France· easy· informal
p'têt ben qu'oui, p'têt ben qu'non
“maybe well that yes, maybe well that no (Norman dialect contraction)”
Meaning
A noncommittal way of avoiding a straight answer
Explanation
The classic Norman non-answer, hedging your bets rather than committing either way. It plays into the regional stereotype of Normans as famously cagey.
Example
Tu viens à la fête samedi ? Ah, p'têt ben qu'oui, p'têt ben qu'non...
Are you coming to the party Saturday? Ah, maybe yes, maybe no...
Origin
Short for 'peut-être bien que oui, peut-être bien que non'. Sometimes traced to a supposed old Norman custom allowing someone to back out of a signed contract within 24 hours.
Where
Normandy
Quebec
Source
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