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Shivanand Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

What does "Or what" mean?

What does it mean when one says-"Is this scary or what?"
  

Top answer

'Or what' is generally a rhetorical question (a question that needs no answer because the answer is implied by the question). ' is implying that the speaker thinks that it is scary, not really asking if the other person thinks it is scary. It can also work the other way in that the implied answer is no.

— Vivica

  • 'Or what' is generally a rhetorical question (a question that needs no answer because the answer is implied by the question).
  • ' is implying that the speaker thinks that it is scary, not really asking if the other person thinks it is scary.
  • It can also work the other way in that the implied answer is no.
  • ' Hope that helps a little.
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4 Answers
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'Or what' is generally a rhetorical question (a question that needs no answer because the answer is implied by the question). Therefore, in this case, 'is this scary or what?' is implying that the speaker thinks that it is scary, not really asking if the other person thinks it is scary. It can also work the other way in that the implied answer is no. For example, 'Do you know what you are doing o
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(Is it scary or what) is something like combinging two questions.

Is it scary?
OR
What is it like?
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oh yeah, I didn't think of that.
I guess it is context dependant because it could mean either, depending on if it is a question or if it is an exclamation.
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No, no, no. Vivica, you were right. "Is it scary or what?" never means "What was it like?" It always means "Is it scary?" or "Is it scary?" "...or what" is simply an idiomatic amplifier. With all due respect, Louisthu, if it's not your first language, why pretend you know the answer?
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