What does 'hardly' mean?

[tulipflower]

What does 'hardly' mean in the following context?: 'Are you new to London? Hardly.' (It's part of a movie.)
Does hardly mean 'no' here?

 

[tedmc]

What does 'hardly' mean in the following context?: 'Are you new to London? Hardly.' (It's part of a movie.)
Does hardly mean 'no' here?

I think it is just slightly better than "no".

 

[teechar]

Does hardly mean 'no' here?

Yes, it does, but it can imply more than that. It is often used to add, for example, emphasis, sarcasm, scorn, etc.

 

[PeterCW]

Yes, it does, but it can imply more than that. It is often used to add, for example, emphasis, sarcasm, scorn, etc.

I would take it as being a little sarcastic. I might say it if I was asked the question as I have always lived within 25 miles of London.

 

[tedmc]

What do you mean by that?

"Hardly" ordinarily means "almost" and not "not at all", but in the context of the question, it is meant to be sarcastic.

 

[tzfujimino]

So, it can be used in the sense of #7 here:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hardly

I've learned something new today. Thank you.

Is the word used in the same way in American English, too?

 

[GoesStation]

"Hardly" ordinarily means "almost" and not "not at all", but in the context of the question, it is meant to be sarcastic.

It's not sarcastic at all in the given context. It means "No, not at all. I've been in London for a long time."

 

[emsr2d2]

"Hardly" ordinarily means "almost" and not "not at all", but in the context of the question, it is meant to be sarcastic.

That still doesn't explain why you said "it is just slightly better than 'No'". In what way is it better?

 

[Tdol]

So, it can be used in the sense of #7 here:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hardly

I've learned something new today.

The dictionary is not lying, though I don't know whether the person is expressing annoyance here.

 

[tzfujimino]

The dictionary is not lying, though I don't know whether the person is expressing annoyance here.

We might have to look for nonverbal clues, such as facial expressions or intonation, then.

 

[tedmc]

That still doesn't explain why you said "it is just slightly better than 'No'". In what way is it better?

Well, something is better than nothing, isn't it?

 

[tedmc]

We might have to look for nonverbal clues, such as facial expressions or intonation, then.

Should there be a comma after "intonation?

 

[Tarheel]

Well, something is better than nothing, isn't it?

I guess you mean that "Hardly" provides more information than "No". (Maybe it does.)

 

[tzfujimino]

Should there be a comma after "intonation?

I think so. I used "then" in the sense of #3 here:
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/then_1?q=then