Can you say...?

[Scot LaFaive]

Does anyone know where the phrase "can you say..." comes from (if from any
one place), in the sense of an answer to a question. For example, if someone
were to ask why I didn't want to go outside for a walk today (0 degrees
out), I might say, "Can you say freezing?" framing the answer as a question.

Scot

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