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In few occasions I've heard that actors and characters in tv add another 'you' when they are talking to somebody else resulting in an odd "you [insert something here] you" -sentence.

Example: Guy 1: "I finally did it!" Guy 2:"You sure did, you sly dog you!"

Questions that bother me: What is this sort of sentence/idiom/expression called and what is it for? Is it proper language or slang? What does it imply and why would you use it?

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    It is colloquial spoken English, although little used these days. It is a form of emphasis and, in this case, used in grudging (or wry) admiration. I wouldn't try to use it unless you are very sure of yourself. I think that there should be a comma before the final you.
    – Mick
    Nov 28, 2016 at 16:24
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    It's emphatic repetition, as in You [are a] sly dog, you [are a sly dog], with many of the repeated elements "deleted". Or maybe not, since you can't exactly apply that rationale to He's a sly dog, him!
    – FumbleFingers
    Nov 28, 2016 at 16:27
  • @FumbleFingers I would say that the correct expansion is You [are a] sly dog, you [are]. Your second example is almost there: He's a sly dog, he is!
    – Mick
    Nov 28, 2016 at 16:32
  • @Mick : What I meant by my maybe not above was that we can't simply say the final element represents the surviving part of you [are] or you [are a sly dog] after deletion. That line works for you because the subject/object versions of the pronoun are identical. But not with he because you have to switch to him if you delete the final repeated verb is.
    – FumbleFingers
    Nov 28, 2016 at 17:27
  • @FumbleFingers, Mick So it's not a case of you appearing in Determiner function with sly dog appearing as the nominal then, a la you bastard or we band of brothers? And then that last you is definitely not a right dislocation, right?
    – Araucaria - Not here any more.
    Nov 29, 2016 at 23:46

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I agree with @FumbleFingers, that repeating the personal pronoun is empathic repetition. It is only slang and should be omitted from formal writing; at present and for the near future. It implies that you are putting an emphasis on the fact that this person is a sly dog, and they probably beat you at something. It can be used to vent this feeling, and it is used by some people in speech to express this.

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  • That answers most of my questions. Thank you very much. I should probably refrain from using it just to be sure. Out of curiosity: is 'you [noun] you' used more in UK or US english?
    – Toteemi
    Dec 1, 2016 at 6:37
  • @Toteemi I don't really know, because I do not hear that much UK English, but I would guess it is more common in US English.
    – user7214865
    Dec 1, 2016 at 23:46

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