You\u2019ve likely heard the idiom \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider\u201d used in pop culture. Even without knowing its origin, you may have been able to deduce its meaning from context. But where did the phrase originate, and what does it mean?<\/p>\n
The idiom \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider\u201d is a playful way of saying \u201cno.\u201d It can be used any time a speaker wants to say no in a tongue-in-cheek way, but in context, it\u2019s most often used to deny a request of some sort.<\/p>\n
If a child asks their parent for extra television time, they might reply, \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider. You haven\u2019t finished your chores yet.\u201d This would be a firm but playful way of explaining that the denial is a consequence of the child not having finished their chores.<\/p>\n
If a friend invites another friend to an activity or event, and the other friend has to decline the invitation, they might say, \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider.\u201d From there, they could explain why they have to decline the invitation.<\/p>\n
The idiom \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider\u201d can be used to say a straightforward \u201cno,\u201d but it\u2019s most effective (and true to origin) when followed with an explanation of some sort.<\/p>\n
In the opening scene of the film Top Gun<\/em>, the pilot Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, requests permission to do a flyby from the control tower. A voice from the control tower replies, \u201cNegative, Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.\u201d<\/p>\n Ghost Rider refers to the call sign of Maverick\u2019s plane in the film. Despite his request being denied, Maverick proceeds to perform the trick anyway.<\/p>\n The 1986 film became wildly popular, and fans of the movie began using the phrase \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider\u201d as a humorous way of saying \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n The use of the idiom \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider\u201d has spread so widely that it\u2019s now a common way of playfully or regretfully declining a request or invitation. It\u2019s similar to other humorous or informal phrases of rejection, including:<\/p>\n \u201cNegative, Ghost Rider\u201d is an informal way of saying no, particularly to a request. Any phrase that conveys agreement would carry an opposite meaning to \u201cnegative, Ghost Rider.\u201d Common idioms of agreement include:<\/p>\nSimilar Phrases and Synonyms<\/h2>\n
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Opposite Phrases<\/h2>\n