it takes one to know one
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: takes one to know one
Meaning · English
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed on Wikipedia “List of proverbial phrases” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Common questions
What does “it takes one to know one” mean?
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “it takes one to know one” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.