# 'Yeah, no' **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816 "2014-11-16T23:37:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Luk3112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Luk3112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luk3112)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/1 "2014-11-16T23:37:16Z")
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!?!?!?!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/2 "2014-11-16T23:48:34Z")
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](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yeah,_no), so I’unno. Never heard it that way. Possibly a regional thing ? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/3 "2014-11-17T00:00:07Z")
Most sportsman on Australian TV start their answer to any question with,“Yeah, No”. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/4 "2014-11-17T00:28:13Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/5 "2014-11-17T00:41:05Z")
“Yeah, no” is said with the ‘yeah’ part said in a very _looooong_, skeptical, disbelieving way; follwed by a quick and flat “no”. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/6 "2014-11-17T00:47:42Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > “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. ---
**Author:** ![Luk3112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Luk3112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luk3112)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/7 "2014-11-17T00:50:02Z")
> [@HowSoonIsThen](#): > > 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 man I agree with that, it is unusual though. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/8 "2014-11-17T01:04:21Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_York](#): > > Most sportsman on Australian TV start their answer to any question with,“Yeah, No”. 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” ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/9 "2014-11-17T01:09:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/10 "2014-11-17T01:10:24Z")
I’m more likely to say “umm, no”, particularly in a sarcastic sense (i.e. meaning “no f’ing way in Hell”). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/11 "2014-11-17T02:20:02Z")
This is better suited to IMHO than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/12 "2014-11-17T02:38:35Z")
They often say “yeah no” on the Big Bang Theory. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/13 "2014-11-17T02:58:22Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/14 "2014-11-17T04:49:27Z")
The “Tolkien Professor” Corey Olsen does this a lot in his podcasts. Sounds silly. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/15 "2014-11-17T04:53:11Z")
It reminds me of Vicky on Little Britain. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/16 "2014-11-17T06:24:24Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > They often say “yeah no” on the Big Bang Theory. 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](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1256037/quotes?item=qt2112618) > [@](#): > > Ramona Nowitzki: You’re in love with Dr. Cooper. > > Penny: Uh, yeah, no, that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/17 "2014-11-17T12:05:30Z")
[Earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=593102) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/18 "2014-11-17T12:31:16Z")
It’s [just like this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1moD4-gLxI), 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! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/19 "2014-11-17T13:15:32Z")
The comedy creation “Dave Podmore” is an English cricketer who speaks in stereotypical aussie cricket-speak, including the aforementioned “yeah, no” [See attached link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw6p_BwiBEA). NSFW due to use of the word “cock” “fuck” and “June Whitfield” ---
**Author:** ![Luk3112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Luk3112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luk3112)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816/20 "2014-11-27T00:06:25Z")
Straight Dope never fails to please. It makes sense now. Im jamming on some gourmet flesh now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-no/704816.md?page=2)