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yes no


North Queenslanders say this to mean either yes or no and the rest of the sentence defines the meaning: Yes no I did go down to the shop.

Contributor's comments: The start of a sentence in which you can mean either yes or no: "Yeah no I dont want to go." - or - "Yeah no I`ll come with you."

Contributor's comments: This is commonly used in Sydney, but we would always say "yeah no", not "yes no".

Contributor's comments: I find this phrase awkward and I hope I do not find myself saying it. It grates. I think people hear the phrase often enough and then it is often used as a sign of solidarity. Like the poor fellow who stutters on the BBC Show, the Vicar of Dibley. Yes, yes, yes, ...no. It drives me nuts, even though I think I understand why people say it.

Contributor's comments: My wife is a Victorian and in her late 50's. She's been saying this for the last 3 or 4 years, and it's very exasperating! I don't know how it started or where she got it from. She reckons she says it because she's got more confused as she's got older. That just may be true.

Contributor's comments: Used in Brisbane with the Yeah drawn out - I interpret it as an acknowledgement - Yeah, I hear you (and I'm taking a second to think about it), but no I'm not interested.