Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

Well yes, but actually no 

A phrase often used to point out instances of technicality, ambiguity, or hypocrisy.

1. A technicality. The meaning of the phrase in this context is "well yes, technically you are correct about superficial elements, but actually no, you are wrong about the substance in some way that invalidates the premise."

2. Ambiguity. The meaning of the phrase in this context is "well yes, some elements of this that have merit, but actually no, there are further details that must be considered."

3. Hypocrisy. The meaning of the phrase in this context is "well yes, I will say something to you to temporarily satisfy you, but actually no, my true actions will go against what I've said."
Site: Will you provide an example? We won't let you submit this without an example.

Me: Well yes, but actually no.

Well yes, but actually no 

What you say when you know what is expected of you, but you dont care.

Origin:
In an animated short film called “So You Want to be a Pirate!”. There’s a part where a character says “good guess, but actually no”. Someone posted a screen cap of it on Reddit, but captioned as “Well yes, but actually no”
My friend: Don’t you feel bad about taking his stuff?
Me: Well yes, but actually no.

Me: So you’ll for sure be here to fix my internet tomorrow?
Comcast: Well yes, but actually no.

Me: (clicks not interested on the same YouTube video for the millionth time)
YouTube: Well yes, but actually no.

yes, but actually no 

A meme, which has lasted more than 6 months.
"Does PETA helps to save animals?"

Yes, but actually no.
More from Urban Dictionary
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm 😎😎
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026

Northstarring

Finding your way back to the truth by fixing on one verified fact and working out from there, the way you navigate by the North Star when everything around you is spinning.
Rumours were flying everywhere, so she went northstarring — one checked fact at a time.
Northstarring by Light Bearer October 22, 2026
Word of the Day on October 23, 2026

Plate of Brown 

A plate of brown consists of foods that have little to no nutritional value, and are typically deep fried. A true plate of brown will also be accompanied by a dark soda.
Wanna go to meal hall & grab a plate of brown?
Plate of Brown by Cheddar Craigson September 18, 2020
Word of the Day on October 22, 2026

Larpenomics

When finance content creators rent out fancy cars and flex cash to seem richer than they really are in order to promote and sell their “get rich quick” courses.
Andrew Tate has mastered the field of larpenomics
Larpenomics by Rbois09 October 21, 2026
Word of the Day on October 21, 2026
Load more