History Main / CrypticallyUnhelpfulAnswer

'''Kyoya''': Well, it ''is'' a music room.\\

* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': Whenever Goku Black and [[spoiler:Future Zamasu]] are asked about the kind of universe they envision which requires [[KillAllHumans the utter extinction of all mortal life]], they simply reply that it is not something a mortal could comprehend, their word choice only cementing their GodComplex.

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* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Both {{Lampshaded}} and {{Justified}}: Frodo frustratedly {{Lampshades}} this when asking advice from an elf named Gildor, who merely responds that Frodo can choose one of two options (of which Frodo was already well aware). "It is also said: go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." [[ActuallyPrettyFunny Gildor finds this amusing]], but clarifies that [[JustifiedTrope he isn't really sure what Frodo should do either]], and doesn't want to give advice that might possibly lead to a poor decision.

Whenever the heroes, and by extension the audience, have a question, it's generally good form for it to be answered at some point, lest the audience get pissed and demand their money back. These questions can vary in importance, but when it comes to the CrypticallyUnhelpfulAnswer, they sometimes have one thing in common: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The answers are cryptic. As well as unhelpful.]]

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* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Both {{Lampshaded}} and {{Justified}}: Frodo frustratedly {{Lampshades}} this when asking advice from an elf named Gildor, who merely responds that Frodo can choose one of two options (of which Frodo was already well aware). "It is also said: go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." Gildor finds this amusing, but clarifies that [[JustifiedTrope he isn't really sure what Frodo should do either]], and doesn't want to give advice that might possibly lead to a poor decision.

** The spell Augury told the user whether committing some act would be a good idea or not. The Dungeon Master was advised to only give a vague and general answer to the caster's question.
** The spell Legend Lore would provide information about a specified person, place or thing, but the data would be in some cryptic form (an anagram, cipher, code, rhyme, riddle, etc.).

* ''WesternAnimation/DungeonsAndDragons'': The Dungeon Master constantly provided support to his chosen heroes on how to survive the episode's central situation... in the form of riddles. It was not unusual for them to snark about it.

* Warden from ''Literature/TheBoneSeason'' is accomplished at these. When Paige asks him why pollen of the [[ImmortalBreaker poppy anemone]] had such a horrible effect on the Rephaite Kraz Sargas, his reply is puzzling and evasive.

* Warden from ''Literature/TheBoneSeason'' is accomplished at these. When Paige asks him why pollen of the [[ImmortalBreaker poppy anemone]] had such a horrible effect on the Rephaite Kraz Sargas, he gives a quite puzzling answer.

* Warden from ''Literature/TheBoneSeason'' is a class-A Cryptic Bastard. When Paige, the book's protagonist, confronts him with the allegation that he'd been trying to seduce her on someone else's orders, his first response is to swirl his wine and say, "And are you seduced?" He does answer the charges eventually.

* Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously was famously asked the definition of pornography and said "I know it when I see it". Well that's about as clear as mud.