The excuse you give when an intended joke you just said was not funny.
Person 1: I wonder how janice got herpes?
Person 2: 'Cus she is a SLUT!!!
Person 1: Dude if that was a joke it was not funny
Person 2: It was a rhetorical joke
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A text message asking a question that is not meant to be answered. Frequently addressed to the originator's entire phone book.
These messages can cause confusion by causing dozens of people to think that someone wants to hold an actual conversation with them, when in fact the sender of the message was simply lonely, amused, drunk, or all three.
Alice: Carol just texted me, 'Why the hell can't people in Atlanta use their turn signals?' How the hell should I know? I *do* use my turn signal!
Bob: Relax. It was a rhetorical textion. She sent it to me, too.
Question asked that is asked for effect and not usually designed for an answer.
Usually encourages the person or people being asked the question to reflect upon their own thoughts and beliefs rather than answer specifically out loud.
Examples of rhetorical questions-
Speaker: "What defense to the homeless have if the government will not protect them?"
Guy: "Did you get some from her last night?"
Other Guy: "Is the sky blue?"
Office Worker: "How stupid is this new filing system we have?"
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An answer spoken to produce an effect and not necessarily to answer the actual question. A rhetorical answer may possibly be given in response to a rhetorical question, as a sort of counter-attack in a rhetorical battle.
Do you know how many people will be in our philosophy class this year?
42.
C'mon seriously, do you know what the main topic of our class will be?
42.
Geez, how many times do you have to piss me off with rhetorical answers in one day?
42.
Do you think I should wear the green dress or the red dress?
To be or not to be.
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When you invite someone but don't expect/want them to respond positively.
I saw my ex at Starbucks yesterday, and she had the guts to extend me a rhetorical invitation to her wedding.
The rapid and out-of-control increase in the face value of words used, accompanied by an equal or greater decrease in the real value of those words.
(In 1998 baseline value): "This sausage roll is a bit dry."
(In 2007 after 692% (approx) rhetorical hyperinflation): "This sausage roll - El Rodillo de la Diablo - is a desert of pastry which has sucked my moisture, my bodily essence, indeed my living soul into its dry, barren abyss. Cough."
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A rhetorical question is a question to create dramatic effect or to make a point, rather than to elicit reply.
Example of Rhetorical Question: How did you fail the test!? It was so easy.
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