Green’s Dictionary of Slang

you’re telling me! excl.

[? Gus Kahn song-title ‘You’re Telling Me’ (1932): the first OED citation]

as a ffirmative, that’s absolutely right; I don’t disagree at all, I know only too well; occas, as interrog.

[UK]‘Patrolman Craven’ Hell Riders 256: ‘Phew!’ I gasped, when we were safely inside the hotel, ‘that was a close one, Bain!’ Bain grinned [...] ‘You’re telling me!’.
[UK]Operator 1384 Devil’s Diplomats 27: [as interrog.] ‘I warn you, McCann, that Sidi is a dangerous man with a knife,’ smiled Levine. ‘You’re telling me?’.
[UK]Whizzbang Comics 14: ‘You’re telling me,’ laughs Red.
[Aus]A.W. Upfield New Shoe 139: ‘You would go crook if I ordered you to shift all those logs right outside this pub.’ ‘You’re telling me,’ snorted Moss.
[US](con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 134: ‘That nigger’s sick.’ ‘You telling me?’.
[US]S. King Christine 450: ‘But they don’t look anything alike.’ ‘You’re telling me,’ I said.
[UK]Indep. Rev. 25 Aug. 12: ‘You’re telling me,’ I thought, but said nothing.