Are you looking for responses to “Why not?” In this article, I have listed and discussed 20 savvy responses to “Why not” which will help you respond to the phrase appropriately.
These responses have been curated with various scenarios in mind and you are going to discover how each one comes in and when to use them.
I Know You’d Not Pass On The Opportunity To Go For An Adventure. Skydiving Would Be Fun
One of the scenarios where someone might say “Why not?” is when you inform someone about an activity that you would like to do together, such as a fun outing. We have friends who will jump at such opportunities as long as it promises to be an amazing time.
This is where a response like this can be used. You could then confirm their assumptions about the activity being fun.
Hahaha. Do You Ever Say No To Things?
“Why not?” is a statement of agreement. So, you could laugh at your friend who tells you that and say “Do you ever say no to things?” Make sure you don’t sound or give a serious facial expression so the person doesn’t get the wrong message.
As Long As You Sponsor The Gas Bill, I Have No Restraint Being Your Chauffeur
If you have an extra request to make when they agree, that can be your response to their “Why not?” remark. It could be something they most likely would want to do or find hard to reject since it favors them.
See other examples so you can get the idea of what I am talking about:
- You are going to pay the bills otherwise I won’t be joining you
- Not like I thought you’d say no. You should know though that you have to come pick me up from church
If You Think I’d Do Well, I Don’t See Any Reason Why I Should Doubt Myself
Another scenario where someone might tell you “Why not?” is when you tell them something you want to do but are skeptical about doing it.
Their remark would be to encourage you and make you see reasons why you should get on with the plan you just shared. If this is the case, a response like “If you think I’d do well, I don’t see any reason why I should doubt myself” will do.
I Was Just Talking About How I Need To Engage In A Fun Activity With You Later And Then Boom You Want To Do This Also
If you casually mentioned plans to do something and they offered to join in the fun, you can show your surprise with a statement like “I was just talking about how I need to engage in a fun activity with you later, and then boom you want to do this also.”
You and your friend can be on the same wavelength and be thinking about doing something. So, this response could come in handy.
Well, We Can Easily Do Something That Would Not Require Spending Too Much And This Is One Of Such Things
You can offer your opinion when someone says “Why not” as a way to suggest that you guys should do something. In such a scenario, one thing you can do is to offer some advice about what you think of their suggestion. A statement like this can help you do that.
Can I Say No To Such An Opportunity? Things Like This Rarely Happen And What Stops Us From Making The Most Of Our Lives Now?
Like in the previous example, they could be suggesting something they want you to join them in doing. One of the ways that I can recommend you respond would be to ask “Can I say no to such an opportunity? Things like this rarely happen and what stops us from making the most of our lives now?”
I Just Have One Little Reservation. We Need To Keep It On A Low-Key Until We Are Sure
You might want to keep things under the radar when your friend or buddies approve of a plan you’ve got.
On this note, you could say “I just have one little reservation. We need to keep it on a low-key until we are sure” which will let them know that even though you all are on the same page, you want a bit of discretion about the event or plans.
I Had No Idea. Needed To Confirm Before I Checked Them Out
You could be trying to find out something and the person you are asking says “Why not?” It could be that you wanted to ask if the new eatery on the street sells decaf coffee.
Something like that could warrant a “Why not?” remark. You could respond with a statement like this one.
I Appreciate Your Willingness To Just Get Down With It. However, I Need You To Have An Objective Viewpoint. So, Take A Pause, Think About It, And Let Me Know What You Really Think
Some people hardly want to object when you come up with things. While this can be a good thing if the plan is for fun and games, it wouldn’t be a good trait in a corporate setting.
If you were trying to run something through a colleague and they said “Why not” in affirmation, you could respond with this example. It makes them consider what you have proposed from an objective standpoint.
I Am Excited For This Opportunity. I Don’t Want To Make Too Many Promises But You Can Count On The Fact That I Won’t Let You Down
Let’s say you asked to handle a task, for instance, at work and your superior didn’t object to it. Your response to their “Why not” remark can be an appreciation for their trust in your capability while you promise to do your best and not let them down.
I Didn’t Want To Bother You With It Since You Said You Were Going To Be Quite Busy With Work
If you had a plan to do something but were skeptical about sharing it with someone because you thought they’d be too busy to look through it, you may be surprised at the fact that they didn’t mind at all.
When this happens and they say “Why not?” you can use a response like “I didn’t want to bother you with it since you said you were going to be quite busy with work.”
Are You Sure It Is The Right Decision To Make?
Since “Why not” can be a statement of agreement, one of the ways you can respond to it is by asking if the decision, action, or step is the right one to take.
When you ask them, “Are you sure it is the right decision to make?”, you are simply calling their attention to the matter and making them consider the situation properly before agreeing.
Are There Other Places Where I Can Get The Same Item For A Cheaper Amount? It Seems Like You Know A Thing Or Two About It Generally
When you are asking someone about something like whether a store sells an item and they say “Why not?” you can ask for more details about the store or the item.
Like in the example I gave, the response is about whether there are other places where the item could be sold for less. Also, you could ask if the store has other alternatives or something to expect while shopping there.
Between The Both Of Us, I Wonder Who’s More Extravagant. You Never Object To Any Plans About Squandering Money
I have this friend who’s never objecting when I talk about going to eat or buying stuff. She’s always agreeing. If you have someone like that, one of the funniest responses to “Why not” for such a person is “Between the both of us, I wonder who’s more extravagant. You never object to any plans about squandering money.”
I Have Tried It That Way Many Times But I Am Always Open To See How I Can Do It Better
If you were running something by someone to see if it works and they respond with “Why not?” you can let them know that the reason you were asking them wasn’t because you haven’t tried it but because you feel that there could be other ways to do it.
“I have tried it that way many times but I am always open to see how I can do it better” is a good way to communicate this thought.
When I Told Them You Won’t Object, They Felt I Was Joking
Maybe you had a discussion with someone about how your friend or colleague wouldn’t say no to a plan if you brought it up to them. It could be a plan for a fun activity or something.
Then, true to form, they agreed by saying “Why not?” You can respond by saying “When I told them you won’t object, they felt I was joking.
Hold Your Horses For A Moment There. Think About It Very Well. Are You Certain That You Want Us To Go On With This Idea?
If you were talking to a friend and they affirmed your suggestion with “Why not?” you can make them understand that you don’t just need them to agree to the plan simply because you came up with it.
Telling them “Hold your horses for a moment there. Think about it very well. Are you certain that you want us to go on with this idea?” makes them realize that you want them to consider the idea properly before agreeing to it.
We Would Need To Carry Someone Like Jake Along. It Mustn’t Be Him Though But Someone Who Knows A Thing Or Two About It
If you told your friend about something and they agreed, you could mention a constraint to the plan or something to make it work better.
For instance, “We would need to carry someone like Jake along. It mustn’t be him though but someone who knows a thing or two about it” highlights the need to buddy up.
Anything My Lord Says Is Final
What better way to wrap up than with a flirty response to “Why not?”. If you are responding to a lady, you could use “My queen” or “My princess.” Just something that evokes royalty. The goal is to use it when discussing with a crush or partner.
Final Thoughts
Each of the responses provided in this piece attempts to respond to “Why not” based on a scenario. I have explored various contexts where the phrase can be used and why while providing suitable replies.
Now, you won’t need to worry about what to say to someone who tells you “Why not?”
