What does “yes and no” mean in English?

When someone asks you a question, sometimes “yes” is too simple and “no” is also wrong. English speakers say “yes and no” to show that the truth is not just one thing. For example, if a friend asks “Is London expensive?” you might say “Yes and no — it depends on what you do.” It is a polite, natural way to say: the full answer is more than a single word.

In this BBC Learning English clip, a scientist is asked whether reindeer herders in Finland handle the cold better than ordinary people. She answers: “Yes and no. The more data we collect, the more confusing the picture gets.” This is a good example. She does not just say “kind of” or “maybe” — she uses “yes and no” first, then explains both sides. You can do the same in conversation, in emails, or in job interviews whenever a question has no simple answer.