall, so I had a different version.

Carey Jakes: I oughta kick your ass.

Nott: You and whose stepladder?

[emekthian]

I always answer this with "The Army of the Potomic!".

I'm wierd that way.

[Casey1505]

Growing up, our stock anwer to this question would be "The Girl Scouts".

[cabdude]

Originally Posted by Casey1505

Growing up, our stock anwer to this question would be "The Girl Scouts".

Ours was "the salvation army."

[LuckySevens]

Its a saying that implies that someone doesnt have the 'contacts' to go through with a plan, scheme, or act.

Either that, or, they won't support him.

[Loach]

Is it a UK thing only?

Didn't even know it was used in the UK. To me it always sounds better in a fake Brooklyn accent.

[manwithaplan]

The stock answer to "you and whose army?" when I was growing up was "me and my army, the one up my sleevey".

[Colophon]

Originally Posted by Loach

To me it always sounds better in a fake Brooklyn accent.

I'm not big on US accents. In my head I'm hearing "Yoo and hoose oimy?"

Is that the kind of thing?

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

More like "Yoo 'n hoose awmy?" I'd say.

[Cardinal]

As for Brooklyn accents, Webster's http://www.websters-online-dictionar...ac/accent.html

says that Bugs Bunny was given a Brooklyn accent.

For a more genuine one, go to http://www.transom.org/shows/2004/200402_salt.html

Find the show "Laid Off", and listen to Tony talk.

[Loach]

Think Travolta in Saturday Night Fever or Deniro in Analyze This.

[samclem]

I found a kid in a 1952 US comic strip using it to sass his grandmother. So I got you back that far at least.

BTW, his grandmother didn't need any help, as the last panel showed.