很久以前有一首歌叫 "Takes Two To Tango"。歌詞的意義是說很多事情你可以一個人做，你可以一個人去划船，一個人睡覺，一個人獨酌，但是你必須要兩人才能跳探戈。

雷根用這一句成語來比喻跟蘇俄的和解關係， Reagan said, :"For ten years détente was based on words by them [the Russians] and not any words to back them up. And we need some action that they — it takes two to tango — that they want to tango also." 使這一成語風行世界。除了好的用意外，它也有負面的意義。常比喻事情不會是單方面引起的。如: "It takes at least two to tango for conspiracy purposes."

中國也有一句類似成語「一個巴掌拍不響」。出於清·曹雪芹《紅樓夢》第五十八回：“襲人道：'一個巴掌拍不響'，老的也太不公些，小的也太可惡些。”

然而實際上，探戈也可以一個人跳。 兩年前有一支行列舞 Tango With The Sheriff (與警察探戈，註: The Sheriff應當是指作曲家Dave Sheriff，因為歌詞都跟警察無關)，有一點探戈的味道，但純粹是單人跳的行列舞。歌詞詼諧，旋律優美，節奏清楚，舞步簡單，很容易學，在客廳就可舞動起來，達到很好的運動效果。請看下面的示範。

單人探戈 (Line Dance 排舞/行列舞)。這影片剪接得很好，後半段，換個方面就由另一組人示範，讓人知道又是新一輪回。

若兩人面對面，男女用相反的方向，也可以跳成雙人舞。

I can do all the dances but I just can't handle a tango
The tango is the one dance that is really got me beat
The rhythm of the music gets to me
The words of the song and the melody
But my feet won't follow
so I think I'll have to give in gracefully

I can waltz and I can two step
I can even do the light fandango
I can swing and I can stomp
without ever getting a foot wrong
But this tempo really gets the better of me
It just can't seem to make me see
The way to do it right
So I think I'll have to sit and be lonely

The tango is the one dance I just can't seem to master
And try as I may I just can't get it right
I 'm desperately trying to understand
The rhythm and the music coming from the band
If I can get it soon
It looks as if I'll have to stay all night

I can do all the dances but I can't handle a tango
The tango is the one dance that's really got me beat
The rhythm of the music gets to me
The words of the song and the melody
But my feet won't follow
so I think I'll have to give in gracefully

不過還是雙人的探戈才有浪漫的情調。

You can sail in a ship by yourself,
Take a nap or a nip by yourself.
You can get into debt on your own.
There are lots of things that you can do alone.
(But it)
Takes two to tango ... 

參考資料:
Tango With the Sheriff 舞步說明

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBODP6W39QY