"Can a fish swim?"

bloodiedathame

bloodiedathame

bloodiedathame

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I'm reviewing some work and someone has used this phrase, and I feel it's a bit out of context.

I'm not going to tell you what that context is but I'm interested in when you would use the phrase? Please give an example.

Ie "Would you like a drink?" "Can a fish swim?"
 
What? Of course a fish can swim, or is that not what you’re asking. I can’t make sense of the post.

Is it a bit like “do bears crap in the woods” or “is the pope catholic”. A question where the answer is so obviously yes that this sort of phrase is used in reply?
 
bloodiedathame said:
I'm reviewing some work and someone has used this phrase, and I feel it's a bit out of context.

I'm not going to tell you what that context is but I'm interested in when you would use the phrase? Please give an example.

Ie "Would you like a drink?" "Can a fish swim?"
Click to expand...
you would use that phrase when the obvious answer is yes. in what context has it been used that makes you feel it's been used incorrectly?

there are others.....
does the pope wear a funny hat?
does a bear **** in the woods?

I prefer those to the swimming fish one - it's just boring and carp ;)
 
Obviously the answer is "Yes" so, they must mean it to affirm whatever the question was.
Normally people use "Does a bear poop in the woods" or "Is the pope Catholic?"

I thought the normal use of a fish in analogy was "You can't teach a fish to ride a bicycle".
 
Situation for usage:

An observer shouts, "Oh no the former lead singer of Marillion has fallen into the lake!"
Standing near by I switch on Faceless Man mode and reply "Can a Fish swim?"
 
Can't say I've heard the fish one myself - It's normally "Does a bear **** in the woods?" or "Is the Pope Catholic?" :p
 
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