Equivalent of “teri lal” a Hindi phrase which means “you are right” said sarcastically (but not...





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There is a saying in Hindi in India "teri lal" which translates "yours is red" which means "Whatever the case may be you are right" as in "you are always right". It is a sarcastic way of telling (usually) a know-it-all person (but not meant truly) "you are right".



Is there an equivalent version of this phrase in English?



Example




Rohan (the know-it-all): The moon is a sphere
John: hmmm
Rohan: The moon has its own light.
John: OK "teri lal" (you are right – sarcastically)











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put on hold as primarily opinion-based by MetaEd 2 days ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 3




    Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Nov 20 at 10:18






  • 28




    An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
    – Hot Licks
    Nov 20 at 12:53








  • 2




    Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
    – Mitch
    Nov 20 at 13:21






  • 3




    “Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
    – Jim
    Nov 20 at 15:29






  • 5




    Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:37

















up vote
16
down vote

favorite
4












There is a saying in Hindi in India "teri lal" which translates "yours is red" which means "Whatever the case may be you are right" as in "you are always right". It is a sarcastic way of telling (usually) a know-it-all person (but not meant truly) "you are right".



Is there an equivalent version of this phrase in English?



Example




Rohan (the know-it-all): The moon is a sphere
John: hmmm
Rohan: The moon has its own light.
John: OK "teri lal" (you are right – sarcastically)











share|improve this question















put on hold as primarily opinion-based by MetaEd 2 days ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 3




    Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Nov 20 at 10:18






  • 28




    An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
    – Hot Licks
    Nov 20 at 12:53








  • 2




    Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
    – Mitch
    Nov 20 at 13:21






  • 3




    “Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
    – Jim
    Nov 20 at 15:29






  • 5




    Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:37













up vote
16
down vote

favorite
4









up vote
16
down vote

favorite
4






4





There is a saying in Hindi in India "teri lal" which translates "yours is red" which means "Whatever the case may be you are right" as in "you are always right". It is a sarcastic way of telling (usually) a know-it-all person (but not meant truly) "you are right".



Is there an equivalent version of this phrase in English?



Example




Rohan (the know-it-all): The moon is a sphere
John: hmmm
Rohan: The moon has its own light.
John: OK "teri lal" (you are right – sarcastically)











share|improve this question















There is a saying in Hindi in India "teri lal" which translates "yours is red" which means "Whatever the case may be you are right" as in "you are always right". It is a sarcastic way of telling (usually) a know-it-all person (but not meant truly) "you are right".



Is there an equivalent version of this phrase in English?



Example




Rohan (the know-it-all): The moon is a sphere
John: hmmm
Rohan: The moon has its own light.
John: OK "teri lal" (you are right – sarcastically)








single-word-requests phrase-requests idiom-requests translation proverb-requests






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edited Nov 21 at 7:18

























asked Nov 20 at 10:10









AMN

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1,2712822




put on hold as primarily opinion-based by MetaEd 2 days ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.






put on hold as primarily opinion-based by MetaEd 2 days ago


Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.










  • 3




    Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Nov 20 at 10:18






  • 28




    An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
    – Hot Licks
    Nov 20 at 12:53








  • 2




    Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
    – Mitch
    Nov 20 at 13:21






  • 3




    “Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
    – Jim
    Nov 20 at 15:29






  • 5




    Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:37














  • 3




    Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Nov 20 at 10:18






  • 28




    An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
    – Hot Licks
    Nov 20 at 12:53








  • 2




    Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
    – Mitch
    Nov 20 at 13:21






  • 3




    “Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
    – Jim
    Nov 20 at 15:29






  • 5




    Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:37








3




3




Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 20 at 10:18




Good question. I feel like this is a perfectly commonplace situation, but I can’t think of a specific thing you’d be likely to use in English in this context. I think it would be more intonational; you might say something like, “Erm, yeah, sure… whatever you say”, but it would be the tone of voice that conveys the sarcasm. If you say the exact same words in a sprightly, cheerful voice, it would carry an entirely different meaning.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 20 at 10:18




28




28




An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 12:53






An English professor once told his class that there were numerous cases in English sentence construction where a "double negative" could mean a positive, but there was no case where a double positive could mean a negative. To which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
– Hot Licks
Nov 20 at 12:53






2




2




Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
– Mitch
Nov 20 at 13:21




Exact equivalents of all aspects of an idiom are usually very difficult. Does the Hindi phrase come from a longer story? Does 'red/lal' have connotations in other phrases that are related to this 'you are always right' idea?
– Mitch
Nov 20 at 13:21




3




3




“Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 15:29




“Yeah, right” feels like an open challenge. “Wow! You are so smart.” ( said with whatever level of intonated sarcasm you like) can sometimes be slid past the recipient ) You can add a knowing wink to other listeners when you know they also know what an idiot the speaker is.
– Jim
Nov 20 at 15:29




5




5




Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
– KRyan
Nov 20 at 15:37




Some more detail would be appreciated. The sense I get is that the goal isn’t to challenge the speaker—say they are wrong and argue the point—but rather to accept their claim in a dismissive way that says you don’t really agree but also don’t want to argue about it. “Sure, we’ll pretend you’re right because it’s not worth anyone’s time arguing with you, you think you know everything.” If that’s the case, alwayslearning’s answer is by-far the best. But the question could be clearer about this, if I am getting the right impression.
– KRyan
Nov 20 at 15:37










11 Answers
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accepted










Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say



TFD(idioms):




whatever you say



I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you.
Usually
implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person
, but is
going to do it to avoid a conflict.



A: "Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told
you." B: "OK, whatever you say, boss."



A: "I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want." B:
"Whatever you say."



Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.







share|improve this answer

















  • 6




    It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:40






  • 5




    This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
    – Monty Harder
    Nov 20 at 19:23






  • 18




    cf. "If you say so..."
    – Tashus
    Nov 20 at 22:27






  • 5




    @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
    – alwayslearning
    Nov 21 at 5:56






  • 1




    I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
    – Paul Beverage
    Nov 21 at 18:07


















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The most direct parallel might be the English expression "Yeah, right."



On the surface, it literally means, Yes, you are correct, but is universally accepted as meaning just the opposite, e.g., "No way," or "As if."






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  • 3




    It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
    – Barmar
    Nov 20 at 16:10






  • 4




    This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
    – only_pro
    Nov 20 at 17:55






  • 4




    Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
    – Peter Wone
    Nov 21 at 0:48








  • 2




    Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
    – Ister
    Nov 21 at 8:13






  • 1




    Another great answer!
    – Fattie
    Nov 22 at 3:18


















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14
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In English, just like in most languages, the perception of sarcasm lies in inflexion, modulation of intonation, rather than the words themselves.



One might say "Oh, really?" and intonation alone can make it a sarcastic remark or not.
Likewise, depending on context, several other remarks can be sarcastic and ironic.




  • "How interesting!"

  • "You don't say!"

  • "You're so knowledgeable!"

  • "X, you're here to educate us."


More about sarcasm in 1 and 2






share|improve this answer



















  • 1




    While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
    – KRyan
    Nov 20 at 15:31










  • Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
    – Ister
    Nov 21 at 8:14


















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7
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There's a Scottish term for this. It's "Aye, right". It has to be said with a fair amount of sarcasm.




When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!! - https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/scottish-sayings/




The joke goes that a teacher is explaining double negatives to her class and says that although two negatives make a positive, there are no examples where two positives make a negative. From the back of the classroom comes the phrase "Aye, right".



-- Just noticed Hot Licks' comment above. I guess it's not purely a Scottish thing!






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  • Yet another good answer!
    – Fattie
    Nov 22 at 3:19




















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5
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There's an old joke about an English teacher telling the class, “In English, a double negative is a positive. But a double positive is never negative!”



A student tells her, “Yeah, yeah.



(Or @alwayslearning’s excellent answer.)






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    4
    down vote













    If said with a sarcastic tone, a simple "Sure." is enough.




    Sure




    1. colloq. (orig. N. Amer.). Used sarcastically to express scepticism or incredulity. Frequently in oh, sure, yeah, sure. Cf. right int. 1.







    share|improve this answer

















    • 4




      The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
      – Joe McMahon
      Nov 20 at 21:46






    • 1




      Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
      – mckenzm
      Nov 21 at 2:31










    • yet ANOTHER good answer!
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:19


















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    Indeed, perhaps.



    Indeed is used widely and idiomatically both interrogatively and as an interjection, expressing (according to the intonation) irony, contempt, amazement, incredulity, or the like (OED)




    ‘That's Jarsper's.’ ‘Indeed?’ said Mr. Datchery.




    Edwin Drood (Dickens, 1870) xviii. 141 (OED)






    share|improve this answer





















    • Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
      – Ruadhan2300
      Nov 20 at 15:22










    • This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
      – Esco
      Nov 26 at 0:32






    • 1




      However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
      – Esco
      Nov 26 at 0:36










    • Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
      – Dan
      Nov 26 at 1:07


















    up vote
    3
    down vote













    I agree with alwayslearning's answer, but in New Zealand English, the phrase "Yeah right" is strongly associated with a decades-long billboard marketing campaign by DB Breweries for their Tui brand. You should always assume it is intended sarcastically, regardless of tone.



    Tui ad: I'm going to study really hard this year. Yeah right.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 1




      Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:20


















    up vote
    1
    down vote













    My mother always says (sarcastically / indulgently)



    "I'll believe you, but thousands wouldn't".



    (We're australian, UK ancestry, my mum is in her late 60s)
    EDIT: Aha! It's not just my mum:



    The following is from "The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found on google books




    I believe you but thousands wouldn't
    - a catchphrase retort that is used to express doubt or, at best, reserve judgement about the veracity of the person being addressed.
    - Quotation: "It's the God's honest truth I'm telling you, Johnny". Mellors stood frowning down at him for a moment, then he said,"All
    right kid, I'll believe you but thousands wouldn't. Now sleep it off"
    (Derek Bickerton, Payroll 1959)




    The following is from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/I_believe_you,_thousands_wouldn%27t




    I believe you, thousands wouldn't





    1. (Britain, Ireland, sarcastic) Used to indicate that the speaker does not put faith in something they have just heard.



      • Quotation: 2004, Sandra Newman, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done: A Novel, →ISBN, page 185: You weren't working on germ warfare
        five years ago." "Non-lethal," she cries. "Oh, how you can not see."
        "Well, I believe you, thousands wouldn't […]






    Personal note:

    I've always liked this phrase because it's kind of sweet how it doesn't accuse the person of speaking rubbish outright :)

    In fact, my mum said this to a number of tall tales I relayed to her from classic works of literature such as "1001 crazy facts from around the world for kids", which although I now realise were more 'sensationalised-and-hard-to-disprove-historical/urban-myths', at the time, I was quite wounded by her implicit accusation, and would launch into a passionate defence of my source, yet I also felt a bit smug because, like the phase taken literally, I knew something which was quite obscure, and likely thousands actually wouldn't! :)






    share|improve this answer






























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      "Yes, Socrates" works, and doesn't require any particular inflection or tone of voice to convey the sarcasm.



      http://dailynous.com/2017/03/20/how-socratic-was-socrates/
      "philosophers have been pushing this macho schtick from the beginning. Socrates is indeed their hero; if only they could do what he does, whether it be reducing their debating partners to silence or, even better, extracting succinct concessions to their intellectual superiority: “Yes, Socrates,” “You are quite right, Socrates,” “That is indeed true, Socrates,” “I dare say, Socrates,” and so on."



      http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-non-philosophers-guide-to-plato/
      "Thus there is a fair amount along the lines of: “Why yes, Socrates.” And, “It would seem so, Socrates,” and not much in the way of complaints about being unfairly backed into a corner."






      share|improve this answer



















      • 1




        You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
        – ymbirtt
        Nov 21 at 10:05












      • @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
        – Scott
        Nov 21 at 14:28












      • "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
        – ymbirtt
        Nov 21 at 15:09










      • Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
        – ymbirtt
        Nov 21 at 15:17






      • 1




        I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
        – Chloe
        Nov 21 at 18:03




















      up vote
      0
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      My new favorite is



      You're not wrong



      Which implies they may be technically correct but are still incorrect in spirit. Or put another way, it implies they may not be wrong, but they aren't necessarily right either.



      I wouldn't say it's entirely sarcastic, but more of a funny quip.



      https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%27re%20not%20wrong




      "you're not wrong" = "you're right", however phrasing it as "you're not wrong" usually that there's more to it -- either there's some missing nuance, or the speaker agrees grudgingly or doesn't like this truth or wishes it wasn't so, etc.

      Alice: Bob, you drink too much.

      Bob: You're not wrong.







      Something someone says when they dispute what you're saying but does so in an underhanded way. It's often followed by a "but".







      share|improve this answer

















      • 3




        Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
        – mcalex
        Nov 22 at 6:00


















      11 Answers
      11






      active

      oldest

      votes








      11 Answers
      11






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes








      up vote
      41
      down vote



      accepted










      Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say



      TFD(idioms):




      whatever you say



      I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you.
      Usually
      implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person
      , but is
      going to do it to avoid a conflict.



      A: "Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told
      you." B: "OK, whatever you say, boss."



      A: "I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want." B:
      "Whatever you say."



      Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.







      share|improve this answer

















      • 6




        It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:40






      • 5




        This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
        – Monty Harder
        Nov 20 at 19:23






      • 18




        cf. "If you say so..."
        – Tashus
        Nov 20 at 22:27






      • 5




        @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
        – alwayslearning
        Nov 21 at 5:56






      • 1




        I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
        – Paul Beverage
        Nov 21 at 18:07















      up vote
      41
      down vote



      accepted










      Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say



      TFD(idioms):




      whatever you say



      I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you.
      Usually
      implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person
      , but is
      going to do it to avoid a conflict.



      A: "Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told
      you." B: "OK, whatever you say, boss."



      A: "I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want." B:
      "Whatever you say."



      Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.







      share|improve this answer

















      • 6




        It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:40






      • 5




        This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
        – Monty Harder
        Nov 20 at 19:23






      • 18




        cf. "If you say so..."
        – Tashus
        Nov 20 at 22:27






      • 5




        @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
        – alwayslearning
        Nov 21 at 5:56






      • 1




        I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
        – Paul Beverage
        Nov 21 at 18:07













      up vote
      41
      down vote



      accepted







      up vote
      41
      down vote



      accepted






      Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say



      TFD(idioms):




      whatever you say



      I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you.
      Usually
      implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person
      , but is
      going to do it to avoid a conflict.



      A: "Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told
      you." B: "OK, whatever you say, boss."



      A: "I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want." B:
      "Whatever you say."



      Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.







      share|improve this answer












      Though I agree with the others that the sarcasm is usually implied in the tone of the speaker, there is an idiomatic expression which implies a non-committal agreement without sounding overly offensive: whatever you say



      TFD(idioms):




      whatever you say



      I accept what you say, and I'm not going to argue with you.
      Usually
      implies that one doesn't really agree with the other person
      , but is
      going to do it to avoid a conflict.



      A: "Don't worry about the auditors, just run the numbers like I told
      you." B: "OK, whatever you say, boss."



      A: "I told you, my parents let me borrow the car whenever I want." B:
      "Whatever you say."



      Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.








      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Nov 20 at 14:38









      alwayslearning

      25.3k63592




      25.3k63592








      • 6




        It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:40






      • 5




        This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
        – Monty Harder
        Nov 20 at 19:23






      • 18




        cf. "If you say so..."
        – Tashus
        Nov 20 at 22:27






      • 5




        @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
        – alwayslearning
        Nov 21 at 5:56






      • 1




        I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
        – Paul Beverage
        Nov 21 at 18:07














      • 6




        It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:40






      • 5




        This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
        – Monty Harder
        Nov 20 at 19:23






      • 18




        cf. "If you say so..."
        – Tashus
        Nov 20 at 22:27






      • 5




        @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
        – alwayslearning
        Nov 21 at 5:56






      • 1




        I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
        – Paul Beverage
        Nov 21 at 18:07








      6




      6




      It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
      – KRyan
      Nov 20 at 15:40




      It’s worth noting that while this isn’t offensive, it is pretty rude and dismissive when done sarcastically. You are not avoiding conflict out of respect for the other person, but rather out of disrespect—you don’t think they’re worth correcting, or even capable of being corrected. Which seems to match teri lal quite perfectly, if I am getting the right impression.
      – KRyan
      Nov 20 at 15:40




      5




      5




      This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
      – Monty Harder
      Nov 20 at 19:23




      This is often reduced just to the single word "Whatever!". And yes, it's annoying.
      – Monty Harder
      Nov 20 at 19:23




      18




      18




      cf. "If you say so..."
      – Tashus
      Nov 20 at 22:27




      cf. "If you say so..."
      – Tashus
      Nov 20 at 22:27




      5




      5




      @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
      – alwayslearning
      Nov 21 at 5:56




      @Tashus, you should add it as an answer.
      – alwayslearning
      Nov 21 at 5:56




      1




      1




      I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
      – Paul Beverage
      Nov 21 at 18:07




      I have found the tone of "As you say" seems to be a little less harsh to people than "whatever you say." From years of using both phrases, I have found less adverse reactions to when I have used the latter, even if it is the same person.
      – Paul Beverage
      Nov 21 at 18:07












      up vote
      37
      down vote













      The most direct parallel might be the English expression "Yeah, right."



      On the surface, it literally means, Yes, you are correct, but is universally accepted as meaning just the opposite, e.g., "No way," or "As if."






      share|improve this answer



















      • 3




        It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
        – Barmar
        Nov 20 at 16:10






      • 4




        This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
        – only_pro
        Nov 20 at 17:55






      • 4




        Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
        – Peter Wone
        Nov 21 at 0:48








      • 2




        Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:13






      • 1




        Another great answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:18















      up vote
      37
      down vote













      The most direct parallel might be the English expression "Yeah, right."



      On the surface, it literally means, Yes, you are correct, but is universally accepted as meaning just the opposite, e.g., "No way," or "As if."






      share|improve this answer



















      • 3




        It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
        – Barmar
        Nov 20 at 16:10






      • 4




        This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
        – only_pro
        Nov 20 at 17:55






      • 4




        Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
        – Peter Wone
        Nov 21 at 0:48








      • 2




        Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:13






      • 1




        Another great answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:18













      up vote
      37
      down vote










      up vote
      37
      down vote









      The most direct parallel might be the English expression "Yeah, right."



      On the surface, it literally means, Yes, you are correct, but is universally accepted as meaning just the opposite, e.g., "No way," or "As if."






      share|improve this answer














      The most direct parallel might be the English expression "Yeah, right."



      On the surface, it literally means, Yes, you are correct, but is universally accepted as meaning just the opposite, e.g., "No way," or "As if."







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Nov 20 at 15:46

























      answered Nov 20 at 15:13









      Carly

      1,491213




      1,491213








      • 3




        It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
        – Barmar
        Nov 20 at 16:10






      • 4




        This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
        – only_pro
        Nov 20 at 17:55






      • 4




        Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
        – Peter Wone
        Nov 21 at 0:48








      • 2




        Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:13






      • 1




        Another great answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:18














      • 3




        It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
        – Barmar
        Nov 20 at 16:10






      • 4




        This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
        – only_pro
        Nov 20 at 17:55






      • 4




        Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
        – Peter Wone
        Nov 21 at 0:48








      • 2




        Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:13






      • 1




        Another great answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:18








      3




      3




      It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 at 16:10




      It's also the punch line to a well known linguistics joke: reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3a60z6/a_double_positive
      – Barmar
      Nov 20 at 16:10




      4




      4




      This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
      – only_pro
      Nov 20 at 17:55




      This is where I might just say "riiiiight", dragging out the "i" like that.
      – only_pro
      Nov 20 at 17:55




      4




      4




      Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
      – Peter Wone
      Nov 21 at 0:48






      Sometimes framed as invitation to continue, "Do tell." This is a British form. Brits are more inclined to irony than sarcasm, and the inflection may be omitted to encourage the victim to continue making a fool of himself for the entertainment of others present.
      – Peter Wone
      Nov 21 at 0:48






      2




      2




      Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
      – Ister
      Nov 21 at 8:13




      Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23.
      – Ister
      Nov 21 at 8:13




      1




      1




      Another great answer!
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:18




      Another great answer!
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:18










      up vote
      14
      down vote













      In English, just like in most languages, the perception of sarcasm lies in inflexion, modulation of intonation, rather than the words themselves.



      One might say "Oh, really?" and intonation alone can make it a sarcastic remark or not.
      Likewise, depending on context, several other remarks can be sarcastic and ironic.




      • "How interesting!"

      • "You don't say!"

      • "You're so knowledgeable!"

      • "X, you're here to educate us."


      More about sarcasm in 1 and 2






      share|improve this answer



















      • 1




        While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:31










      • Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:14















      up vote
      14
      down vote













      In English, just like in most languages, the perception of sarcasm lies in inflexion, modulation of intonation, rather than the words themselves.



      One might say "Oh, really?" and intonation alone can make it a sarcastic remark or not.
      Likewise, depending on context, several other remarks can be sarcastic and ironic.




      • "How interesting!"

      • "You don't say!"

      • "You're so knowledgeable!"

      • "X, you're here to educate us."


      More about sarcasm in 1 and 2






      share|improve this answer



















      • 1




        While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:31










      • Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:14













      up vote
      14
      down vote










      up vote
      14
      down vote









      In English, just like in most languages, the perception of sarcasm lies in inflexion, modulation of intonation, rather than the words themselves.



      One might say "Oh, really?" and intonation alone can make it a sarcastic remark or not.
      Likewise, depending on context, several other remarks can be sarcastic and ironic.




      • "How interesting!"

      • "You don't say!"

      • "You're so knowledgeable!"

      • "X, you're here to educate us."


      More about sarcasm in 1 and 2






      share|improve this answer














      In English, just like in most languages, the perception of sarcasm lies in inflexion, modulation of intonation, rather than the words themselves.



      One might say "Oh, really?" and intonation alone can make it a sarcastic remark or not.
      Likewise, depending on context, several other remarks can be sarcastic and ironic.




      • "How interesting!"

      • "You don't say!"

      • "You're so knowledgeable!"

      • "X, you're here to educate us."


      More about sarcasm in 1 and 2







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Nov 20 at 23:15

























      answered Nov 20 at 13:13









      Centaurus

      37.4k27120237




      37.4k27120237








      • 1




        While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:31










      • Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:14














      • 1




        While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
        – KRyan
        Nov 20 at 15:31










      • Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
        – Ister
        Nov 21 at 8:14








      1




      1




      While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
      – KRyan
      Nov 20 at 15:31




      While sarcasm is all about tone, there is a phrase that comes to mind immediately in this situation, and none of these are it. The latter two I have never heard used that way, and sound weird to me.
      – KRyan
      Nov 20 at 15:31












      Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
      – Ister
      Nov 21 at 8:14




      Example worth watching (and entire movie in case you haven't seen it): youtube.com/watch?v=-4iiGXoRoAg . Especially check the fragment from 2:20 and how Nick (the fox) answers Judy (the bunny) at 2:23. I know I put the same comment under two different answers but it does apply to both.
      – Ister
      Nov 21 at 8:14










      up vote
      7
      down vote













      There's a Scottish term for this. It's "Aye, right". It has to be said with a fair amount of sarcasm.




      When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!! - https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/scottish-sayings/




      The joke goes that a teacher is explaining double negatives to her class and says that although two negatives make a positive, there are no examples where two positives make a negative. From the back of the classroom comes the phrase "Aye, right".



      -- Just noticed Hot Licks' comment above. I guess it's not purely a Scottish thing!






      share|improve this answer





















      • Yet another good answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:19

















      up vote
      7
      down vote













      There's a Scottish term for this. It's "Aye, right". It has to be said with a fair amount of sarcasm.




      When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!! - https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/scottish-sayings/




      The joke goes that a teacher is explaining double negatives to her class and says that although two negatives make a positive, there are no examples where two positives make a negative. From the back of the classroom comes the phrase "Aye, right".



      -- Just noticed Hot Licks' comment above. I guess it's not purely a Scottish thing!






      share|improve this answer





















      • Yet another good answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:19















      up vote
      7
      down vote










      up vote
      7
      down vote









      There's a Scottish term for this. It's "Aye, right". It has to be said with a fair amount of sarcasm.




      When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!! - https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/scottish-sayings/




      The joke goes that a teacher is explaining double negatives to her class and says that although two negatives make a positive, there are no examples where two positives make a negative. From the back of the classroom comes the phrase "Aye, right".



      -- Just noticed Hot Licks' comment above. I guess it's not purely a Scottish thing!






      share|improve this answer












      There's a Scottish term for this. It's "Aye, right". It has to be said with a fair amount of sarcasm.




      When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!! - https://scotlandwelcomesyou.com/scottish-sayings/




      The joke goes that a teacher is explaining double negatives to her class and says that although two negatives make a positive, there are no examples where two positives make a negative. From the back of the classroom comes the phrase "Aye, right".



      -- Just noticed Hot Licks' comment above. I guess it's not purely a Scottish thing!







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Nov 20 at 14:44









      Pam

      3,2771425




      3,2771425












      • Yet another good answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:19




















      • Yet another good answer!
        – Fattie
        Nov 22 at 3:19


















      Yet another good answer!
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:19






      Yet another good answer!
      – Fattie
      Nov 22 at 3:19












      up vote
      5
      down vote













      There's an old joke about an English teacher telling the class, “In English, a double negative is a positive. But a double positive is never negative!”



      A student tells her, “Yeah, yeah.



      (Or @alwayslearning’s excellent answer.)






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        5
        down vote













        There's an old joke about an English teacher telling the class, “In English, a double negative is a positive. But a double positive is never negative!”



        A student tells her, “Yeah, yeah.



        (Or @alwayslearning’s excellent answer.)






        share|improve this answer























          up vote
          5
          down vote










          up vote
          5
          down vote









          There's an old joke about an English teacher telling the class, “In English, a double negative is a positive. But a double positive is never negative!”



          A student tells her, “Yeah, yeah.



          (Or @alwayslearning’s excellent answer.)






          share|improve this answer












          There's an old joke about an English teacher telling the class, “In English, a double negative is a positive. But a double positive is never negative!”



          A student tells her, “Yeah, yeah.



          (Or @alwayslearning’s excellent answer.)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Nov 21 at 2:57









          Davislor

          1,934215




          1,934215






















              up vote
              4
              down vote













              If said with a sarcastic tone, a simple "Sure." is enough.




              Sure




              1. colloq. (orig. N. Amer.). Used sarcastically to express scepticism or incredulity. Frequently in oh, sure, yeah, sure. Cf. right int. 1.







              share|improve this answer

















              • 4




                The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
                – Joe McMahon
                Nov 20 at 21:46






              • 1




                Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
                – mckenzm
                Nov 21 at 2:31










              • yet ANOTHER good answer!
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:19















              up vote
              4
              down vote













              If said with a sarcastic tone, a simple "Sure." is enough.




              Sure




              1. colloq. (orig. N. Amer.). Used sarcastically to express scepticism or incredulity. Frequently in oh, sure, yeah, sure. Cf. right int. 1.







              share|improve this answer

















              • 4




                The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
                – Joe McMahon
                Nov 20 at 21:46






              • 1




                Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
                – mckenzm
                Nov 21 at 2:31










              • yet ANOTHER good answer!
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:19













              up vote
              4
              down vote










              up vote
              4
              down vote









              If said with a sarcastic tone, a simple "Sure." is enough.




              Sure




              1. colloq. (orig. N. Amer.). Used sarcastically to express scepticism or incredulity. Frequently in oh, sure, yeah, sure. Cf. right int. 1.







              share|improve this answer












              If said with a sarcastic tone, a simple "Sure." is enough.




              Sure




              1. colloq. (orig. N. Amer.). Used sarcastically to express scepticism or incredulity. Frequently in oh, sure, yeah, sure. Cf. right int. 1.








              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 20 at 19:38









              scohe001

              2,0471119




              2,0471119








              • 4




                The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
                – Joe McMahon
                Nov 20 at 21:46






              • 1




                Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
                – mckenzm
                Nov 21 at 2:31










              • yet ANOTHER good answer!
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:19














              • 4




                The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
                – Joe McMahon
                Nov 20 at 21:46






              • 1




                Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
                – mckenzm
                Nov 21 at 2:31










              • yet ANOTHER good answer!
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:19








              4




              4




              The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
              – Joe McMahon
              Nov 20 at 21:46




              The longer you draw out that 'u' sound the more sarcastic it is. "Sure" is mildly dismissive. "Suuuuuure" is much more so.
              – Joe McMahon
              Nov 20 at 21:46




              1




              1




              Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
              – mckenzm
              Nov 21 at 2:31




              Short breath, sigh, "Sure". Or "Sure, why not", as if you were exposed to violently surrealist concepts but can accept another person's opinion with abject stoicism.
              – mckenzm
              Nov 21 at 2:31












              yet ANOTHER good answer!
              – Fattie
              Nov 22 at 3:19




              yet ANOTHER good answer!
              – Fattie
              Nov 22 at 3:19










              up vote
              3
              down vote













              Indeed, perhaps.



              Indeed is used widely and idiomatically both interrogatively and as an interjection, expressing (according to the intonation) irony, contempt, amazement, incredulity, or the like (OED)




              ‘That's Jarsper's.’ ‘Indeed?’ said Mr. Datchery.




              Edwin Drood (Dickens, 1870) xviii. 141 (OED)






              share|improve this answer





















              • Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
                – Ruadhan2300
                Nov 20 at 15:22










              • This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:32






              • 1




                However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:36










              • Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
                – Dan
                Nov 26 at 1:07















              up vote
              3
              down vote













              Indeed, perhaps.



              Indeed is used widely and idiomatically both interrogatively and as an interjection, expressing (according to the intonation) irony, contempt, amazement, incredulity, or the like (OED)




              ‘That's Jarsper's.’ ‘Indeed?’ said Mr. Datchery.




              Edwin Drood (Dickens, 1870) xviii. 141 (OED)






              share|improve this answer





















              • Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
                – Ruadhan2300
                Nov 20 at 15:22










              • This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:32






              • 1




                However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:36










              • Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
                – Dan
                Nov 26 at 1:07













              up vote
              3
              down vote










              up vote
              3
              down vote









              Indeed, perhaps.



              Indeed is used widely and idiomatically both interrogatively and as an interjection, expressing (according to the intonation) irony, contempt, amazement, incredulity, or the like (OED)




              ‘That's Jarsper's.’ ‘Indeed?’ said Mr. Datchery.




              Edwin Drood (Dickens, 1870) xviii. 141 (OED)






              share|improve this answer












              Indeed, perhaps.



              Indeed is used widely and idiomatically both interrogatively and as an interjection, expressing (according to the intonation) irony, contempt, amazement, incredulity, or the like (OED)




              ‘That's Jarsper's.’ ‘Indeed?’ said Mr. Datchery.




              Edwin Drood (Dickens, 1870) xviii. 141 (OED)







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 20 at 14:44









              Dan

              14.8k32157




              14.8k32157












              • Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
                – Ruadhan2300
                Nov 20 at 15:22










              • This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:32






              • 1




                However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:36










              • Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
                – Dan
                Nov 26 at 1:07


















              • Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
                – Ruadhan2300
                Nov 20 at 15:22










              • This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:32






              • 1




                However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
                – Esco
                Nov 26 at 0:36










              • Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
                – Dan
                Nov 26 at 1:07
















              Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
              – Ruadhan2300
              Nov 20 at 15:22




              Christopher Judge is a master of this. He uses it in Stargate for just about every situation.
              – Ruadhan2300
              Nov 20 at 15:22












              This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
              – Esco
              Nov 26 at 0:32




              This is a very good answer to point out . This occurs in a lot of literature, especially in the past, but still quite frequently in british literature, as it very succinctly encapsulates exactly what OP is asking, and has the added benefit of not being overtly rude which is perfect for the very dry, British, one-eyebrow-raised-but-still-polite type of humour.
              – Esco
              Nov 26 at 0:32




              1




              1




              However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
              – Esco
              Nov 26 at 0:36




              However, the word 'indeed', especially used by itself as a query is not used verbally much any more by those under 50 years old in my Australian English, (and USA English A.F.A.I.K) and sounds a little bit formal or 'posh', and likely, old fashioned. So I can imagine it's meaning and subtleties will become more and more puzzling to readers and learners of english as time goes on.
              – Esco
              Nov 26 at 0:36












              Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
              – Dan
              Nov 26 at 1:07




              Yup, certainly seems that way - books.google.com/ngrams/…
              – Dan
              Nov 26 at 1:07










              up vote
              3
              down vote













              I agree with alwayslearning's answer, but in New Zealand English, the phrase "Yeah right" is strongly associated with a decades-long billboard marketing campaign by DB Breweries for their Tui brand. You should always assume it is intended sarcastically, regardless of tone.



              Tui ad: I'm going to study really hard this year. Yeah right.






              share|improve this answer

















              • 1




                Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:20















              up vote
              3
              down vote













              I agree with alwayslearning's answer, but in New Zealand English, the phrase "Yeah right" is strongly associated with a decades-long billboard marketing campaign by DB Breweries for their Tui brand. You should always assume it is intended sarcastically, regardless of tone.



              Tui ad: I'm going to study really hard this year. Yeah right.






              share|improve this answer

















              • 1




                Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:20













              up vote
              3
              down vote










              up vote
              3
              down vote









              I agree with alwayslearning's answer, but in New Zealand English, the phrase "Yeah right" is strongly associated with a decades-long billboard marketing campaign by DB Breweries for their Tui brand. You should always assume it is intended sarcastically, regardless of tone.



              Tui ad: I'm going to study really hard this year. Yeah right.






              share|improve this answer












              I agree with alwayslearning's answer, but in New Zealand English, the phrase "Yeah right" is strongly associated with a decades-long billboard marketing campaign by DB Breweries for their Tui brand. You should always assume it is intended sarcastically, regardless of tone.



              Tui ad: I'm going to study really hard this year. Yeah right.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Nov 20 at 19:22









              Rupert Morrish

              1,71221016




              1,71221016








              • 1




                Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:20














              • 1




                Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
                – Fattie
                Nov 22 at 3:20








              1




              1




              Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
              – Fattie
              Nov 22 at 3:20




              Agreed. "Yeah right" is almost always sarcastic.
              – Fattie
              Nov 22 at 3:20










              up vote
              1
              down vote













              My mother always says (sarcastically / indulgently)



              "I'll believe you, but thousands wouldn't".



              (We're australian, UK ancestry, my mum is in her late 60s)
              EDIT: Aha! It's not just my mum:



              The following is from "The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found on google books




              I believe you but thousands wouldn't
              - a catchphrase retort that is used to express doubt or, at best, reserve judgement about the veracity of the person being addressed.
              - Quotation: "It's the God's honest truth I'm telling you, Johnny". Mellors stood frowning down at him for a moment, then he said,"All
              right kid, I'll believe you but thousands wouldn't. Now sleep it off"
              (Derek Bickerton, Payroll 1959)




              The following is from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/I_believe_you,_thousands_wouldn%27t




              I believe you, thousands wouldn't





              1. (Britain, Ireland, sarcastic) Used to indicate that the speaker does not put faith in something they have just heard.



                • Quotation: 2004, Sandra Newman, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done: A Novel, →ISBN, page 185: You weren't working on germ warfare
                  five years ago." "Non-lethal," she cries. "Oh, how you can not see."
                  "Well, I believe you, thousands wouldn't […]






              Personal note:

              I've always liked this phrase because it's kind of sweet how it doesn't accuse the person of speaking rubbish outright :)

              In fact, my mum said this to a number of tall tales I relayed to her from classic works of literature such as "1001 crazy facts from around the world for kids", which although I now realise were more 'sensationalised-and-hard-to-disprove-historical/urban-myths', at the time, I was quite wounded by her implicit accusation, and would launch into a passionate defence of my source, yet I also felt a bit smug because, like the phase taken literally, I knew something which was quite obscure, and likely thousands actually wouldn't! :)






              share|improve this answer



























                up vote
                1
                down vote













                My mother always says (sarcastically / indulgently)



                "I'll believe you, but thousands wouldn't".



                (We're australian, UK ancestry, my mum is in her late 60s)
                EDIT: Aha! It's not just my mum:



                The following is from "The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found on google books




                I believe you but thousands wouldn't
                - a catchphrase retort that is used to express doubt or, at best, reserve judgement about the veracity of the person being addressed.
                - Quotation: "It's the God's honest truth I'm telling you, Johnny". Mellors stood frowning down at him for a moment, then he said,"All
                right kid, I'll believe you but thousands wouldn't. Now sleep it off"
                (Derek Bickerton, Payroll 1959)




                The following is from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/I_believe_you,_thousands_wouldn%27t




                I believe you, thousands wouldn't





                1. (Britain, Ireland, sarcastic) Used to indicate that the speaker does not put faith in something they have just heard.



                  • Quotation: 2004, Sandra Newman, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done: A Novel, →ISBN, page 185: You weren't working on germ warfare
                    five years ago." "Non-lethal," she cries. "Oh, how you can not see."
                    "Well, I believe you, thousands wouldn't […]






                Personal note:

                I've always liked this phrase because it's kind of sweet how it doesn't accuse the person of speaking rubbish outright :)

                In fact, my mum said this to a number of tall tales I relayed to her from classic works of literature such as "1001 crazy facts from around the world for kids", which although I now realise were more 'sensationalised-and-hard-to-disprove-historical/urban-myths', at the time, I was quite wounded by her implicit accusation, and would launch into a passionate defence of my source, yet I also felt a bit smug because, like the phase taken literally, I knew something which was quite obscure, and likely thousands actually wouldn't! :)






                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote









                  My mother always says (sarcastically / indulgently)



                  "I'll believe you, but thousands wouldn't".



                  (We're australian, UK ancestry, my mum is in her late 60s)
                  EDIT: Aha! It's not just my mum:



                  The following is from "The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found on google books




                  I believe you but thousands wouldn't
                  - a catchphrase retort that is used to express doubt or, at best, reserve judgement about the veracity of the person being addressed.
                  - Quotation: "It's the God's honest truth I'm telling you, Johnny". Mellors stood frowning down at him for a moment, then he said,"All
                  right kid, I'll believe you but thousands wouldn't. Now sleep it off"
                  (Derek Bickerton, Payroll 1959)




                  The following is from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/I_believe_you,_thousands_wouldn%27t




                  I believe you, thousands wouldn't





                  1. (Britain, Ireland, sarcastic) Used to indicate that the speaker does not put faith in something they have just heard.



                    • Quotation: 2004, Sandra Newman, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done: A Novel, →ISBN, page 185: You weren't working on germ warfare
                      five years ago." "Non-lethal," she cries. "Oh, how you can not see."
                      "Well, I believe you, thousands wouldn't […]






                  Personal note:

                  I've always liked this phrase because it's kind of sweet how it doesn't accuse the person of speaking rubbish outright :)

                  In fact, my mum said this to a number of tall tales I relayed to her from classic works of literature such as "1001 crazy facts from around the world for kids", which although I now realise were more 'sensationalised-and-hard-to-disprove-historical/urban-myths', at the time, I was quite wounded by her implicit accusation, and would launch into a passionate defence of my source, yet I also felt a bit smug because, like the phase taken literally, I knew something which was quite obscure, and likely thousands actually wouldn't! :)






                  share|improve this answer














                  My mother always says (sarcastically / indulgently)



                  "I'll believe you, but thousands wouldn't".



                  (We're australian, UK ancestry, my mum is in her late 60s)
                  EDIT: Aha! It's not just my mum:



                  The following is from "The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found on google books




                  I believe you but thousands wouldn't
                  - a catchphrase retort that is used to express doubt or, at best, reserve judgement about the veracity of the person being addressed.
                  - Quotation: "It's the God's honest truth I'm telling you, Johnny". Mellors stood frowning down at him for a moment, then he said,"All
                  right kid, I'll believe you but thousands wouldn't. Now sleep it off"
                  (Derek Bickerton, Payroll 1959)




                  The following is from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/I_believe_you,_thousands_wouldn%27t




                  I believe you, thousands wouldn't





                  1. (Britain, Ireland, sarcastic) Used to indicate that the speaker does not put faith in something they have just heard.



                    • Quotation: 2004, Sandra Newman, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done: A Novel, →ISBN, page 185: You weren't working on germ warfare
                      five years ago." "Non-lethal," she cries. "Oh, how you can not see."
                      "Well, I believe you, thousands wouldn't […]






                  Personal note:

                  I've always liked this phrase because it's kind of sweet how it doesn't accuse the person of speaking rubbish outright :)

                  In fact, my mum said this to a number of tall tales I relayed to her from classic works of literature such as "1001 crazy facts from around the world for kids", which although I now realise were more 'sensationalised-and-hard-to-disprove-historical/urban-myths', at the time, I was quite wounded by her implicit accusation, and would launch into a passionate defence of my source, yet I also felt a bit smug because, like the phase taken literally, I knew something which was quite obscure, and likely thousands actually wouldn't! :)







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Nov 26 at 1:12

























                  answered Nov 26 at 0:39









                  Esco

                  65146




                  65146






















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      "Yes, Socrates" works, and doesn't require any particular inflection or tone of voice to convey the sarcasm.



                      http://dailynous.com/2017/03/20/how-socratic-was-socrates/
                      "philosophers have been pushing this macho schtick from the beginning. Socrates is indeed their hero; if only they could do what he does, whether it be reducing their debating partners to silence or, even better, extracting succinct concessions to their intellectual superiority: “Yes, Socrates,” “You are quite right, Socrates,” “That is indeed true, Socrates,” “I dare say, Socrates,” and so on."



                      http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-non-philosophers-guide-to-plato/
                      "Thus there is a fair amount along the lines of: “Why yes, Socrates.” And, “It would seem so, Socrates,” and not much in the way of complaints about being unfairly backed into a corner."






                      share|improve this answer



















                      • 1




                        You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 10:05












                      • @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                        – Scott
                        Nov 21 at 14:28












                      • "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:09










                      • Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:17






                      • 1




                        I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                        – Chloe
                        Nov 21 at 18:03

















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      "Yes, Socrates" works, and doesn't require any particular inflection or tone of voice to convey the sarcasm.



                      http://dailynous.com/2017/03/20/how-socratic-was-socrates/
                      "philosophers have been pushing this macho schtick from the beginning. Socrates is indeed their hero; if only they could do what he does, whether it be reducing their debating partners to silence or, even better, extracting succinct concessions to their intellectual superiority: “Yes, Socrates,” “You are quite right, Socrates,” “That is indeed true, Socrates,” “I dare say, Socrates,” and so on."



                      http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-non-philosophers-guide-to-plato/
                      "Thus there is a fair amount along the lines of: “Why yes, Socrates.” And, “It would seem so, Socrates,” and not much in the way of complaints about being unfairly backed into a corner."






                      share|improve this answer



















                      • 1




                        You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 10:05












                      • @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                        – Scott
                        Nov 21 at 14:28












                      • "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:09










                      • Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:17






                      • 1




                        I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                        – Chloe
                        Nov 21 at 18:03















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote









                      "Yes, Socrates" works, and doesn't require any particular inflection or tone of voice to convey the sarcasm.



                      http://dailynous.com/2017/03/20/how-socratic-was-socrates/
                      "philosophers have been pushing this macho schtick from the beginning. Socrates is indeed their hero; if only they could do what he does, whether it be reducing their debating partners to silence or, even better, extracting succinct concessions to their intellectual superiority: “Yes, Socrates,” “You are quite right, Socrates,” “That is indeed true, Socrates,” “I dare say, Socrates,” and so on."



                      http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-non-philosophers-guide-to-plato/
                      "Thus there is a fair amount along the lines of: “Why yes, Socrates.” And, “It would seem so, Socrates,” and not much in the way of complaints about being unfairly backed into a corner."






                      share|improve this answer














                      "Yes, Socrates" works, and doesn't require any particular inflection or tone of voice to convey the sarcasm.



                      http://dailynous.com/2017/03/20/how-socratic-was-socrates/
                      "philosophers have been pushing this macho schtick from the beginning. Socrates is indeed their hero; if only they could do what he does, whether it be reducing their debating partners to silence or, even better, extracting succinct concessions to their intellectual superiority: “Yes, Socrates,” “You are quite right, Socrates,” “That is indeed true, Socrates,” “I dare say, Socrates,” and so on."



                      http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/a-non-philosophers-guide-to-plato/
                      "Thus there is a fair amount along the lines of: “Why yes, Socrates.” And, “It would seem so, Socrates,” and not much in the way of complaints about being unfairly backed into a corner."







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Nov 21 at 14:42

























                      answered Nov 21 at 2:51









                      Scott

                      211




                      211








                      • 1




                        You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 10:05












                      • @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                        – Scott
                        Nov 21 at 14:28












                      • "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:09










                      • Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:17






                      • 1




                        I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                        – Chloe
                        Nov 21 at 18:03
















                      • 1




                        You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 10:05












                      • @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                        – Scott
                        Nov 21 at 14:28












                      • "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:09










                      • Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                        – ymbirtt
                        Nov 21 at 15:17






                      • 1




                        I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                        – Chloe
                        Nov 21 at 18:03










                      1




                      1




                      You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 10:05






                      You might be getting downvotes here for not having any references, which is a shame because this is a good answer to add to the list. "Did you know that the moon emits its own light?", "Sure it does, Einstein" sounds like perfectly normal casual English, and your point about not needing the particular sarcastic tone is very valid.
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 10:05














                      @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                      – Scott
                      Nov 21 at 14:28






                      @ymbirtt I'm sure you're right about the downvotes. I posted it on impulse, and references proved scarcer than I expected. But I've added one. "Yes, Socrates" doesn't work quite the same way as "Sure it does, Einstein." Socrates isn't a generic genius, who's always right. He's a person you just can't win an argument with (so don't bother trying). Plato arranges that his opponents put up a token resistance, then meekly concede defeat. At least that's the idea behind the idiom (if it is an idiom).
                      – Scott
                      Nov 21 at 14:28














                      "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 15:09




                      "Sure thing, Socrates", "smart thinking, Einstein" and "nice shot, Nimrod" are phrases which I'd certainly consider to be english idioms, in which someone insults a victim else by making a sarcastic comparison to someone famously good at whatever the victim failed to do. I think a good answer like yours would include a reference to this particular idiom, rather than vague information about who certain philosophers were. You might then mention a particular philosopher as being particularly apt for the "person who cannot ever be argued with" charicature once you've established the idiom.
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 15:09












                      Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 15:17




                      Too late to edit, but "someone insults a victim else by" should read "someone insults a victim by"
                      – ymbirtt
                      Nov 21 at 15:17




                      1




                      1




                      I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                      – Chloe
                      Nov 21 at 18:03






                      I think this would only apply if the person was asking a lot of questions instead of making statements. Because that was his style.
                      – Chloe
                      Nov 21 at 18:03












                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      My new favorite is



                      You're not wrong



                      Which implies they may be technically correct but are still incorrect in spirit. Or put another way, it implies they may not be wrong, but they aren't necessarily right either.



                      I wouldn't say it's entirely sarcastic, but more of a funny quip.



                      https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%27re%20not%20wrong




                      "you're not wrong" = "you're right", however phrasing it as "you're not wrong" usually that there's more to it -- either there's some missing nuance, or the speaker agrees grudgingly or doesn't like this truth or wishes it wasn't so, etc.

                      Alice: Bob, you drink too much.

                      Bob: You're not wrong.







                      Something someone says when they dispute what you're saying but does so in an underhanded way. It's often followed by a "but".







                      share|improve this answer

















                      • 3




                        Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                        – mcalex
                        Nov 22 at 6:00















                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote













                      My new favorite is



                      You're not wrong



                      Which implies they may be technically correct but are still incorrect in spirit. Or put another way, it implies they may not be wrong, but they aren't necessarily right either.



                      I wouldn't say it's entirely sarcastic, but more of a funny quip.



                      https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%27re%20not%20wrong




                      "you're not wrong" = "you're right", however phrasing it as "you're not wrong" usually that there's more to it -- either there's some missing nuance, or the speaker agrees grudgingly or doesn't like this truth or wishes it wasn't so, etc.

                      Alice: Bob, you drink too much.

                      Bob: You're not wrong.







                      Something someone says when they dispute what you're saying but does so in an underhanded way. It's often followed by a "but".







                      share|improve this answer

















                      • 3




                        Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                        – mcalex
                        Nov 22 at 6:00













                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      0
                      down vote









                      My new favorite is



                      You're not wrong



                      Which implies they may be technically correct but are still incorrect in spirit. Or put another way, it implies they may not be wrong, but they aren't necessarily right either.



                      I wouldn't say it's entirely sarcastic, but more of a funny quip.



                      https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%27re%20not%20wrong




                      "you're not wrong" = "you're right", however phrasing it as "you're not wrong" usually that there's more to it -- either there's some missing nuance, or the speaker agrees grudgingly or doesn't like this truth or wishes it wasn't so, etc.

                      Alice: Bob, you drink too much.

                      Bob: You're not wrong.







                      Something someone says when they dispute what you're saying but does so in an underhanded way. It's often followed by a "but".







                      share|improve this answer












                      My new favorite is



                      You're not wrong



                      Which implies they may be technically correct but are still incorrect in spirit. Or put another way, it implies they may not be wrong, but they aren't necessarily right either.



                      I wouldn't say it's entirely sarcastic, but more of a funny quip.



                      https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=you%27re%20not%20wrong




                      "you're not wrong" = "you're right", however phrasing it as "you're not wrong" usually that there's more to it -- either there's some missing nuance, or the speaker agrees grudgingly or doesn't like this truth or wishes it wasn't so, etc.

                      Alice: Bob, you drink too much.

                      Bob: You're not wrong.







                      Something someone says when they dispute what you're saying but does so in an underhanded way. It's often followed by a "but".








                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Nov 21 at 18:01









                      Chloe

                      656613




                      656613








                      • 3




                        Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                        – mcalex
                        Nov 22 at 6:00














                      • 3




                        Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                        – mcalex
                        Nov 22 at 6:00








                      3




                      3




                      Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                      – mcalex
                      Nov 22 at 6:00




                      Not in Australia. This is just our way of saying yes, possibly somewhat emphatically. "Jeez it's hot today." "You're not wrong there, mate."
                      – mcalex
                      Nov 22 at 6:00



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