Is there an English idiom for 'your silence implies your consent'?


I was asked an interesting question today, is there an English equivalent of the saying Zwijgen is instemmen, that is "since you didn't answer, then you agreed with me".


I could not come up with any good example; although I could think of a few similar, but not quite the same, including the following:



  • I'll take that as a 'yes' then.

  • I don't hear any No's.


The first is different, since you could also use it if an answer was given, but was not sufficiently clear. The second is different since it is much weaker, it is tacitly agreed that you didn't agree, but you also didn't disasgree.


Is there any idiom for your silence implies your consent?



Answer



I am not sure this qualifies as an idiom, but is a common enough expression: I would express it "unless I hear otherwise".



Unless I hear otherwise, I am going to leave at 4:00.



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