From the very beginning, did "no thank-you" mean No. Thank YOU, (as in first denying then instead of being...

Question

thanked, they thank the others) or no thankyou, as in no thank-yous necessary (like saying no salt kind of format)? I know this is a random question but you know how "no thank-you's" are like daily things that people say but I personally think they're kinda used wrong...I mean like say someone gives you a candy, why would someone say "No thank-you"? It doesn't make sense if you take it literally you know?

Answer 1

No, thank you. It means, "no, but thank you for asking, offering, whatever the circumstance".

In short, you are politely refusing. If someone offers you some candy and you don't want it, it's perfectly appropriate to say, "No, thank you." It acknowledges the gesture without offending. The secret to making sense of it is to say it with appropriate pause between the word "no", and "Thank you."

Answer 2

It's two statements.
1. No. I'm turning the offer down.
2. Thank you for thinking of me and making the offer.

Answer 3

There is a comma between the words when I say it. It's "No, thank you." I think we are out of the habit of pausing after no, but I'd guess that's how the phrase was originally meant.

No is to say, "No, I'm not interested."
Thank you is to say, "Thank you for offering, though."

~Kyanna

Answer 4

I take it as, No, but thank you for offering, asking, etc. Yes it is polite, but sometimes it really does make sense.

Answer 5

The inflection offers two different uses. A no thank you is a gracious way to reject something politely. No, thank YOU is reiterating someone else's thanks by stressing that you are very grateful. Two different meanings and uses.

Answer 6

The correct phrase has always been "No, thank you."

Note the use of the comma. It means, "No, but thank you for asking."

Period.

Answer 7

No, (but) thank you (for offering). shortened to....No, thanks!

You are declining the offer, but acknowledging how nice/kind the offer was.