‘No’, according to the dictionary, is a word ‘used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief or acknowledgement of negative statements.’ It’s a conveniently short word making it easy to write, and even easier to say so that you can even pronounce it if you’re bored of using your teeth.
And it’s a word I say often, usually in response to such questions as: ‘Did you remember we’re going to visit my parents this Sunday?’, ‘Did you pick up the shopping on your way back from running club?’, ‘Are you going to mend that fence before you go out cycling?’ and ‘Did you win?’.
Why then do I struggle to cough this word up in one particular situation, that being the moment someone suggests you should take part in some…