Whiteisms
The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท Y

Yeah, no, for sure

Meaning

A confusing yet common way to express total agreement. Despite the no in the middle, it is a emphatic way of saying absolutely.

Agreeable, casual

Used in a sentence

  • Are you going to the party later? Yeah, no, for sure, I'll be there.
  • Is that the right way to go? Yeah, no, for sure, I've taken this route before.
  • Do you think we should leave early? Yeah, no, for sure, let's go.

The backstory

A conversational evolution of yeah-no, often used to bridge the gap between agreement and conversational flow. It is peak Valley Girl or Midwestern polite speech.

Heard in

Midwest, West Coast

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