Funny Questions to Ask a Guy
Funny questions to ask a guy you are getting to know, in person or over text, when you want a laugh and a story and not his five-year plan. The 102 questions are grouped as Silly, Would you rather, Debates, Embarrassing stories, Random and Over text, with the weird ones under Silly and Random, and each group starts with the easiest. Every question has a note with the follow-up to ask or a word on when to skip it.
Want questions from the whole vault instead? Try the random question generator.
The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
Silly
What would your pro wrestling name be, and what's your finishing move?
Why ask it
He will have a name within five seconds, and the move takes longer. Ask what music he walks out to and whether he is the hero or the one the crowd boos.
How many five-year-olds could you beat at tug of war at the same time?
Why ask it
Expect a confident number followed by a lot of adjusting for grip, footwear and whether the kids have had juice. Give your own number and argue about whose is more realistic.
What would your battle cry be if it had to be something you already say on a normal day?
Why ask it
The best ones are things he mutters all the time, like 'who moved my charger' or 'I'm not even tired'. Have him deliver it at full volume, then give him yours.
If you had to wear a cape, a top hat or roller skates everywhere for a year, which would you choose?
Why ask it
The top hat sounds like the safe pick until he pictures it at the gym. Whatever he chooses, take a different one and make him defend his at the beach, at a job interview and on a windy day.
Which animal do you privately believe you could beat in a race, and over what distance?
Why ask it
'Over what distance' is where the bargaining starts, because he likes his chances against a cow over a hundred yards and not over a mile. Push him one animal faster than he is comfortable with.
Which kitchen appliance are you most like on a Monday morning?
Why ask it
A slow cooker, a kettle that takes forever, a blender with the lid off. It is a weather report on his mornings, and it is fair to ask which appliance he turns into by Friday night.
If your life were a video game, which pointless achievement would you have unlocked by now?
Why ask it
A guy who plays anything will have three before you finish the sentence, usually about snoozed alarms or lost socks. Give his achievement a proper title, and find out what the final boss of his week is.
If a movie were made about your life, which actor would be badly miscast as you?
Why ask it
Asking for the wrong actor is easier than asking for the right one, which makes people either modest or delusional. Then ask who he would cast if he were being generous to himself.
A truck drops 500 pool noodles at your door by mistake and nobody wants them back. What do you do?
Why ask it
There is no sensible answer, which is why it works on a guy who gives short answers to everything else. Listen for whether he builds a fort, starts a business or arms the neighborhood.
What would you bring to show and tell if grown-ups still had to do it?
Why ask it
He will go for an object with a story: a ticket stub, a lamp he thinks is cursed, a trophy for something small. Give him two minutes to present it properly and take questions from the class.
If the two of us were a crime-solving duo, who's the brains and who drives the van?
Why ask it
He has to say what he thinks each of you is good at, which comes out as a compliment or a tease depending on the job he hands you. Argue for the other job, then settle on a name for the agency.
How much money would it take for you to shave off your eyebrows?
Why ask it
The number starts high and drops fast once he pictures the cash in his hand. Offer half and see if he takes it, then find out what he would do for nothing but the story.
If you could add one rule to every sport at once, what would it be?
Why ask it
Works whether or not he follows sports, since the best answers are things like a mandatory goat on the field. A fan will take it seriously for a second, and that pause is worth watching too.
What's your signature dance move called, and when did the public last see it?
Why ask it
Naming the move is the trick: 'the lawn sprinkler' or 'the confused dad' tells you everything. A demonstration is optional, but if he offers one, you have learned he does not embarrass easily.
If you could swap a car horn for any sound at all, what would yours play?
Why ask it
A goose, a sad trombone and a polite 'excuse me' are all strong picks. Not having a car is no problem, since a bike bell or a doorbell works the same way, and you get to hear him do the sound.
What would you bury in a time capsule purely to confuse whoever digs it up?
Why ask it
Ruling out anything sentimental leaves pure nonsense: one shoe, a signed photo of a stranger, a note that says 'we warned you'. Make him pick three things, then work out together what the finders would conclude.
You can add one room to your home, but it has to be completely impractical. What's in it?
Why ask it
Expect a ball pit, an indoor go-kart track or a room that is all beanbag and no floor. There is always a guest list and a password, so find out whether you are on it.
Would you rather
Would you rather have a chicken the size of a dinosaur or a dinosaur the size of a chicken?
Why ask it
The tiny dinosaur is the easy pick, and he will probably name it on the spot. If he takes the giant chicken, ask how he plans to feed it and where it sleeps.
Would you rather sneeze glitter or hiccup bubbles for the rest of your life?
Why ask it
Glitter never leaves a carpet, and that is usually what decides it. Have him picture the worst place for it to happen: a job interview, a silent exam hall, the barber's chair.
Would you rather have a personal chef who only makes cereal or a chauffeur who only drives a tractor?
Why ask it
Both are luxury on paper, and neither survives a second thought. Have him plan one full day with the one he picked, starting with turning up to school or work at tractor speed.
Would you rather give up every sauce for life or everything fried?
Why ask it
He will think this is easy until he starts listing sauces and realizes ketchup, salsa and gravy all go at once. Keep count of how many times he changes his mind.
Would you rather wear a suit to the gym every time or gym clothes to every wedding you're invited to?
Why ask it
The suit sounds harmless until he pictures the treadmill. A guy who takes the wedding option has usually decided which shorts are his formal ones, and he should be made to describe them.
Would you rather be the funniest guy in every room or the best at every sport you try?
Why ask it
Sillier than it sounds and more telling than it looks, because he is choosing how he wants to be liked. Since you are the one asking him funny questions, tell him which answer you were hoping for.
Would you rather have hair that changes color with your mood or ears that wiggle whenever you lie?
Why ask it
Either way he loses his poker face, and how much that worries him is the answer. 'What color is bored?' and 'which lie gets caught first?' both keep it going.
Would you rather have a phone that never charges past five percent or headphones that only ever work in one ear?
Why ask it
He is choosing between a worry and an itch, and the quick deciders already live at five percent. Ask what his battery is at right now to check.
Would you rather hit every red light for life or always pick the slowest checkout line?
Why ask it
A question about patience in disguise. A guy who answers instantly has a specific memory of a specific line, and you should ask for it.
Would you rather have your worst school photo on a billboard in your hometown or your oldest social media posts read aloud at a family dinner?
Why ask it
The photo is the safer pick, since the old posts have opinions in them. If he hesitates, ask which year of posts worries him, and offer one of your own to keep it fair.
Would you rather park perfectly on the first try for life or never stub your toe again?
Why ask it
Small powers start better arguments than big ones, because he can picture using them this week. A guy who does not drive yet will take the toe, so give him 'never drops his phone' as the other side.
Would you rather be stuck on a desert island with someone who never stops talking or someone who never says a word?
Why ask it
He is telling you how much silence he can stand, which is handy to know before a long car ride. Ask which of the two he would be if someone else were answering about him.
Would you rather sing every restaurant order or moonwalk out of every room you leave?
Why ask it
The moonwalk gets picked by guys who can nearly do one. Whichever he chooses, the obvious next step is to ask for a short sample, so only ask this somewhere he can deliver.
Would you rather eat a whole raw onion like an apple or drink a full glass of pickle juice?
Why ask it
A food dare that stays imaginary, which is the best kind. Now and then a guy likes pickle juice and thinks he has beaten the question, and he deserves a harder one next.
Would you rather lose every board game for the rest of your life or never win another argument?
Why ask it
Listen to how long he takes. A competitive guy will find both unbearable and try to negotiate a third option, and that tells you what game night with him would be like.
Debates
Does pineapple belong on pizza, and how strongly do you feel about it?
Why ask it
The oldest food fight there is, which is why it still works: everyone already has a side. If you happen to agree with him, switch sides for five minutes, because agreeing ends the fun.
Both pilots are out cold and the control tower is on the radio. Are you landing that plane?
Why ask it
A lot of confidence turns up for this one. 'Okay, you're in the seat, what do you touch first?' is the follow-up, and the plan tends to run out of detail right there.
Cereal first or milk first, and what do you think of people who do it the other way?
Why ask it
If he pours the milk first, he knows he is in the minority, so ask for his reasoning in full. If he is on the usual side, move the argument to soggy versus crunchy.
At what temperature do shorts stop being acceptable?
Why ask it
Somewhere near you there is a guy in shorts in January, and this finds out whether you are talking to him. If he gives a real number, hold him to it the next time it gets cold.
Is it GIF with a hard G or a soft one?
Why ask it
He will say his version out loud a few times to check it, which is funny before the argument even starts. Whichever side he takes, pronounce it the other way for the rest of the day.
Does it still count as a sport if you can play it while holding a snack?
Why ask it
Bowling, darts and golf are all in danger under this rule, and he will defend whichever one he plays. Let him redraw the line himself, then find the sport that breaks his version.
Is a thumb a finger?
Why ask it
Sounds like a one-word question and never is, because he will start counting on his hands and arguing with himself. Ask how many fingers he has, then, and hold him to the number.
Is dipping fries in a milkshake genius or a crime?
Why ask it
People who have tried it tend to defend it loudly, and people who have not tend to look worried. If he is against it, the next shared order of fries is a chance to change his mind.
How many days can a hoodie go before it has to be washed?
Why ask it
The honest number and the number he gives you may not match, so ask for both. A guy with a favorite hoodie will claim it does not count because he mostly wears it indoors.
Is it fair to start supporting a team only after they start winning?
Why ask it
Anyone who sat through the bad seasons has feelings about this. If sport is not his thing, swap the team for a band that has just gotten famous and the argument is the same.
Morning shower or night shower, and why is the other side wrong?
Why ask it
Night shower people talk about clean sheets and morning people talk about waking up, and neither side gives much ground. If he says both, he has dodged, so make him choose the one he would keep.
Does calling shotgun count if you can't see the car yet?
Why ask it
Friend groups have rulebooks for this, some of them alarmingly detailed. Ask for his group's rules and who breaks them, and a story about his friends comes with the answer.
Could you win a single point off a professional tennis player if you had a whole afternoon to try?
Why ask it
His plan will be to wait for one double fault and call it a win. Whether that counts is the argument, so rule that he has to hit the winning shot himself and see if the confidence holds.
Which movie villain had a point?
Why ask it
This one gets real thought out of him, and it works best right after you have watched something together. Take the hero's side on purpose and let him talk you out of it.
Should socks with sandals be legal?
Why ask it
Check his feet before asking. If he is a wearer, he will plead comfort, and you can ask whether the rule changes for a first date or a wedding.
How many chicken nuggets is a reasonable number for one person in one sitting?
Why ask it
Whatever number he gives, look mildly shocked and watch him justify it. It usually turns into a story about a personal record, complete with the date and the witnesses.
If cats and dogs each ran a candidate for mayor, which one wins and what's the scandal?
Why ask it
A fresher way into the dog person or cat person question, and he has to invent the scandal on the spot. Dog fans tend to predict a landslide, so make the case for the cat.
Embarrassing stories
Which haircut of yours should never have left the barber's chair?
Why ask it
If it was not a barber at all, better still: a parent with kitchen scissors, a brave friend or his own hand at fourteen. Ask how long it took to grow out and what he wore on his head in the meantime.
What was your first attempt at facial hair like, and do photos exist?
Why ask it
The mustache at fifteen is a rite of passage, and he can tell you how many hairs it had. If he has not tried yet, find out what he plans to attempt and who will be honest with him about it.
Which of your scars has the dumbest story behind it?
Why ask it
Guys like a scar story, and this asks for the one with no glory in it: a stapler, a door, a fight with a folding chair. If he starts on a heroic one, send him back for the dumb one. A guy with no scars can give you his silliest trip to the school nurse.
What have you dropped because you refused to make two trips?
Why ask it
Carrying every grocery bag in one go is a point of pride, right up until the eggs. Get the full inventory of what was in his arms, and whether he blamed the bag.
What did you try to fix yourself that ended up worse than when you started?
Why ask it
The funniest part is the moment he decided he did not need the instructions, so go back to it. It was probably a phone screen, a bike chain or a tap that became a fountain, and somebody else had to finish the job.
What outfit did you think looked incredible when you were thirteen?
Why ask it
He can describe it down to the shoes, because at the time it mattered a lot. Ask who he was dressing like, since there was always a singer, an athlete or an older cousin behind it.
What trick on a bike, a skateboard or a trampoline went nothing like you pictured it?
Why ask it
A friend is usually filming or saying 'you won't' at the start of this story. The detail to get is what he did in the first second afterward, since the usual move is to bounce up and tell everyone he is fine.
What's the most embarrassing thing someone in your family has done to you in front of your friends?
Why ask it
He will groan before he answers, which is how you know it is a good one: a pet name shouted across a parking lot, a baby photo passed around, a dance at school pickup. You also hear how he talks about his family while he tells it.
Have you ever called a teacher 'Mom' or a boss 'Dad' by accident?
Why ask it
If he has, he remembers the silence afterward in detail. If he says no, ask about the wrong 'love you' at the end of a call or the 'you too' said to a waiter.
What's the dumbest dare you ever said yes to?
Why ask it
Aim it at the harmless end: eating something odd, a terrible haircut, singing in a food court. If the story heads toward someone getting hurt, steer it back by asking who thought of the dare.
What's your least glorious moment in sports: an own goal, a missed open shot, a swing at nothing?
Why ask it
Even a guy who never joined a team has a gym class answer. Athletes remember the exact score and who was watching, so let him set the whole scene before you laugh.
When have you been most lost while still insisting you knew the way?
Why ask it
It is a better story if someone else was in the car or on the trail to witness it. Find out at what point he finally checked the map, and whether he has admitted it to them since.
What went wrong in front of a whole class: a presentation, a wrong answer or a voice crack?
Why ask it
Offering three kinds of disaster helps him find his quickly. Skip this with a guy who is plainly nervous about speaking up, since for some people that memory is not funny yet.
What's the worst pickup line you've ever heard or, be honest, said out loud?
Why ask it
The 'be honest' is what gets a confession and not a list from the internet. If he admits to one, ask him to deliver it properly and score it out of ten.
Which movie made you tear up that had no business doing it?
Why ask it
Often it is a cartoon about a robot, or a dog film he has sworn never to watch again. A guy who can name it without squirming is comfortable with himself, so go easy on the teasing and admit to yours.
Who was your first celebrity crush, cartoon characters included?
Why ask it
'Cartoon characters included' is the funny part, since a first crush at eight is as likely to be a drawing as a person. He will want yours in return, so have it ready and do not pretend it was someone cool.
How did your driving test really go?
Why ask it
For a guy who has not taken it yet, swap in the first time he drove anything, a go-kart included. Passing on the third try is a better story than passing on the first, and he knows it.
What's the biggest mistake from your first job that you can laugh about now?
Why ask it
A wrong order for forty people, a mower through a flower bed, a reply-all. 'That you can laugh about now' lets him skip anything that still stings.
Random
How close did you get to the job you wanted when you were six?
Why ask it
It sounds sweet and lands funny, since very few astronauts or dinosaur experts made it. Sometimes a piece of the dream survived, and that part is worth a follow-up.
What were you completely obsessed with as a kid?
Why ask it
Trains, sharks, one particular wrestler, a card collection kept in strict order. Test him on it, because a guy can often still recite the facts he learned at eight.
If you could only order from the kids' menu for the rest of your life, what's your meal?
Why ask it
He will answer faster than he would like, because he already knows it is the chicken tenders. The debate is whether the crayons and the paper placemat are part of the deal.
What's the most random thing in your pockets, bag or car right now?
Why ask it
He can check, so you get an honest answer and maybe a show-and-tell. A single glove, eleven receipts or a spoon each need an explanation, and the explanation is the conversation.
What's the strangest thing you've eaten just to say you did?
Why ask it
Covers the travel story and the dare with one question. Ask whether he would eat it again: a guy who says yes is probably up for any restaurant you pick.
What snack would you stock in a vending machine that only you could use?
Why ask it
Five slots is a good limit if he needs one. It is also quietly useful, because you now know what to bring on a road trip or hand him on a bad day.
What's the worst thing you've used as a tool because the right one was too far away?
Why ask it
A butter knife as a screwdriver and a shoe as a hammer are the entry-level answers. Whether it worked matters less than whether the butter knife ever went back in the drawer.
What animal noise can you do best, and will you prove it?
Why ask it
Nobody expects this question, so that is half the laugh. If he does a full rooster in a coffee shop, you owe him your best attempt at something in return.
What dream were you annoyed to wake up from?
Why ask it
Friendlier than asking for his weirdest dream, since those can run long and make no sense. He was usually about to eat something, win something or fly, and the alarm ruined it.
Which word beats you every time you try to spell it?
Why ask it
Restaurant, definitely, necessary: there is always one word that wins. An easy one to ask a guy who is shy about big questions, and you can confess yours right after.
What's the dumbest argument you and your friends have kept going for more than a day?
Why ask it
These live in group chats and never end: whether a certain goal counted, who owes whom a sandwich. Take a side when he explains it, ideally the wrong one, and your verdict may get forwarded to the chat.
How long do you honestly think you'd last alone in the woods with one backpack?
Why ask it
Answers range from 'years' to 'until I got hungry, so about four hours'. The packing list is the follow-up: a guy who brings a hammock and no water has told you how long he would really last.
What would you name a racehorse if the announcer had to shout it down the final stretch?
Why ask it
Picturing the announcer is what gets the good names, the ones that sound ridiculous at full volume. Do the commentary voice with his answer and see whether he joins in.
Which cartoon mascot do you trust the least?
Why ask it
There is no reason to have an opinion on this and he will have one anyway. Ask what he thinks it gets up to when the cameras are off, and the theory builds from there.
If you had to start one harmless rumor about yourself, what would it be?
Why ask it
The good ones are oddly specific: he once beat a chess champion, he is banned from one particular bakery. Offer to spread it for him, and find out what evidence he would fake if anyone doubted it.
What's the oldest T-shirt you own, and what would it take to make you throw it out?
Why ask it
There is one, it has a hole in it, and it is from a team, a trip or a job he left years ago. He will defend it like a member of the family, so ask who has tried to get rid of it and how that went.
What useless fact do you bring up every chance you get?
Why ask it
He will light up, because someone is finally asking for the octopus thing on purpose. Let him finish, then ask where he learned it, which is usually a cereal box or a documentary at 2 a.m.
What's on your bucket list that would make no sense to anyone else?
Why ask it
This gets the odd specific wishes, not the skydiving: seeing one particular bridge, eating at a diner from a movie, catching a foul ball. Small strange goals are easier to help with than big ones.
Over text
What's your most used emoji, and what do you mean by it?
Why ask it
The meaning half matters, because one guy's skull is laughter and another's is exhaustion. After this you can read his texts properly.
Send me the last meme you saved. No explanation allowed.
Why ask it
A shortcut to his sense of humor that costs him almost nothing to answer. Send one back and the two of you have started a habit that can run for months.
Search your first name in the GIF keyboard and send me the third result.
Why ask it
Luck does the work, so even a guy who thinks he is not funny over text sends something good. Do the same with your own name, and the stranger result wins.
Rapid fire, first answer only: best fries, best movie snack, best ice cream flavor?
Why ask it
Three easy ones in a single message suit a guy who replies in short bursts. Disagree with exactly one of them and you have your next ten messages.
What are you supposed to be doing right now instead of texting me?
Why ask it
Homework, a spreadsheet, folding the laundry sitting next to him. It is a tease with a compliment folded in, because either way he is choosing the conversation.
Send me the worst joke you know and I'll rate it honestly.
Why ask it
Asking for the worst one removes the pressure to be funny, and bad jokes come out funnier anyway. Give a real score with a reason, then send one back and ask for yours.
Type 'I am the kind of guy who' and let your keyboard's suggestions finish the sentence. What did you get?
Why ask it
Predictive text produces nonsense that sounds oddly personal, and neither of you can be blamed for it. Do yours as well and compare.
How many alarms do you have set for tomorrow? Screenshot or it didn't happen.
Why ask it
The screenshot is the fun part: one alarm at 6:00 is a different person from eleven alarms four minutes apart. A good one to send late in the evening when he is setting them anyway.
What goes first on a playlist called 'Do Not Judge Me'?
Why ask it
The title gives him permission to admit to the song he skips when friends are in the car. Build the playlist for real, one song each per day, and you have a reason to text tomorrow.
You get three guesses at what I'm eating right now. Go.
Why ask it
Wrong guesses are funnier than right ones, and he learns what you like to eat along the way. Give one hint after the second miss, then take your own three guesses at his dinner.
Where does 'haha' rank against 'lol' and the crying-laughing emoji, and which one means you really laughed?
Why ask it
Worth settling early so you both know what a 'haha' is worth. Use his top-ranked one sparingly from then on, so he knows when he has earned it.
What's your screen time for this week, and are you proud or scared?
Why ask it
He can look it up, and the number is nearly always worse than he guessed. Share yours first if you want an honest figure back.
What's the most boring text you could possibly send me? Go.
Why ask it
Reverse challenges are easy to say yes to, and trying to be dull makes people funny. If he sends 'ok', tell him he has won and ask for the second most boring.
On a scale from houseplant to golden retriever, how much energy do you have today?
Why ask it
Beats asking whether he is tired, and the answer tells you whether to send the long story now or save it. Offer where you are on the same scale.
What would your auto-reply say if it told the truth?
Why ask it
'Saw this, will answer in my head and forget' is the kind of line to hope for. A joke answer here still tells you how he deals with messages, which saves some guessing later.
What should I save you as in my phone? You get one suggestion and I get a veto.
Why ask it
Lightly flirty without saying anything flirty, since a contact name is a small claim on someone's phone. If you use what he suggests, send him the screenshot.
Explain the plot of a movie you love as badly as you can and I'll guess it.
Why ask it
A game that fits in one message and can go back and forth all evening. Take your turn after each guess, and keep score if he is the competitive type.
How to get a laugh and a story out of him
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Asking so that he plays along
Ask as if the answer matters
Put the wrestling name question to him the way you would ask for his address, with no grin and no warning that a joke is coming. A guy who sees you taking the tractor chauffeur seriously will take it seriously too, and that is when the good answers arrive.
Have your own answer ready
He will ask 'what about you?' and the game stalls if you shrug. Decide on your own tug of war number or your worst haircut before you ask for his. Trading answers is what turns one question into ten minutes.
Ask about the people in the story
When his answer has a person in it, stay there: who dared him, what his mom said, whether his friends still bring it up. Those follow-ups do more than a fresh question, and they show you were listening and not reading from a list.
Three in a row is plenty
After three or four funny questions, let the talk wander wherever his last answer took it. A long run of them starts to feel like a quiz with jokes in it. The list will still be here at the next lull.
Which group to use when
You have only just started talking
Use Silly and Would you rather. Neither needs any history between you or any confession from him, and the first few in each group can be answered in a sentence.
You are with his friends or on a long drive
Debates do best with an audience, because other people pick sides and the argument runs itself. With only two of you, take the opposite position on purpose and give in gracefully after a few minutes.
He is relaxed around you
Embarrassing stories belong here, and they go better if you tell one first. He will hand over his thirteen-year-old outfit more happily once he has heard about yours, and the laughing stays even on both sides.
The conversation has gone flat
Pull one from Random and ask it with no lead-in at all. The lack of a reason is part of the joke, and 'which cartoon mascot do you trust the least?' fills a silence better than asking what else is new.
Funny questions over text
One question per message
A text holding three questions gets an answer to the easiest one. Send a single question and let his reply decide what comes next.
Choose the ones that fit in a line
Everything under Over text was written for a phone, and Would you rather and Debates travel well too, since the answer is a pick plus a reason. Keep the Embarrassing stories for when you can hear him tell them: typed out, a story loses the voices and the pauses.
Make the tone obvious
A dry question can read as a serious one on a screen. Open with 'important question', add your own answer, or use an emoji, so he knows he is being invited to play and not being tested.
Let a slow reply be slow
A question that sits unanswered for a few hours has not failed. He may be at work, asleep or trying to think of something good. If it never gets picked up, start fresh another day with a photo or a comment that needs no answer.
Keeping it fun for him too
He chooses how embarrassing the story is
If he offers a mild one, take it and laugh. Pushing for something worse turns a game into a dare, and repeating his story in front of his friends later will make him careful about what he tells you next time.
Topics that are not funny yet
Looks, height, money, grades and exes are poor material with someone you are still getting to know. If a question drifts that way, swap it for one about food, where nobody minds being teased.
When one falls flat
Say 'okay, not that one' and move on without explaining the joke. These depend on mood, and a guy who shrugged at the pool noodles may talk for ten minutes about cereal and milk.
When his answer turns crude or mean
You do not have to laugh. Say 'next one' and pick something from Debates, where the worst that can happen is a strong opinion about milk. A guy who notices and comes back with a clean answer has told you something good about himself.
When the answers are one word long
Switch to a question with the choices built in, such as a would you rather, which needs only a pick. If the short answers carry on, he is probably tired or busy, and it is kinder to leave the questions for another day.