Pleonastic negative? Or confused speaker?

Question

This is an actual exchange I recently heard.

TV interviewer talking to a restaurant owner:

Would you say that, of all the restaurants on this street, yours is the best?

Owner's response:

I would be a fool not to say it wasn't!

Comments welcome.

CJ

Yankee · Accepted Answer

He seems to have fooled himself.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

It's this sort of statement that drives translators and logicians to drink. [D]

CalifJim · Answer

But isn't the meaning crystal clear?

I had to say it to myself several times before I was sure that the literal meaning was the opposite of the meaning I automatically took it to have -- and I'm sure was meant.

Please add any other examples of this phenomenon that you know of. (Other than I could care less, which I'm already aware of.) Thanks.

CJ

Dimsumexpress · Answer

CalifJim(Other than I could care less, which I'm already aware of.) Thanks.

Hi CJ, Every time I hear this phrase, I couldn't help but develop a frustration because I hear some say "could" and some say "couldn't". My inclination based on learning is "couldn't care less", which is a double negative statement, and by arithmatic logic, the answer is positive. Right?

How about " I don't want to say nothing until my lawyer gets here!"

Pleonastic negative? Or confused speaker?

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