Where does the phrase "If I tell you, then I'd have to kill you" come from? I've seen it alot in movies like A walk to remember, etc. What is the meaning of this? or where did it originate from
2007-07-06 21:22:15 · 10 answers · asked by Skittles 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
The earliest movie usage I can find is from "Top Gun" (1986), but I have a feeling that it probably goes back much further.
Charlie: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Is there something wrong?
Maverick: Yes ma'am, the data on the MiG is inaccurate.
Charlie: How's that, Lieutenant?
Maverick: Well, I just happened to see a MiG 28 do a...
Goose: We!
Maverick: Uh, sorry Goose. WE happened to see a MiG 28 do a 4g negative dive.
Charlie: Where did you see this?
Maverick: Uh, that's classified.
Charlie: It's what?
Maverick: It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
2007-07-07 08:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was actually a movie line originally, but it eludes to top secret information. If the hearer doesn't have the same clearance they shouldn't have the information, to it's a warning, you can't know this information because if you did, I'd have to kill you! So, I won't tell you.
2007-07-07 08:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Kathi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"If I tell you, I'd have to kill you" is a phrase we hear jokingly all the time regarding secrets.
i read somewhere that the phase is possible to have originated in the 70's with a tory about a US marine soldier in an incident with a frenchman.
2007-07-07 07:30:21 · answer #3 · answered by Cindy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no idea about the origin, but it means that the answer to whatever was asked of them is a very big secret. if anybody else knew about it, they'd have to be killed to prevent the secret from being let out.
2007-07-07 04:29:03 · answer #4 · answered by reeyah 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It originated in the CIA many,many,moons ago,it's meaning is so secret that if I tell you,then I'd have to kill you to keep this secret a secret. (DO YOU GET IT NOW)
2007-07-07 11:23:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think movie producers made this one, but it means there is a huge secret, and that the person doesn't want it to get out.
2007-07-07 10:32:36 · answer #6 · answered by April Flower 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It started from an even more obscure phrase, "Two can keep a secret, if one of them are dead", which may (or may not) trace back to the old saying attributed to various pirates "dead men tell no tales".
2007-07-07 07:57:31 · answer #7 · answered by open4one 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It means something is TOP SECRET, meaning that anyone who knows the secret would need to be destroyed.
I dont know where it originates from, but my best guess would be the government.
2007-07-07 05:20:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where it came from but it's probably some secret no one is suppose to know about or it is dangerous for you if you know about it
2007-07-07 04:29:12 · answer #9 · answered by cheri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is from one of the Ocean movies 12 I think.
2007-07-07 15:45:14 · answer #10 · answered by Baseball_Girl 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋