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I know you are, but what am I? 

It's quite simply the most retarded comeback someone makes when they've completely lost the argument. This statement signifies that the argument has gone to a completely immature level. Below is a hardcore argument starting with the immature statement :)
Person 1: I know you are, but what am I?

Person 2: Good question. What are you?

Person 1: Wow, you're so dumb, you don't even know what I am?

Person 2: You're so dumb, you can't even answer my question.

Person 1: I don't answer stupid questions. Sorry.

Person 2: Then you shouldn't have made your first one.

I know you are, but what am I? 

A retort with profound implications. Pee Wee's greatest contribution to youth culture.
Person A: You smell bad.

Person B: There's this thing about a small squirrel and how nobody loves you. Hi-ya! Now that's what I call a verbal bitch-slap.

Person A: I know you are, but what am I?

Person B: Haha what a complete fail of a a comeback. It's like, your face is all red, and you can't come up with a comeback.

Person A: It made no sense, but therein lies the point. The notion that one needs to respond with a rehearsed "comeback" is inane. Your squirrel-centric comeback was also inane; it failed to address your abhorrent smell, it seemed to mistake randomness for wit (really a squirrel?), and the mere fact that you would use it as an example of a verbal bitch-slap is laughable, as it lacks slap. It is quite slap-less. I respond to inanity with inanity.

Person B: Well, "your" still a faggot. And now I'm going to win this by blowing your mind with an ounce of inverse-Descartian drivel.

Person A: Nooooooooooooooo

I know you are, but what am I? 

An amateur insult comeback. It is often regarded as one of the worst possible insult comebacks, being criticized for its lack of creativity, low versatility, and manipulation of English grammar in the word "you."

The comeback was popularized by a scene from the 1985 film 'Pee-Wee's Big Adventure,' in which Pee-Wee Herman repeatedly says the comeback after being told a string of insults by someone else.
Mark: You should have let me copy your test answers in class today.
Jim: No, it's against the rules. Stop relying on me to bail you out all the time. You're such a blowhard sometimes...
Mark: Oh, yeah? Well, you're a coffee whore whose father is on crack!
Jim: I know you are, but what am I?
Mark: You're a loser who doesn't let me copy your test answers in class!
Jim: I know you are, but what am I?
Mark: -_- seriously dude

I know you are but what am I 

I was a kid in the 60's.. This phrase was not used by older sophisticated persons.. It was simply a juvenile response to juvenile name calling.. Some dumb kid would say: "You're Stupid" the simple and quick response would be "I know you are but what am I".. Sometimes (probably when first used) a good come back to one who was truly stupid, because it confounds them, confuses them.. "Uh uh uh, um, you're stupid?"
In actuallity, the phrase would go back and forth, several times.. "You're stupid", "I know you are but what am I" "You're dumb", "I know you are but what am I".. "What a jerk", "I know you are but what am I", "Jerk", "I know you are but what am I"...

Just a juvenile thing.. Used so often though (way back when) that til this day, I use the phrase in response to good compliments.. Most people my age, or close too, enjoy and laugh :)

Example: "You're cute" my response "I know you are but what am I" :)

I know you are but what am I 

The best come back to any insult in the history of the planet. Using this phrase will completely destroy and annihilate your component, so only use of absolutely necessary. (Say they think Sam and cat is a good TV show)
Fred:Our mom just died

Joe:I know you are but what am I

I know you are but what am I 

Basically you can't come back from it unless you use an Uno reverse card. An op roast for kids 7-10
Gay1:your mum gay lol
Gay2:no u

Gay1:uno reverse card

Gay2:I know you are but what am I

Gay1:fuck
More from Urban Dictionary
The striver is an interesting phenomenon that is seen across college campuses. In essence, the striver is an over-achiever who comes from a working or middle class family. He may be an immigrant. He may have been a slacker in HS who was "born again" into an academic wunderkind. Or he may just be an over-achiever who is keeping at it.

The striver is willing to sacrifice his social life at the expense of Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. The striver is the guy who stays at the library long after you are gone. The striver is the guy who takes 30 credits/semester and considers anything below an A/4.0 failure. The striver doesn't work on campus, he is too busy finding ways to pad his resume instead of working retail or workstudy. The striver lets his grades pay his education by applying to ten scholarships a year.

The striver is a future Soros/Fullbright/Rhodes/Gates/Marshall/etc. fellow. The striver lives to study. For the striver, their fun comes from the rewards they expect to receive in return for their diligence. Be it Law School, B-School, academia, or politics. The striver seeks to find the American Dream through academic success.
Anthony was a striver. He transfered from a TTT to an IVY and graduated in 2 years. He studied his ass off and went to Penn Law. He got a Biglaw offer. But lost it all because of an unmoderated mesasgeboard.

Successful strivers:
- Barack Obama
- Harold Koh
Striver by URM Striver January 3, 2009
Word of the Day on August 15, 2026

SkyPesos 

Delta SkyMiles, also known as SkyPesos, is the frequent flyer program of Delta Airlines. It has a very poor value and hard to use.
- I'm trying to book an award flight to Paris, but I only have 70,000 SkyPesos
- Just forget about it, you don't have enough SkyPesos to fly anywhere.
SkyPesos by 404_name_not_found December 6, 2018
Word of the Day on August 14, 2026

Quiche Peanemis

Quirky niche peak cinema analysis
It describes the analysis of a media piece which is quirky and niche, yet peak.
Give me the quiche peanemis on the movie I missed.
Quiche Peanemis by Mushroom2241 June 17, 2026
Word of the Day on August 13, 2026

Hate Draft

1. Select a player (real or fantasy) during a sports draft to spite or anger one or more of your opponents because they had intended to select him/her.

2. Select a player (real or fantasy) during a sport draft to put one or more of your opponents at a strategic disadvantage.
1. Billy hate drafted Chad OchoCinco because he knew Sam had wanted him since he is from Cincinnati. Billy already had plenty of players to fill that position but wanted to make sure Sam didn't get him.

2. Billy hate drafted Peyton Manning because he was the only good quarterback left and he knew Sam had been planning on drafting him.
Hate Draft by pffler September 1, 2009
Word of the Day on August 12, 2026
"I can pull James Bond stunts in a jalopy."
jalopy by watson November 20, 2002
Word of the Day on August 11, 2026

Utility beer 

Utility beer is the beer you keep around for the day-to-day moments when beer is a necessity to assist in pedestrian activities (golf, plumbing, yardwork, babysitting, staff meetings, Zoom calls). For the beer snob it is the beer you save for neighbors when they drop in at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday. It is differentiated from the actual high-end beer you save for special events, holidays, and special tastings.
Person 1: Dave, did you bring along those hazy craft IPA's so we could drink while cleaning Lyle's pool?
Person 2: Nope. I just have a bunch of utility beer that Steve dumped on me. Good enough for this. It is only 10:30 a.m.
Utility beer by lakeshore February 1, 2022
Word of the Day on August 10, 2026
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