# "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you"--origin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606 "2003-10-04T21:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/1 "2003-10-04T21:50:52Z")
The remark cited in the heading has been a standard flippant answer for at least ten-twenty years. A friend says that it first became a catch phrase after being used in a movie, but she doesn’t know what movie. Can anyone given a cite? ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/2 "2003-10-04T22:00:08Z")
The first movie I recall hearing it in was Top Gun (1986). [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/quotes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/quotes) Charlie: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Is there something wrong? Maverick: Yes ma’am, the data on the MiG is inaccurate. Charlie: How’s that, Lieutenant? Maverick: Well, I just happened to see a MiG 28 do a… Goose: We! Maverick: Uh, sorry Goose. WE happened to see a MiG 28 do a 4g negative dive. Charlie: Where did you see this? Maverick: Uh, that’s classified. Charlie: It’s what? Maverick: It’s classified. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/3 "2003-10-04T22:04:02Z")
And yes, it is rather sad that I remembered that. I know it is. I have nothing to say in my defense, other than it was on TV one weekend afternoon last month. I’d already seen Trading Places etc, so no point in watching the repeats. The choice was a Lifetime movie, Top Gun, college football or absolute drivel. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/4 "2003-10-04T22:25:30Z")
I saw it as a joke in the 80s sitcom _Cheers_, but I can’t say if it predates the Top Gun usage. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_In\_Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@Not\_In\_Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_In_Anger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/5 "2003-10-04T22:35:56Z")
**Slipster** are you actually posting in GC expecting someone to answer that question? I mean, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/6 "2003-10-04T23:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Not In Anger \* > \*\ ***Slipster** are you actually posting in GC expecting someone to answer that question? I mean, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. ☹ \*\* If you killed him, would you use a 1920’s Style Death Ray? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![leenmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@leenmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leenmi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/7 "2003-10-04T23:11:56Z")
can’t help with the origin, but I sure do wish it would go away. The reality is more like “If I told you, you’d have to sign an NDA and I’d be in trouble.” Not quite as macho, is it? ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/8 "2003-10-04T23:24:39Z")
I heard it well before Top Gun came out. It may have started with an earlier movie. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_In\_Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@Not\_In\_Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_In_Anger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/9 "2003-10-04T23:26:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*If you killed him, would you use a 1920’s Style Death Ray? 🙂 \*\* Yes, I am currently inclined in that direction, yes thank you. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/10 "2003-10-04T23:39:04Z")
Didn’t Colonel Flagg say it on MASH? ---
**Author:** ![bojon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bojon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bojon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/11 "2003-10-04T23:40:35Z")
My mind immediately raced to a Get Smart episode…I’m getting old ---
**Author:** ![Ottoerotic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ottoerotic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ottoerotic)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/12 "2003-10-04T23:49:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*If you killed him, would you use a 1920’s Style Death Ray? 🙂 \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Not In Anger \* > \*\*Yes, I am currently inclined in that direction, yes thank you. \*\* I’ve found it best to use two 1920’s death rays, and load one of them with blanks. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_In\_Anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@Not\_In\_Anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_In_Anger)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/13 "2003-10-05T01:09:26Z")
Cool point. That way, I wouldn’t know which one of me killed him. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/14 "2003-10-05T01:18:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by leenmi \* > \*\*can’t help with the origin, but I sure do wish it would go away. > > The reality is more like “If I told you, you’d have to sign an NDA and I’d be in trouble.”\*\* Exactly. The quote is **a joke**! I can’t tell you how many people appear to take the statement at face value. (i.e. “How deep do submarines go?” Ans: “Sorry–I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” “Oh, never mind, then.”) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/15 "2003-10-05T06:00:04Z")
If I killed you, I’d have to tell you. That’s something to consider. In an intergalactic interethic frame of reference, that’s indeed something to consider. Googlistically speaking, morally speaking (I would not speak morally,) evil does not beat pure profit. Any tangents are in error ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/16 "2003-10-05T06:10:18Z")
I first heard it on an episode of “Home Improvement” in the early 90s, for what that’s worth. But of course, that’s long after the _Top Gun_ usage, so it’s pretty much useless in determining an original coining date. So it’s just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/17 "2003-10-05T06:15:53Z")
I first heard it on an episode of “Home Improvement” in the early 90s, for what that’s worth. But of course, that’s long after the _Top Gun_ usage, so it’s pretty much useless in determining an original coining date. So it’s just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/18 "2003-10-05T06:49:36Z")
I first heard it on an episode of “Home Improvement” in the early 90s, for what that’s worth. But of course, that’s long after the _Top Gun_ usage, so it’s pretty much useless in determining an original coining date. So it’s just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/19 "2003-10-05T11:16:56Z")
It’s a standard\* **magician’s** \* aswer to the question “How’d you do that?” How’d you do that? I could tell you but I’d have to kill you. Okay. Just tell my wife. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606/20 "2003-10-05T15:15:22Z")
I first heard it when I worked in an environment that required security clearances. There’s the old device in movies about the person who had to be killed because “he knew too much”. Someone had information about something – a secret weapon or a plot or something – that would be dangerous to the conspirators if it were found out. For example, a scientist might be involved in building a super-weapon. Being a scientist, he might be doing it because it fascinates him; but he’s not expecting it to actually be used offensively. Being of this temperament, he is a liability to the “organization”. Killing him would keep him from spilling the beans. So “If I told you, I’d have to kill you” means "If I told you about this thing, then you would know too much and you would have to be eliminated.: _The Man Who Knew Too Much_ was released in 1934, so that phrase must have been fairly well known long before then. When did “he knows too much” become “If I told you, I’d have to kill you”? I don’t know. But the literary concept has been around in films and books for a long time. The military concept has probably been around since Grup wanted to keep Egah from disclosing the location of their berry bush. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-could-tell-you-but-then-id-have-to-kill-you-origin/205606.md?page=2)