“If I knew something about [X], I couldn't tell you what it is!”
Someone has told me that, because I asked about X. I know that the person has confidentiality concerns about the X-related issues. Now I'm wondering: does that statement imply anything specific? Something like "I know something about X, but I can't tell you what it is"?
PS: the guy is a native English speaker.
Apologies if wrong tagging..
idioms idiom-meaning
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
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bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
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Someone has told me that, because I asked about X. I know that the person has confidentiality concerns about the X-related issues. Now I'm wondering: does that statement imply anything specific? Something like "I know something about X, but I can't tell you what it is"?
PS: the guy is a native English speaker.
Apologies if wrong tagging..
idioms idiom-meaning
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
Someone has told me that, because I asked about X. I know that the person has confidentiality concerns about the X-related issues. Now I'm wondering: does that statement imply anything specific? Something like "I know something about X, but I can't tell you what it is"?
PS: the guy is a native English speaker.
Apologies if wrong tagging..
idioms idiom-meaning
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
Someone has told me that, because I asked about X. I know that the person has confidentiality concerns about the X-related issues. Now I'm wondering: does that statement imply anything specific? Something like "I know something about X, but I can't tell you what it is"?
PS: the guy is a native English speaker.
Apologies if wrong tagging..
idioms idiom-meaning
idioms idiom-meaning
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
asked Feb 22 at 18:49
user337439user337439
1
1
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ yesterday
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Nothing is implied except that the topic is confidential or secret. Starting the answer 'If I knew something about X...' is a way of saying 'I am not even telling you whether I know anything about X'.
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
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Nothing is implied except that the topic is confidential or secret. Starting the answer 'If I knew something about X...' is a way of saying 'I am not even telling you whether I know anything about X'.
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
add a comment |
Nothing is implied except that the topic is confidential or secret. Starting the answer 'If I knew something about X...' is a way of saying 'I am not even telling you whether I know anything about X'.
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
add a comment |
Nothing is implied except that the topic is confidential or secret. Starting the answer 'If I knew something about X...' is a way of saying 'I am not even telling you whether I know anything about X'.
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
Nothing is implied except that the topic is confidential or secret. Starting the answer 'If I knew something about X...' is a way of saying 'I am not even telling you whether I know anything about X'.
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
answered Feb 23 at 8:10
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,44911119
6,44911119
add a comment |
add a comment |
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