History Main / ImpliedAnswer

* From ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'':

* Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower: When an imprisoned Adar asks Halbrand who is he, Halbrand turns his back on Adar and stops for a few moments, but then leaves without answering the question. Adar realizes that [[spoiler:the man in front of him might be Sauron disguised as a human]].

* In WebOriginal/TheCodelessCode, monks will frequently answer a yes or no question with "Wu" or "Null." Either means "I won't answer because you're asking the wrong question."

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Someone does not directly answer a question (and might not technically respond at all) -- but still makes him/herself crystal clear. The person who asked the question may then [[YesNoAnswerInterpretation reply "I'll take that as a [yes/no]."]]

-->'''Roz:''' "Wazowski, I hope you filed your paperwork correctly for once."\\

'''Roz:''' [[DeadpanSnarker "Your stunned silence is VERY reassuring."]]

* ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'': Lord Hong promises an informant he won't [[ExactWords speak or write any order]] for his execution. As the informant leaves, the origami figure Lord Hong was folding falls to the ground... but it seems there hadn't been enough paper for a head.

* ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'': Lord Hong promises an informant he won't tell the guards to behead him. As the informant leaves, the origami figure Lord Hong was folding falls to the ground... but it seems there hadn't been enough paper for a head.

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* From ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's 11]]'':

* From ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'':
-->'''Roz:''' "Wazowski, I hope you filed your paperwork correctly for once."\\
'''Mike:''' ''([[OhCrap forced smile]])''\\
'''Roz:''' [[DeadpanSnarker "Your stunned silence is VERY reassuring."]]

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* In cultures which have been influenced by Confucian ideas, this is the usual way to make a point. Actually spelling out one’s conclusion would seem to be rude or crass, as explaining a joke can seem in American culture. Here is an example:
--> «Mencius said to King Hsüan of Ch‘i, “Suppose a subject of Your Majesty’s, having entrusted his wife and children to the care of a friend, were to go on a trip to Ch‘u, only to find, upon his return, that his friend had allowed his wife and children to suffer cold and hunger, then what should he do about it?”
--> “Break with his friend.”
--> “If the Marshal of the Guards was unable to keep his guards in order, then what should be done about it?”
--> “Remove him from office.”
--> “If the whole realm, within the four borders was ill-governed, then what should be done about it?”
--> The King turned to his attendants and changed the subject.»
--> – Mencius, IA6, tr. D.C. Lau (Harmondsworth, Middlesex; Penguin, 1970) pp. 66-7.