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The answer is in the question

Posted by ESC on February 08, 2004

In Reply to: The answer is in the question posted by ramofski on February 03, 2004

: Hi,

: Ref. "the answer is in the question"

: Can this be called a phrase at all, or is it more a concept? It occurs with "why?" and "how?" questions where a closer look renders the questions self-answerable.
:
: Typically, it occurs like so:

: - You said your dog didn't bite! The answer is in the question. It's not my dog. (Insp. Clouseau)
: - Why is that hotel empty continuously? The answer is in the question. i,e. maybe because it's something other than a hotel.
: - How did the clown carry so many bricks up the ladder? The answer is in the question. They're not real bricks he's carrying.
: - Why does my software fail all the time? The answer is in the question. May be it isn't "your" software (windows fan). May be it isn't software (Linux fan).

RHETORICAL QUESTION -- Definition: [n] a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered; "he liked to make his points with rhetorical questions"

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