Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
вопрос-мячик
English translation:
counter-question
Added to glossary by
Sarah McDowell
May 24 20:18
1 mo ago
25 viewers *
Russian term
Canada
Tourism ♦ Marketing ♦ Fiction ♦ the Arts
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, English
вопрос-мячик
Russian to English
Other
Tourism & Travel
Если сомневаюсь, заменю в ответе то, что кажется лишним,** вопросом-мячиком**: «Рассказать подробнее?».
Can anyone please help with the translation of вопрос-мячик?
Can anyone please help with the translation of вопрос-мячик?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | counter question |
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
|
| 2 | rebound question/ boomerang question |
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
|
| 1 | probe question |
Borys Sydiuk
|
Proposed translations
1 day 22 hrs
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
On time, on target, on budget.
Native in: English 
, Polish
Works in: Polish to English, English to Polish, Russian to Polish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
counter question
a question asked in response to another question
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterquestion
a question that is asked in reply to another question
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/count...
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterquestion
a question that is asked in reply to another question
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/count...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Спасибо Франк!"
55 mins
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
On time, on target, on budget.
Native in: English , Polish
Works in: Polish to English, English to Polish, Russian to Polish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
rebound question/ boomerang question
A couple of possible English equivalents, each one having a few nuances themselves.
The phrase 'rebound the question' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiom that means to respond to a question by asking a different question. For example, "Q: Why are you so angry? A: Why do you think I'm angry? [Rebound the question.]".
https://ludwig.guru/s/rebound the question#:~:text=The phras...
A boomerang question is the technique of not answering a learners' questions directly but instead throwing the question back to the group
https://endurancelearning.com/blog/the-boomerang-answering-q...
A question specifically asked in order for the recipient to ask YOU the question in return. People who send out a boomerang question (person A) rarely care for the answer of the other person (person B) and only wish to share their story.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Boomerang Qu...
The phrase 'rebound the question' is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiom that means to respond to a question by asking a different question. For example, "Q: Why are you so angry? A: Why do you think I'm angry? [Rebound the question.]".
https://ludwig.guru/s/rebound the question#:~:text=The phras...
A boomerang question is the technique of not answering a learners' questions directly but instead throwing the question back to the group
https://endurancelearning.com/blog/the-boomerang-answering-q...
A question specifically asked in order for the recipient to ask YOU the question in return. People who send out a boomerang question (person A) rarely care for the answer of the other person (person B) and only wish to share their story.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Boomerang Qu...
Note from asker:
| Thanks Frank! I put some more context from the client in the discussion. I like the idea of "rebound question". Given the context, I don't think "boomerang question" is suitable. I'm also considering "bounce-back question". |
20 hrs
Borys Sydiuk
Ukraine
Ukraine
Native in Russian
Works in field
Ukraine
When Science Meets Fiction
Native in: Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia) , Ukrainian (Variant: Standard-Ukraine)
Works in: English to Russian, English to Ukrainian, Ukrainian to English, and 1 more.
probe question
Just an idea. "pass the ball" question to cause an answer
Discussion
So I asked the client for additional info on this вопрос-мячик and this is what he said: It means that a client contacted our Support with a question about their booking, and a Support specialist has to answer by using only the information which can be said to customers. With such a question, the Support specialist tries to get a permission to tell more than they were supposed to.
The concept of мячик can be explained like this: a Support specialist asks a customer a question (throws a ball), if the customer kicks it back, then the Support specialist can continue talking.
https://seoded.livejournal.com/223408.html
The phraseology here is that of a ball that you throw at a wall and get the same ball back.