History Main / YesNoAnswerInterpretation

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there.[[hottip:note: In fact, even step 3 alone implies this trope is at least being thought of, even if it wasn't begun normally, because saying things about an answer to a question implies there has been a question and an answer.]] Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not usually, for obvious reasons, a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

-->'''COLONEL MUSTARD:''' Wadsworth, am I right in thinking there is nobody else in this house?
-->'''WADSWORTH:''' Mmm, no.
-->'''COLONEL MUSTARD:''' Then there IS someone else in this house?
-->'''WADSWORTH:''' No, sorry. I said "no," meaning "yes."
-->'''COLONEL MUSTARD:''' 'No,' meaning 'yes'!? Look, I want a straight answer. Is there someone else or isn't there, yes or no?
-->'''WADSWORTH:''' Um, no.
-->'''COLONEL MUSTARD:''' "No," there IS, or "no," there ISN'T?
-->'''WADSWORTH:''' Yes.
-->'''MRS. WHITE:''' [smashing her glass against the fireplace] PLEASE!

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there.[[hottip:note: In fact, even step 3 alone implies this trope is at least being thought of, even if it wasn't begun normally, because saying things about an answer to a question implies there has been a question and an answer.]] Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not usually a simple "yes" or "no" for obvious reasons); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there.[[hottip:note: In fact, even step 3 alone implies this trope is at least being thought of, even if it wasn't begun normally, because saying things about an answer to a question implies there has been a question and an answer.]] Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

--> '''[[CloudCuckoolander Pinkie Pie]]''': [makes a series of gestures that seem to be miming various actions, including digging at the ground]

** In "Owl's Well That Ends Well", Spike sarcastically interprets a RockBottom + TemptingFate situation by this model. "Could it get any worse?" (It starts to rain.) "I guess that's a 'yes'."

--> '''Applejack''': I've got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple brown betty... uh, the dessert, [[EdibleThemeNaming not my auntie]]. What do you say there, best friend?

* From ''Film/{{Clue}}'':

--> '''Applejack''': I've got apple pie, apple fritters, apple tarts, apple dumplings, apple crisps, apple crumblers, and apple brown betty... uh, the dessert, not my auntie. What do you say there, best friend?

# Alice asks Bob a yes--no question, or communicates something else that should get a yes--no response (like asking for or offering something, etc.)

--> '''Angel''': [looks exasperated, coughs enormoursly and lifts Fluttershy's chin to make her look up]

-->'''MRS. WHITE:''' [smashing her glass against the fireplace] PLEASE!!!

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there. In fact, even step 3 alone implies this trope is at least being thought of, even if it wasn't begun normally. Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there. It's also somehow implied in any case as long as step 3 is used. Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there. Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer, a NonAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

* From ''{{Clue}}'':

* From ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean: At World's End'':
-->'''Davy Jones:''' Do you fear death?
-->'''Dying [[spoiler:Norrington]]:''' ''(stabs Jones and expires)''
-->'''Davy Jones:''' I'll take it as a "no".

* From ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean: At world's end'':

** In "Owl's Well That Ends Well", Spike sarcastically interprets a RockBottom + TemptingFate situation by this model. "Could it get any worse?" (It starts to rain.) "I guess that's a yes."

The trope is very flexible, as long as the three parts are there. Step 2 could be verbal or nonverbal. It could be an ImpliedAnswer or something completely unrelated; it could be an indecisive answer or a very decisive one (just not a simple "yes" or "no"); it could be ambiguously an answer, a perfectly clear answer, perfectly clearly not an answer to the question at all, an apparent bizarre NonSequitur, and so forth. As such, step 3 could be a perfectly reasonable response, ComicallyMissingThePoint, [[CaptainObvious stating the obvious]], [[DeadpanSnarker sarcasm]], wishful thinking, etc.

** In "Owl's Well That Ends Well", Spike verbally and sarcastically interprets a RockBottom + TemptingFate situation by this model. "Could it get any worse?" (It starts to rain.) "I guess that's a yes."

* From {{Clue}}:

# Alice asks Bob a yes-no question, or communicates something else that should get a yes-no response (like asking for or offering something, etc.)

A three-part (comedic?) dialogue trope that goes as follows:

1. Alice asks Bob a yes-no question, or communicates something else that should get a yes-no response (like asking for or offering something, etc.)

2. Bob does something else than respond by just saying "yes" or "no".

3. Alice asks how Bob's response is to be interpreted as an answer and/or offers her own interpretation. ("Is that a 'yes' or 'no'?" "Is that a 'yes'?" "I'll take that as a 'no'." etc.)

Examples:

{{Film}}:

WesternAnimation:

-->'''Dr. Marmalade:''' Lord Reginald, are you all right? [shrieks and explosions are heard] I'm sorry, was that a yes?