[Idiom] I don't want to answer.

[Ali Ahmadi]

Sometimes somebody asks you a question tht you don't like or don't want to answer and the answer is private.

1 What's the polite way to refuse the question?

2 What's the conservative way to refuse the question?

3 What's the impolite way to refuse the question?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Polite: Please don't ask me that.
Impolite: That is none of your business.

 

[Rover_KE]

1. 'I'm sorry; I don't wish to answer that.'

2. 'I'm not going to answer that.'

3. 'Mind your own business'/'That's for me to know and you to find out.'

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is it blunt to say 'I would not like to answer private questions'?

Not a teacher.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's short and to the point. I suppose you could describe that as blunt. However, I don't like the use of "private questions". The questions aren't private - the answers are.

I don't want to answer any personal questions.

 

[jwsimpson]

No comment.

 

[emsr2d2]

That sounds like something you would say in a legal interview.

 

[SoothingDave]

My mom used to say "Are you writing a book?"

Then follow with "Well, leave that chapter out."

 

[Tdol]

I'd rather not answer that.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you're at a job interview and you're confident enough to say it, you could use "I'm sorry, but I can't see how that is relevant to my suitability for this job".

 

[Ali Ahmadi]

Is it a good idea to say "Are you nosy?!" as an impolite answer?
This is verbal translation of a persian experession.

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends on the context although I find using it as a question rather unnatural. You might say "Don't be so nosy!" but I wouldn't use that in a formal setting like a job interview. If someone walked up to me in the street and asked me a personal question, I would go with "Mind your own business"! or "Don't be so nosy!" (Actually, I'd be more likely to give a rather curt, two-word answer but I'm too polite to post it here.)

 

[Tdol]

Is it a good idea to say "Are you nosy?!" as an impolite answer?
This is verbal translation of a persian experession.

I wouldn't. That's (a bit) personal would work better for me.

 

[TheParser]

1 What's the polite way to refuse the question?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Q: Why did your wife divorce you?
A: That's a very painful matter that I prefer not to discuss. I'm sure you understand.

Q: What do you think about our country's leader?
A: I'm so busy trying to make a living that I really don't have any time to think about politics. So what do YOU think about her?

Q: How old are you?
A: I'm about your age.
Q: Oh! I didn't know that you were so young!

Q: Why aren't you married?
A: Your question brings back very sad memories that I'd rather forget.

Q: What kind of underwear do you wear?
A: Excuse me, but your question makes me very uncomfortable.



James