rhetorical 

to be only critically thought of and not literal

Keith: Would you go with me on a picnic?

Steph: Why should i.

Landon: Why would you do that, it's so dumb.

James: Well because i thought it would be...

Landon: *Thinks* Wtf it was a rhetorical question, you were suppose to answer it to yourself and not out loud.

rhetorical by Stephblogsalot :] January 2, 2010

rhetorical fact 

A piece of information, usually not true, that a person cites in order to win an argument.

I don't really know if 1.2% of marriages end in murder, it was just a rhetorical fact to shut bob up.

rhetorical fact by thefj February 10, 2014

rhetorical answer 

An answer to a rhetorical question, what is asked to make a point, which is answered to make a point.

"Oh, please. Everyone's always on about the children. I've already tried leaving them alive, but all they do is grow up under my rule or dedicate their pathetic lives to revenge, usually both. Really, killing them is a kindness. I can retract that kindness if you wish. But then who's the villain?"
"Y- you."
"N- no, that was a rhetorical question."
"And I gave you a rhetorical answer."

rhetorical answer by i can feel you slipping October 21, 2015

rhetorical answer 

A response to a question that does not answer the question asked. Commonly used by busy mums with the sole purpose of annoying those asking the question.

Jack: what time will dinner be ready?
Paula: when its cooked.
Jack: stop it with those rhetorical answers! !

rhetorical answer by jess12 May 27, 2014

rhetorical flourish 

An oratory elaboration which exceeds the limits of what most people would describe as useful or informative, or which tangentially strays into the realm philosophical musings.

"Yo, your homie said you was in for some shenanigans."

"No man, that was just rhetorical flourish."

rhetorical flourish by 2dois2b February 27, 2009

rhetorical question

A question were the speaker does not expect an answer

Bob: Jim, why do you have to be such a dumb ass

Jim: well it all started in the summer of 1995 when...

Bob: That was a rhetorical question dumb ass

rhetorical question by I am feeling fat and sassy January 18, 2009

rhetorical dissonance 

when someone doesn't take the default politically correct rhetorical position of their own stance in discussing a political issue. It leads to a false perception of cognitive dissonance by their audience, when in fact the person is abandoning rhetoric and examining the issue without rhetorical bias. It leads to an ally of a cause to be seen as the enemy for not falling in line with automatically assumed rhetorical positions.

When Bob argued the following, "I am a full supporter of gender equality. However, the SCUM Manifesto doesn't help the feminist cause. Many feminists become just as bad as chauvinists, when their responses to sexism become just as polemic," he was seen as criticizing feminism, creating rhetorical dissonance. Another example is the following: "Gay rights are very important, and they should be equal. That being said, the APA has established that orientation changes over a lifetime. The reality is that some people can and do choose to be gay, not that there's anything wrong with that."

rhetorical dissonance by ideomotion October 21, 2010