In the past few years, the phrase “if you know you know” has greatly increased in popularity on sites like TikTok and Twitter.
But what does this phrase actually mean? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of the expression.
Meaning
The phrase “if you know you know” is indicative of an inside joke between a certain group of people, or something that only a few people may actually know. Whatever this joke or phrase may be, it is only known by those that already know it, and cannot be explained to others who do not already understand it.
It can also be used as a way of spreading rumors without actually saying the rumor. The phrase is commonly used among teenagers, especially teenage girls, on social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. More information can be found in the video (here).
Example Usage
“Did you see what Drew did at the party last night? If you know, you know.”
“Don’t ask me what that means, if you know you know, if not, it’s not for you”.
“Have you heard the rumor about Katie? If you know, you know.”
“Did you hear what happened with Brooke and Kim yesterday? If you know, you know.”
Origin
The exact origin of this phrase is unclear, but its first recorded use on the Internet was in 2015. It was further popularized in 2018 with the release of rap artist Pusha T’s song, titled If You Know You Know. After the release of that song, it became a popular phrase on social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Artist Babyface Ray also released a song titled If You Know You Know in 2021, further expediting the use of the phrase all over the Internet.
Phrases Similar to If You Know You Know
- Fomo
- Do you feel me?
- Ya feel?
- Are we on the same page?
- The girls that get it, get it. The girls that don’t, don’t.
- Either you get it, or you don’t.
- If you know me, no you don’t.
Phrases Opposite to If You Know You Know
- IDK
- IDRK
- IDEK
- No idea
What is the Correct Saying?
- “If you know you know”, in itself, is the correct saying.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say If You Know You Know
The phrase “if you know you know” is used to hint at some sort of inside joke, or special piece of information only known by a few people. It can be used as a response to someone who is out of the loop, or who does not understand that certain piece of information, but instead of explaining it to them, someone may respond with “if you know you know”. In this way, using this phrase to actually answer a person’s question or to refer to anything that is common knowledge would be the incorrect way to use it. Some ways that “if you know you know” is used incorrectly are:
- Yeah, let me explain this to you. If you know you know.
- Let me tell you what this means. If you know you know.
- Have you heard Lady Gaga’s music? If you know you know.
- Check out this new song Beyonce just released. If you know you know.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase If You Know You Know
- Being in a sorority prepared me for the real world. If you know you know.
- Did you hear what Brittney did the other day? If you know you know.
- Have you heard what Jeremy is saying about Rachel? If you know you know.
- Juneteenth is going to be lit, if you know you know, so see you there.