- Used to state that the reverse of what was just said is also true or applicable. The other way around.
Explanation
Origin
- Latin, meaning the position having been turned or the turn having been exchanged.
- Adopted into English as a concise way to express reciprocity or reversal of a statement.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- And the other way around.
- Same goes for him/her/it/them.
- Back at ya. (Only in specific contexts like exchanging favors or insults)
Milder/Standard:
- Conversely. (More formal)
- And also in reverse.
- Mutually. / Reciprocally.
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in virtually all contexts, formal and informal. It's a standard, efficient, and widely understood term.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners need to grasp that it specifically reverses the subject/object or direction of the action/statement just made.
- It must follow a statement where such a reversal makes logical sense.
Examples
- I don't trust him, and vice versa. (Meaning: he doesn't trust me either)
- Team A supports Team B, and vice versa. (Meaning: Team B also supports Team A)
- You can travel from New York to Boston by train, or vice versa. (Meaning: you can also travel from Boston to New York by train)
Dialogue
Anna: I find John really helpful with technical issues.
Ben: Yeah, he's great. And vice versa, apparently – he told me you give him excellent feedback on his reports.
Anna: Oh, that's good to hear! We make a good team then.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Good design improves usability, and vice versa. They go hand-in-hand. #Design #UX
- Email: Let me know if you need help proofreading, and vice versa!
- Comment: He respects her opinion, and vice versa. It's a healthy partnership.
Response Patterns
- Usually simple acknowledgment: Okay. / Got it. / Right.
- Sometimes confirmation if the implication isn't obvious: So, she helps him too?
- Generally, it completes a thought and doesn't require a specific conversational response.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Typically none are needed, as the phrase clarifies the reciprocal nature.
- The conversation usually just proceeds from the completed statement.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a connective phrase used within a sentence or thought.
Intonation
- Often said as a concluding part of the phrase, sometimes after a slight pause.
- Stress on vice (VICE) and the first syllable of versa (VER-suh). He dislikes cats, and VICE VERSA`.
- Intonation is usually level or slightly falling.
Generation Differences
- Used and understood commonly by all generations.
Regional Variations
- Universal across English-speaking regions.