Do you say this? Or hear people say this?
Why do we say it, you know:
So how was the movie? Yeah no it was great
WHY!?!?!?!?!?!
I never heard/read the expression in the context of your example. To me it’s a semi-sarcastic rebuttal of what the first party is saying, and more forceful than a simple “no”.
Yeah = I see/understand/grok what you just said (often dragged out : “yeaaaah”)
No = but you’re very wrong. (always terse “No.”)
That being said, wiktionary does mention a more noncommital usage, so I’unno. Never heard it that way. Possibly a regional thing ?
Most sportsman on Australian TV start their answer to any question with,“Yeah, No”.
I do this at times. I’d say “yeah” is being used as a sentence filler like “um” or “ah”.
Also, I think some people find simply saying “no” to be rude. They probably add the yeah to sound less contrarian. “See, I’m not disagreeing. Yeah. I mean, no. But yeah”.
“Yeah, no” is said with the ‘yeah’ part said in a very looooong, skeptical, disbelieving way; follwed by a quick and flat “no”.
Not in Melbourne.
Yeah man I agree with that, it is unusual though.
Yeah, nah, just taking it one game at a time.
I’m guilty of doing it myself, it’s sort of like saying “Umm” when you’re thinking about what to say. I’m not actually sure why the “nah” bit, it’s like a far north Queenslander putting “ehhh” at the end of each sentence.
One a side note, great drinking game is watch/listen to an Australian male sportsperson being interviewed, take a shot every time they say the word “obviously”
You need to come to Australia. We do it All The Time - it’ll do your head in.
I don’t think your example is very canonical though. The “yeah” part is something like “yeah, I hear you, I see where you’re coming from” and then the “no” part is a “but on the other hand”.
So…
“You coming down the pub with us?”/“Yeah, no, I’ve still got a heap of work to get through”
translation: “normally I’d be right with you, but…”
Or…
“We thought we might all chip in fifty bucks for Aunty Eileen’s present”/“Yeah,no, I’m a bit strapped for cash this week”
translation: “she’s definitely worth it, but…”
Basically the “yeah” is a softening of the “no”, trying to be more sympathetic.
I’m more likely to say “umm, no”, particularly in a sarcastic sense (i.e. meaning “no f’ing way in Hell”).
This is better suited to IMHO than GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
They often say “yeah no” on the Big Bang Theory.
Some years ago I worked with a team of engineers who were working with Japanese engineers on a long-term project.
The Americans complained that when the Japanese said “yes,” they were really saying “I understand” or “I take note of it” rather than “I agree” or even “That’s correct.”
I figure “yeah, no” just means “I acknowledge you, but it ain’t happening.”
The “Tolkien Professor” Corey Olsen does this a lot in his podcasts. Sounds silly.
It reminds me of Vicky on Little Britain.
Here’s one example I’m sure of (because I added it myself). "The Big Bang Theory" The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem (TV Episode 2008) - Quotes - IMDb
It’s just like this, but backwards.
I’ve heard it, as in “Yeah” = acknowledging the question and “No” = the answer is no and I’ll get into why. But the majority usage would be the long drawn out sarcastic Yeaaahhhhhh, NO!
The comedy creation “Dave Podmore” is an English cricketer who speaks in stereotypical aussie cricket-speak, including the aforementioned “yeah, no”
See attached link. NSFW due to use of the word “cock” “fuck” and “June Whitfield”
Straight Dope never fails to please. It makes sense now. Im jamming on some gourmet flesh now.