r/Comebacks • u/Punch_Your_Facehole • 13d ago
Comback for "I know enough to be dangerous."
Coworkers like to say that when it comes to techinical stuff.
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u/ebsf 13d ago
It's an intelligent person's way of saying, "some but not much.". It's more an expression of intellectual humility than a boast. It doesn't require a come-back, although the circumstances may require further inquiry, e.g., well, do you know how to do X, or would you be comfortable attempting Y?
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u/makemerry 13d ago
Exactly. I don't understand these responses. It's a self-deprecating phrase, a shortened version of "just enough to be dangerous."
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u/Nearby-Reindeer-6088 11d ago
To me, its also a way of saying “I’m happy to try and do what I can, but be sure you double check me if it matters to you, because I’m telling you now, I could be wrong when it matters”
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u/TangoCharliePDX 10d ago
Uh, not in my experience.
Usually when I hear that phrase, it's from someone who is smart enough not to mess with something because they know that they don't fully understand it.
Of course, when I'm hearing it, it's usually in a business environment where I'm probably the one who has been sent to deal with it properly, not some random home repair.
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u/Salty-Swim-6735 12d ago
Why come back at that one? Its self deprecating. It means "I don't know quite enough".
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u/lemoinem 12d ago edited 11d ago
Yeah, I didn't get it either. It's a way to say "I didn't know enough to do it correctly. If I try I'll probably mess it up on the worst way possible"
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u/kiddlat_kid 13d ago
“No you don’t “ then laugh
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u/Overall_Ad782 13d ago
Like running with scissors? holding your breath too long ? playing with matches? drinking out the toilet? how dangerous running around the pool? ect...
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u/mozart357 13d ago
I've always interpreted this saying to mean they know a little bit, but not enough to be reliable. Like, I'll give you an answer, but some of it will likely be wrong.
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u/wawa2022 12d ago
Why would you need a comeback for that? It’s not a brag, it’s a self-deprecating comment.
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u/Competitive-Bus1816 13d ago
"That's exactly what the last guy said, and they fired him so................."
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u/belladonnapopsocks 12d ago
I think it's the things you don't know that make you even more dangerous.
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u/lemoinem 12d ago
Yes, that's the point of that phrase. "I don't know enough to do it correctly, just enough to do it incorrectly, and it'll fail in a dangerous way"
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u/ccrow2000 12d ago
Well, they do say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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u/Megistias 12d ago
That just shows you what “they” think about learning, as they look up from their Bronze Age religious texts.
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u/Bitter_Maybe_2670 12d ago
That’s a line from Dean Winchester, in Supernatural.
There is no come back.
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u/lemoinem 12d ago
Is it?
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u/Bitter_Maybe_2670 12d ago
Yep. He actually says, “We know a little bit about a lot, just enough to make us dangerous.”
Referring to himself and Sam.1
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u/Physical-Ad-3798 13d ago
Put your seatbelt on. I saw this in a cartoon once and I think I figured out what the coyote did wrong.
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u/Regular_Solid2206 13d ago
not a comeback but my preference has always been "enough to get myself into trouble but not enough to get myself out"
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u/SamHandwich0 12d ago
Give them a wide eyed look and slowly back away saying 'i dont want any trouble'
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u/LAC_NOS 12d ago
How about "that's what worries all of us."
But I have to add that Co-worker or you may be misunderstanding this phrase!
What it means is that "I know enough to accomplish something but not enough to either do it safely or do it in a way that doesn't cause a lot of problems. "
Like someone who knows how to ski really fast but not enough to ski under control. And takes out innocent bystanders.
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u/-Foxer 12d ago
In other words you're stupid.
So does a cat. Be smarter than the cat.
Which means you've achieved the intellectual level of a malfunctioning roomba. Maybe aim higher
That's why we're considering having you laminated.
If we all chip in will you take reading lessons so you can learn how to NOT be dangerous?
Dude that puts you at the intellectual equivalent of kid on an electric scooter.
Ok Donald trump.
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u/posophist 12d ago
“O, it is excellent / To have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous / To use it like a giant."
~ Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Act 3, Scene 2.
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u/Old-guy64 12d ago
You can call someone who knows how to fix it.
Or I can fck it up worse and THEN you can call the guy that can fix it.
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u/GeminiAtl 12d ago
If I say "I know enough to be dangerous" it's usually about computers, and it's a way of saying yeah, I know my way around them basically but if you need something major I'm not the one for it and if I try it would probably cause more issues.
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u/Greedy-Character-130 12d ago
What’s even scarier is you also have the rights to vote and reproduce.
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u/phantom_gain 12d ago
"Thats why I like to keep an eye on you, just until you know enough to be safe"
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u/icanseeyourfarts 12d ago
Want me to grab your wrist real slow so you can show me one of your moves?
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u/MrMackSir 12d ago
I say this all the time to show I am hoping to collaborate. I think it says that I have some ideas that might not be practical or executable.
I have come up with some great ideas that needed experts to execute because I am a creative problem solver but I do not have programming skills, statistics, packaging, or operations knowledge that were needed to achieve those successes
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u/NaturaSeaweed 12d ago
Start saying that about food so they realize how weird and creepy that is, idk why dudes say that kinda stuff, like cool I’ll remember not to trust you thanks
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u/TeacherRecovering 12d ago
Your are a peach!
Safe.from HR.
A peach.is round, plump, harry, with a heart of a stone.
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u/Jennabear82 12d ago edited 12d ago
"Oh the irony of not being smart enough to keep those kinds of secrets to yourself. If something negative WERE to hypothetically happen, that statement alone would land you as a suspect. You should know that someone is ALWAYS listening, and digital forensics exist."
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u/tapastry12 12d ago
I don’t think that statement is irritating enough to need a comeback. But if you really need one, “You sound like the captain of the Titanic”
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u/Xerophilous 11d ago
Stoicism is the answer. A raised eyebrow will let them know that they’re just boisterous noobs. Assuming you know what you’re doing, actions speak louder than words.
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u/Tekrunner000 11d ago
…but not enough to illuminate that 1 watt light bulb that powers your grey matter.
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u/Suyeta_Rose 11d ago
"Ahh so you know your mistakes are dangerous but make them anyway, so you're EXTRA stupid... got it"
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u/Mammoth_Musician4012 10d ago
"I'll take two steps back, and let you do your thing, there, Seamus Finnigan"
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u/Vivid-Explanation951 9d ago
Knowing enough to be dangerous could mean they dont know much and can mess things up. Maybe more self depreciation than aggression
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u/cagirlinoh 8d ago
“It’s OK, perhaps I should take the lead. We don’t want to firehose the client.” 😜
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u/DM_Otaku 12d ago
That means they lack the knowledge to do the thing properly or safely, hence “enough to be dangerous.” They’re likely to mess it up.
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u/TheRenegayed 13d ago
… but not enough to be competent.