What does *dead* mean in *What do you mean, dead?*?












2















In the following sentence, which I encountered when I was learning French on Duolingo (but my native language is not English):




What do you mean, dead?




In my dictionary, there is no description of such use of dead. The closest one is likely the one equivalent to absolutely.



So what does dead mean in these cases? Does it mean the speaker does not understand what the listener was saying at all?



And also is it considered vulgar to use dead in these cases?










share|improve this question



























    2















    In the following sentence, which I encountered when I was learning French on Duolingo (but my native language is not English):




    What do you mean, dead?




    In my dictionary, there is no description of such use of dead. The closest one is likely the one equivalent to absolutely.



    So what does dead mean in these cases? Does it mean the speaker does not understand what the listener was saying at all?



    And also is it considered vulgar to use dead in these cases?










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2








      In the following sentence, which I encountered when I was learning French on Duolingo (but my native language is not English):




      What do you mean, dead?




      In my dictionary, there is no description of such use of dead. The closest one is likely the one equivalent to absolutely.



      So what does dead mean in these cases? Does it mean the speaker does not understand what the listener was saying at all?



      And also is it considered vulgar to use dead in these cases?










      share|improve this question














      In the following sentence, which I encountered when I was learning French on Duolingo (but my native language is not English):




      What do you mean, dead?




      In my dictionary, there is no description of such use of dead. The closest one is likely the one equivalent to absolutely.



      So what does dead mean in these cases? Does it mean the speaker does not understand what the listener was saying at all?



      And also is it considered vulgar to use dead in these cases?







      word-usage word-meaning






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 10 hours ago









      BlaszardBlaszard

      4294720




      4294720






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          15














          In the construction What do you mean, X?, X is "echoic": a word or phrase (or even a complete sentence) quoted from the previous speaker's utterance. The construction may ask for confirmation or explanation of X, or it may express disbelief or shock.




          A: Our proposal is dead.
          B: What do you mean, dead? As in the boss rejected it, or we're withdrawing it?



          A: Bill's dead.
          B: What do you mean, dead? I spoke with him just yesterday!




          ADDED:
          So X—dead, in your example—means just what it ordinarily means in the context in which the first speaker uttered it.



          And of course (as Michael Harvey and David Richerby gently point out) X can be virtually anything:




          A: I've just finished the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.
          B: What do you mean, the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics? The assignment was the Critique of Pure Reason!







          share|improve this answer





















          • 4





            Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

            – Michael Harvey
            10 hours ago






          • 5





            Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

            – David Richerby
            1 hour ago



















          3














          That would usually be said as an expression of disbelief on being told that someone is dead. It means the same as the everyday adjective dead, because that's what it is. You might consider it as ellipsis of "what do you mean, he's dead?"






          share|improve this answer































            3














            Here’s how this question might be used:




            Doctor: I’m sorry, but the patient is dead.



            Patient’s relative: What do you mean, dead?!



            Doctor: I’m very sorry for your loss.




            In other words, someone would say this if they could not believe another person was dead even after being told of the fact. It’s a rhetorical question; no answer is really expected. In my scenario the doctor could have said “Well, the patient stopped breathing and I don’t hear a pulse and they don’t respond to stimuli” but that would probably be tactless; the relative probably would not want to hear all about how the doctor knows the patient is dead upon learning of the death.



            And no, it is not vulgar to say this, since you asked.






            share|improve this answer
























            • I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

              – Michael Harvey
              5 hours ago











            • Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

              – Mixolydian
              4 hours ago











            • Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

              – Mixolydian
              4 hours ago













            • Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

              – Michael Harvey
              4 hours ago











            • The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

              – Michael Harvey
              4 hours ago



















            0














            I'm surprised that no other answer yet has mentioned that what we have here is a mention, not a use, of the word "dead." Properly punctuated, the sentence would be:




            What do you mean, "dead"?




            or to use a slightly older punctuation style,




            What do you mean — "dead"?




            That is, the speaker doesn't know what the addressee meant by the word "dead," and is asking for clarification.




            What do you mean by "dead"?




            Omitting the quotation marks is just a colloquial shorthand (like using a short pause — indicated by comma or em-dash — instead of the word "by").





            The other answerers are absolutely correct that most likely the speaker is trying to convey that he doesn't believe his ears.




            He's dead, Jim.



            What do you mean, "dead"? You mean, like, unconscious? In a coma? You can't possibly mean that he's actually dead!






            Regarding the use-mention distinction, consider the difference between




            VADER: Luke, I am your father.

            LUKE [incredulous]: What do you mean, "father"?




            and




            VADER: Luke, I am your father.

            LUKE [immediately deferential]: What do you mean, father?







            share|improve this answer























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              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

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              4 Answers
              4






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              15














              In the construction What do you mean, X?, X is "echoic": a word or phrase (or even a complete sentence) quoted from the previous speaker's utterance. The construction may ask for confirmation or explanation of X, or it may express disbelief or shock.




              A: Our proposal is dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? As in the boss rejected it, or we're withdrawing it?



              A: Bill's dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? I spoke with him just yesterday!




              ADDED:
              So X—dead, in your example—means just what it ordinarily means in the context in which the first speaker uttered it.



              And of course (as Michael Harvey and David Richerby gently point out) X can be virtually anything:




              A: I've just finished the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.
              B: What do you mean, the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics? The assignment was the Critique of Pure Reason!







              share|improve this answer





















              • 4





                Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

                – Michael Harvey
                10 hours ago






              • 5





                Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

                – David Richerby
                1 hour ago
















              15














              In the construction What do you mean, X?, X is "echoic": a word or phrase (or even a complete sentence) quoted from the previous speaker's utterance. The construction may ask for confirmation or explanation of X, or it may express disbelief or shock.




              A: Our proposal is dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? As in the boss rejected it, or we're withdrawing it?



              A: Bill's dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? I spoke with him just yesterday!




              ADDED:
              So X—dead, in your example—means just what it ordinarily means in the context in which the first speaker uttered it.



              And of course (as Michael Harvey and David Richerby gently point out) X can be virtually anything:




              A: I've just finished the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.
              B: What do you mean, the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics? The assignment was the Critique of Pure Reason!







              share|improve this answer





















              • 4





                Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

                – Michael Harvey
                10 hours ago






              • 5





                Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

                – David Richerby
                1 hour ago














              15












              15








              15







              In the construction What do you mean, X?, X is "echoic": a word or phrase (or even a complete sentence) quoted from the previous speaker's utterance. The construction may ask for confirmation or explanation of X, or it may express disbelief or shock.




              A: Our proposal is dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? As in the boss rejected it, or we're withdrawing it?



              A: Bill's dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? I spoke with him just yesterday!




              ADDED:
              So X—dead, in your example—means just what it ordinarily means in the context in which the first speaker uttered it.



              And of course (as Michael Harvey and David Richerby gently point out) X can be virtually anything:




              A: I've just finished the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.
              B: What do you mean, the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics? The assignment was the Critique of Pure Reason!







              share|improve this answer















              In the construction What do you mean, X?, X is "echoic": a word or phrase (or even a complete sentence) quoted from the previous speaker's utterance. The construction may ask for confirmation or explanation of X, or it may express disbelief or shock.




              A: Our proposal is dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? As in the boss rejected it, or we're withdrawing it?



              A: Bill's dead.
              B: What do you mean, dead? I spoke with him just yesterday!




              ADDED:
              So X—dead, in your example—means just what it ordinarily means in the context in which the first speaker uttered it.



              And of course (as Michael Harvey and David Richerby gently point out) X can be virtually anything:




              A: I've just finished the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics.
              B: What do you mean, the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics? The assignment was the Critique of Pure Reason!








              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited 1 hour ago

























              answered 10 hours ago









              StoneyBStoneyB

              171k10234416




              171k10234416








              • 4





                Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

                – Michael Harvey
                10 hours ago






              • 5





                Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

                – David Richerby
                1 hour ago














              • 4





                Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

                – Michael Harvey
                10 hours ago






              • 5





                Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

                – David Richerby
                1 hour ago








              4




              4





              Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

              – Michael Harvey
              10 hours ago





              Your car's been stolen. What do you mean, stolen?

              – Michael Harvey
              10 hours ago




              5




              5





              Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

              – David Richerby
              1 hour ago





              Your answer's been upvoted. What do you mean, upvoted?

              – David Richerby
              1 hour ago













              3














              That would usually be said as an expression of disbelief on being told that someone is dead. It means the same as the everyday adjective dead, because that's what it is. You might consider it as ellipsis of "what do you mean, he's dead?"






              share|improve this answer




























                3














                That would usually be said as an expression of disbelief on being told that someone is dead. It means the same as the everyday adjective dead, because that's what it is. You might consider it as ellipsis of "what do you mean, he's dead?"






                share|improve this answer


























                  3












                  3








                  3







                  That would usually be said as an expression of disbelief on being told that someone is dead. It means the same as the everyday adjective dead, because that's what it is. You might consider it as ellipsis of "what do you mean, he's dead?"






                  share|improve this answer













                  That would usually be said as an expression of disbelief on being told that someone is dead. It means the same as the everyday adjective dead, because that's what it is. You might consider it as ellipsis of "what do you mean, he's dead?"







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 10 hours ago









                  SamBCSamBC

                  9,5561235




                  9,5561235























                      3














                      Here’s how this question might be used:




                      Doctor: I’m sorry, but the patient is dead.



                      Patient’s relative: What do you mean, dead?!



                      Doctor: I’m very sorry for your loss.




                      In other words, someone would say this if they could not believe another person was dead even after being told of the fact. It’s a rhetorical question; no answer is really expected. In my scenario the doctor could have said “Well, the patient stopped breathing and I don’t hear a pulse and they don’t respond to stimuli” but that would probably be tactless; the relative probably would not want to hear all about how the doctor knows the patient is dead upon learning of the death.



                      And no, it is not vulgar to say this, since you asked.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        5 hours ago











                      • Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago











                      • Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago













                      • Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago











                      • The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago
















                      3














                      Here’s how this question might be used:




                      Doctor: I’m sorry, but the patient is dead.



                      Patient’s relative: What do you mean, dead?!



                      Doctor: I’m very sorry for your loss.




                      In other words, someone would say this if they could not believe another person was dead even after being told of the fact. It’s a rhetorical question; no answer is really expected. In my scenario the doctor could have said “Well, the patient stopped breathing and I don’t hear a pulse and they don’t respond to stimuli” but that would probably be tactless; the relative probably would not want to hear all about how the doctor knows the patient is dead upon learning of the death.



                      And no, it is not vulgar to say this, since you asked.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        5 hours ago











                      • Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago











                      • Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago













                      • Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago











                      • The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago














                      3












                      3








                      3







                      Here’s how this question might be used:




                      Doctor: I’m sorry, but the patient is dead.



                      Patient’s relative: What do you mean, dead?!



                      Doctor: I’m very sorry for your loss.




                      In other words, someone would say this if they could not believe another person was dead even after being told of the fact. It’s a rhetorical question; no answer is really expected. In my scenario the doctor could have said “Well, the patient stopped breathing and I don’t hear a pulse and they don’t respond to stimuli” but that would probably be tactless; the relative probably would not want to hear all about how the doctor knows the patient is dead upon learning of the death.



                      And no, it is not vulgar to say this, since you asked.






                      share|improve this answer













                      Here’s how this question might be used:




                      Doctor: I’m sorry, but the patient is dead.



                      Patient’s relative: What do you mean, dead?!



                      Doctor: I’m very sorry for your loss.




                      In other words, someone would say this if they could not believe another person was dead even after being told of the fact. It’s a rhetorical question; no answer is really expected. In my scenario the doctor could have said “Well, the patient stopped breathing and I don’t hear a pulse and they don’t respond to stimuli” but that would probably be tactless; the relative probably would not want to hear all about how the doctor knows the patient is dead upon learning of the death.



                      And no, it is not vulgar to say this, since you asked.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 10 hours ago









                      MixolydianMixolydian

                      2,196311




                      2,196311













                      • I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        5 hours ago











                      • Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago











                      • Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago













                      • Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago











                      • The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago



















                      • I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        5 hours ago











                      • Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago











                      • Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                        – Mixolydian
                        4 hours ago













                      • Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago











                      • The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                        – Michael Harvey
                        4 hours ago

















                      I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      5 hours ago





                      I wonder, does the OP think it might be vulgar to say 'dead' because so many people censor death and say that someone 'passed away' etc? I did once hear someone say that an aunt had 'crossed the Jordan'.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      5 hours ago













                      Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                      – Mixolydian
                      4 hours ago





                      Wow... that’s quite the euphemism. Cultural differences, I guess. I could see that this might be the thinking, though of course would have to defer to the OP. Also, it should be noted that someone would likely be in an emotional state while saying this, so it’s not exactly a polite or restrained thing to say.

                      – Mixolydian
                      4 hours ago













                      Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                      – Mixolydian
                      4 hours ago







                      Also just noticed that the OP wonders if “dead” means “absolutely” in this context. No, absolutely not- it most certainly means “not alive.” An expression like “You are dead wrong” has this meaning of “absolutely.”

                      – Mixolydian
                      4 hours ago















                      Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      4 hours ago





                      Mixolydian - I think you have to be sensitive to a bereaved person's feelings - when my own mother died I got so sick of people dressing it up with euphemisms. She was dead. She died. We all die.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      4 hours ago













                      The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      4 hours ago





                      The aunt who had crossed the Jordan had done so decades before. I forebore to ask if she was going to Israel, Jordan Syria, or the West Bank.

                      – Michael Harvey
                      4 hours ago











                      0














                      I'm surprised that no other answer yet has mentioned that what we have here is a mention, not a use, of the word "dead." Properly punctuated, the sentence would be:




                      What do you mean, "dead"?




                      or to use a slightly older punctuation style,




                      What do you mean — "dead"?




                      That is, the speaker doesn't know what the addressee meant by the word "dead," and is asking for clarification.




                      What do you mean by "dead"?




                      Omitting the quotation marks is just a colloquial shorthand (like using a short pause — indicated by comma or em-dash — instead of the word "by").





                      The other answerers are absolutely correct that most likely the speaker is trying to convey that he doesn't believe his ears.




                      He's dead, Jim.



                      What do you mean, "dead"? You mean, like, unconscious? In a coma? You can't possibly mean that he's actually dead!






                      Regarding the use-mention distinction, consider the difference between




                      VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                      LUKE [incredulous]: What do you mean, "father"?




                      and




                      VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                      LUKE [immediately deferential]: What do you mean, father?







                      share|improve this answer




























                        0














                        I'm surprised that no other answer yet has mentioned that what we have here is a mention, not a use, of the word "dead." Properly punctuated, the sentence would be:




                        What do you mean, "dead"?




                        or to use a slightly older punctuation style,




                        What do you mean — "dead"?




                        That is, the speaker doesn't know what the addressee meant by the word "dead," and is asking for clarification.




                        What do you mean by "dead"?




                        Omitting the quotation marks is just a colloquial shorthand (like using a short pause — indicated by comma or em-dash — instead of the word "by").





                        The other answerers are absolutely correct that most likely the speaker is trying to convey that he doesn't believe his ears.




                        He's dead, Jim.



                        What do you mean, "dead"? You mean, like, unconscious? In a coma? You can't possibly mean that he's actually dead!






                        Regarding the use-mention distinction, consider the difference between




                        VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                        LUKE [incredulous]: What do you mean, "father"?




                        and




                        VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                        LUKE [immediately deferential]: What do you mean, father?







                        share|improve this answer


























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          I'm surprised that no other answer yet has mentioned that what we have here is a mention, not a use, of the word "dead." Properly punctuated, the sentence would be:




                          What do you mean, "dead"?




                          or to use a slightly older punctuation style,




                          What do you mean — "dead"?




                          That is, the speaker doesn't know what the addressee meant by the word "dead," and is asking for clarification.




                          What do you mean by "dead"?




                          Omitting the quotation marks is just a colloquial shorthand (like using a short pause — indicated by comma or em-dash — instead of the word "by").





                          The other answerers are absolutely correct that most likely the speaker is trying to convey that he doesn't believe his ears.




                          He's dead, Jim.



                          What do you mean, "dead"? You mean, like, unconscious? In a coma? You can't possibly mean that he's actually dead!






                          Regarding the use-mention distinction, consider the difference between




                          VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                          LUKE [incredulous]: What do you mean, "father"?




                          and




                          VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                          LUKE [immediately deferential]: What do you mean, father?







                          share|improve this answer













                          I'm surprised that no other answer yet has mentioned that what we have here is a mention, not a use, of the word "dead." Properly punctuated, the sentence would be:




                          What do you mean, "dead"?




                          or to use a slightly older punctuation style,




                          What do you mean — "dead"?




                          That is, the speaker doesn't know what the addressee meant by the word "dead," and is asking for clarification.




                          What do you mean by "dead"?




                          Omitting the quotation marks is just a colloquial shorthand (like using a short pause — indicated by comma or em-dash — instead of the word "by").





                          The other answerers are absolutely correct that most likely the speaker is trying to convey that he doesn't believe his ears.




                          He's dead, Jim.



                          What do you mean, "dead"? You mean, like, unconscious? In a coma? You can't possibly mean that he's actually dead!






                          Regarding the use-mention distinction, consider the difference between




                          VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                          LUKE [incredulous]: What do you mean, "father"?




                          and




                          VADER: Luke, I am your father.

                          LUKE [immediately deferential]: What do you mean, father?








                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 12 mins ago









                          QuuxplusoneQuuxplusone

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