# "You and whose army?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484 "2004-06-09T17:12:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/1 "2004-06-09T17:12:03Z")
“You and whose army?” What does this expression mean, how is it used and where did it originate? Is it a UK thing only? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/2 "2004-06-09T17:20:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/3 "2004-06-09T17:21:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/4 "2004-06-09T17:35:31Z")
I always heard it as, “Oh, _yeah_—you and what man’s army?” ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/5 "2004-06-09T17:40:51Z")
For some odd reason, I find the similarities between my post and \*\*UncleBill’s \*\* astonishingly funny. I need a nap. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/6 "2004-06-09T17:53:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/7 "2004-06-09T18:03:10Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/8 "2004-06-09T18:06:10Z")
> [@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. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/9 "2004-06-09T18:11:40Z")
I’m pretty tall, so I had a different version. Carey Jakes: I oughta kick your ass. Nott: You and whose stepladder? ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/10 "2004-06-09T19:55:41Z")
I always answer this with “The Army of the Potomic!”. I’m wierd that way. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/11 "2004-06-09T20:40:31Z")
Growing up, our stock anwer to this question would be “The Girl Scouts”. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/12 "2004-06-11T04:00:52Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Growing up, our stock anwer to this question would be “The Girl Scouts”. Ours was “the salvation army.” ---
**Author:** ![LuckySevens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@LuckySevens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckySevens)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/13 "2004-06-11T05:46:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/14 "2004-06-11T13:13:23Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/15 "2004-06-11T15:11:51Z")
The stock answer to “you and whose army?” when I was growing up was “me and my army, the one up my sleevey”. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/16 "2004-06-11T16:33:31Z")
> [@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? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/17 "2004-06-11T17:10:01Z")
More like “Yoo 'n hoose awmy?” I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/18 "2004-06-11T17:26:00Z")
As for Brooklyn accents, Webster’s [http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/english/ac/accent.html](http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/english/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](http://www.transom.org/shows/2004/200402_salt.html) Find the show “Laid Off”, and listen to Tony talk. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/19 "2004-06-11T17:28:41Z")
Think Travolta in Saturday Night Fever or Deniro in Analyze This. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-and-whose-army/249484/20 "2004-06-11T17:46:14Z")
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. 🙂