or not

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See also: ornot

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology 1

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Influenced by Chinese 是不是 (shìbùshì, whether or not), forming a question, and similar interrogative expressions with , , and other dialectal synonyms.

Pronunciation

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Particle

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or not

  1. (Singapore, Malaysia, colloquial) Final interrogative particle, forming a yes/no question from a declarative statement.
    • 2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
      You want to go see snow or not, Ma?
    • 2020 January 26, JustGreat, “I ordered Pizza Hut”, in SG Talk[1]:
      Can or not ?
Usage notes
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In contrast to most English dialects, where "or not" is only optionally appended to a yes-no question formed syntactically ("He called" → "Did he call?" → "Did he call or not?"), in Colloquial Singaporean English, "or not" functions as a final particle and forms a question by itself: "He got call" → "He got call or not?".

Synonyms
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Etymology 2

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Pronunciation

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Phrase

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or not

  1. Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened.
  2. A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated.
    "I bet the green car will make it unscathed!" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. "Or not," she sighed.

See also

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Anagrams

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