Avoiding questions
Sometimes somebody asks you a question and you don't want give the answer.
If you know the answer but you don't want them to know, you can use one of these ten phrases.
Ten ways to avoid answering a question
casual · neutral · formal
- No comment.formal"Will the minister resign?" "No comment."
- I'm not at liberty to say.formalI'm sorry, I'm not at liberty to say who sent the letter.
- Wait and see.casual"What's in the box?" "Wait and see."
- Let me get back to you.neutralI don't have the price yet. Let me get back to you.
- I'm sorry, that's confidential.formalI'm sorry, that's confidential. I can't share his salary.
- (Sorry) That's personal.neutral"How much do you earn?" "Sorry, that's personal."
- I'd rather not talk about it.neutral"Why did you leave your job?" "I'd rather not talk about it."
- Mind your own business.casualstrong"Who were you texting?" "Mind your own business."
- Never you mind.casualstrong"Where are you going?" "Never you mind."
- I'll tell you when you're older.casual"Mum, how old are you?" "I'll tell you when you're older."
How to use them
- is often used by politicians and celebrities when they are asked difficult or embarrassing questions by journalists.
- We use to say there is a rule that prevents you giving information.
- is refusing to tell somebody something about the near future. We often use it when we are preparing a surprise for somebody.
- is telling the other person that you consider the information to be private. You are also criticizing the other person for asking.
- is a more polite way to say that the information is private and you don't want to talk about it.
- are not very polite and are criticizing the other person for asking for private information.
- Parents often say to their children to avoid answering difficult or embarrassing questions. Usually they have no intention of ever answering the question.
Quick check
Tap an answer. Nothing is saved.
A journalist asks a company spokesperson a question they cannot answer. Which phrase fits?
Which phrase can sound rude?
You don't know the answer yet, but you will find out. What do you say?
See also: "I don't know"
Finished this one? Tick it off. It is saved on this device only.