Meaning & use
no comment
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Something you say to refuse to answer a question or give information, especially to reporters.
Grammar: Used alone as a reply: Asked about the lawsuit, he said no comment.
Patterns
- say no comment
- reply with no comment
When reporters asked about the merger, she said no comment.
The spokesperson replied no comment and walked away.
The company has so far responded with a firm no comment.
nouncountable
A refusal to answer questions, or a statement that you will say nothing on a subject.
Grammar: Countable in this use: a no comment from the minister; often written as a no-comment policy.
Patterns
- a no comment from someone
- a no comment policy
The mayor's no comment only made reporters more curious.
The firm has a strict no comment policy on legal matters.
All we got from the police was a no comment.
Common combinations
- say no comment
- He decided to say no comment.
- a flat no comment
- Reporters got a flat no comment from the team.
- no comment policy
- The club has a no comment policy on transfers.
- reply with no comment
- The senator replied with no comment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- decline to comment
- Decline to comment is more formal and sounds more polite, while no comment is shorter and sharper.
- stay silent
- Stay silent means saying nothing at all, but no comment is a spoken reply that refuses.
- no statement
- No statement is bureaucratic and written, while no comment is a common spoken reply.
Opposites
Word family
- comment noun
- something said or written about a subject
- comment verb
- to give an opinion on something
- commentary noun
- a series of remarks or analysis
Practice
A reporter asks a politician about a scandal. The politician does not want to discuss it. What might she say?
Choose one answer.
No comment is the standard way to refuse to answer. The other replies would invite or give further information.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “no comment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.