I Second That – Meaning, Origin and Usage

If you’re new to the phrase “I second that”, you can be forgiven for thinking it means that someone is about to do something so long as someone else does it first. (You may have also noticed that Google Translate doesn’t like the phrase.) However, the meaning of the term is quite similar to this, and this will be revealed when you read on.

We will also cover how the phrase may have originated, and how the phrase is used in a variety of different ways today, and to what end. We’ll provide some examples to give you the full scope of how the phrase may be used. Finally, we will also run through some similar and synonymous sayings.

So, without further ado, let’s get moving along.

What’s the meaning of the phrase “I second that”?

The phrase “I second that” is a statement that means “I agree”. On its own, however, the phrase means nothing. It has to be said right after an opinion, idea or strategy has been declared or suggested.

The phrase “I second that” can also mean “I support that”, or “I’m in agreement”. The phrase “I second that” can also be considered the short form of a longer phrase, specifically “I second that motion”. Or it can also be considered a longer form of the shorter phrase “I second”. These all mean the same thing.

While the phrase has formal historical origins, it can also be used in everyday informal conversation. Speaking of which, let’s take a look at those origins…

What’s the origin of the phrase “I second that”?

The phrase “I second that”, or “I second that motion” comes from the United States, and it dates back to the formal rules of parliamentary procedure published in 1876, under the title Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies. A deliberative assembly is basically any group of people that are going to make a decision together, and it is traditionally used in politics for making new laws and making amendments to the Constitution. Over time, different editions of these rules have been published, including the most well known one which is Robert’s Rules of Order.

To quote Wikipedia, the basics of the rules are “A member of a deliberative assembly has the right to attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote. The process of making a decision is done through a motion, which is a proposal to do something. The formal steps in handling a motion are the making of a motion, having a second, stating the motion, having debate on the motion, putting the motion to a vote, and announcing the results of the vote.”

In other words, a motion, in this sense, is a specific proposal that the group of people can vote on. A motion will only be considered for debate or vote if one of the assembly members supports the motion, which they can indicate by stating either “I second that”, or “I second that motion” following the motion being initially put forward. This signals that there is enough support to move the motion forward for discussion, debate, or a vote.

Despite the phrase having such formal, traditional origins, people continue to use the phrase today in all manner of contexts, which leads us nicely onto our next section.

How do people use the phrase “I second that”?

As you may imagine, the phrase “I second that” still sees a great deal of use whenever people are gathered into a formal group, such as a committee, in order to strategise and make decisions as a group about how they should proceed.

However, in addition to the use of the phrase in politics and political campaigns, the phrase also sees a great deal of use in corporate environments. For example, stockholders of a company may choose to have a meeting about the year ahead and what actions should be taken in the light of an ever changing economy.

That said however, the phrase is not limited to such formal use alone, and can be used by anybody. For instance, when a marketing team is brainstorming ideas for marketing a product or service, lots of ideas may be put forward, but only a small handful of these ideas will make it through to the next stage of the process. Someone will have to put forward a motion, and someone else will have to second it before it can be debated on.

But that’s not all. People also use the phrase even more informally. For instance, a WhatsApp group of friends may have lots of suggestions about the arrangements for their next gathering. But for any one of these plans to be debated, you will need to have more than one person, i.e. the person who suggested it (or in other words, put forward the motion), and one other, for the suggestion to be worth debating as a group.

Here are some quick examples:

Formal: “I move that we adjourn the meeting.” “I second that motion.”

Informal: “I think we should order a takeaway.” “I second!”

What are some other ways of saying “I second that”?

There are many words and phrases that are similar and synonymous with the phrase “I second that”. Here are some examples for your perusal:

• I agree (with him/her/them)
• I’m in agreement
• I support that
• I’d support that
• That’s a good idea
• Yes, we should debate that
• Yes, let’s vote on it

Final word

So, to summarise, the phrase “I second that” is a statement that means “I agree”. It is usually spoken right after an opinion or idea has been declared or suggested. Although the phrase has very formal and traditional origins, the phrase is often used today in many informal contexts as well.

For example, the phrase can be used in politics or in business meetings, or simply in WhatsApp or Discord groups to discuss social arrangements such as where to meet or how to spend their time.