no, not really

Rather than replying with a blunt 'no', many times in English you can hear 'no, not really', somehow minimising the blow of a bare 'no' answer. 

The Kemps: All True- Watch in Vimeo

This clip comes from a spoof (a parody) documentary about brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, who were founding members of the 1980s legendary band Spandau Ballet. They are in on the joke and pretend to have done silly things after the breakup of the band, such as stealing sweets from a department store in preparation for playing the role of a gangster in a film. 


The Beatles: Get Back ep 2

-Do you like India? 

-No, not really

Broadchurch, s1 ep 07

Broadchurch, s1 ep 07


Broadchurch 302_Not really.mp4
This Country 304_Not really.mp4

This Country- s3ep4 - open in a new tab

Twenty Twelve- s1ep1 

Actor Hugh Laurie talking about his friend Stephen Fry.  (Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4 1996)

Do you see less of him these days? 

No, not really. I suppose …

Two adopted kids discuss how they feel. 

Source

(Subtitles available-click on CC-English)

Saltburn- watch on Vimeo

(An Oxford lecturer is supposed to have his first tutorial with two students, but one of them is running really late. The students have never met before, and they don't seem to hit it off).