Subj : Why yes!
To   : GLEB HLEBOV
From : Mike Powell
Date : Thu Jan 23 2025 09:45:00

> ù "Why" is being used as an interjection here to express surprise. "Why" isn't
> used to ask a question in this instance.

> ù Think of it more as emphasizing agreement, usually because you think the ide
> is just that good (though it can be because the suggestion was initially
> surprising).

> ù Think of "why" in this context as "actually" yes.

> ù "Why yes" = "yes, of course".

Why, yes, that certainly sounds correct.  ;)

> ù It's a pretty fashioned way of saying things, so I wouldn't expect you'd hea
> it all that often? It's definitely not a common use of "why" in everyday speec
> in any of the English speaking countries I've been to (UK, US, Canada,
> Australia, NZ) and if I heard someone say it I'd think they were joking around
> trying to sound like a fancy gentleman wearing a top hat. :P

It is not very common thse days.  I also think of it as "fancy talk," maybe
something you would see in an older movie or TV show where they were trying
to make the character seem "well-to-do."

Mike

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