What percentage are you sure where the obtuseness lies? By saying 99% of people, you've made a claim about the "vast" majority of people. Those who challenge you, don't believe your claim -- they think the majority isn't overwhelming, and they've asked the person who carries the burden of proof (you, the claimant) to provide said proof.

no I haven't. That is exactly the point. If you're speaking about statistics and say 99% then you've made a claim, fair enough. If you're speaking casually then "99% of the time I just stay in bed on Sunday" is a pretty standard figure of speech. I guess you're answering my question indirectly here by being unaware of it. Where are you from?

It is hyperbole, I think most people would understand that you are lying. What was the context of this, was this on a serious medium when you encountered americans?

What @deadrat said. Had you said "Everyone thinks..." (or says or does), do you think someone might ask why you make the claim about "everyone"? That's all that's involved here -- même combat. And I doubt that there is a difference between Brits and Yanks over this. You can make such a statement, and people can take it either as just a general statement (even if hyperbolic), or they can react by questioning how true it is of "everyone".

51% is common politically being as (in some cases) all that is needed is a majority, no matter how weak, democratically.

@theotherone Yeah, that's right. You're the one who's being misunderstood, so it's my fault for being from somewhere.

yeshe- just a casual conversation in which there had been no mention of any statistics or anything like that before. deadrat- misread you a bit sorry. A claim that the vast majority of people do- yeah, that is right. Misread it as me claiming an actual 99% which is what they were assuming, they weren't merely demanding evidence for a big majority but an actual 99%.

@Yeshe By the OP's description, it's not hyperbole. He (or she) really means "vast majority." And in spite of the transposition to the personal ("99% of the time I stay in bed on Sunday"), which few would take to be a statistical statement, "99% of a population" is such a statement. Note that the OP doesn't report a quibble: "No, I think it's 98.973%." The counterclaim is that the majority may be sizable ("70%") but not vast.

note I'm not reporting what they actually said here, that was just an example of the type of thing that was said, I don't think anybody actually had any counter numbers off the top of their head. The key point is they jumped to assuming I was speaking about an actual number of 99% and not just using a figure of speech meaning a tonne. They weren't quibbling about a vast majority vs. a large majority but rather about 99% vs. every other number.

@deadrat the OP has said that this is not literally 99%, it is merely an exaggeration of a majority; i.e. hyperbole. Going back to the other one, the reason why they may have taken issue with "99% of people" is that they may have a history of disenfranchisement or an issue with the electoral college and feel that such statements marginalize people. Again, i think this was a strong response on their part and I think most people would understand what you meant.

98% of the people in the US would avoid the hyperbolic 99%. (I suspect that in the US we're a little more sensitive to wild claims about "hard" statistics -- it would be more acceptable to say "the vast majority" or some such.)

It's common here in Canada, though like 99% of my generation would be more likely to add like before the percentage to clarify that 99% of people would not in fact do x or y.

There are nearly 300 million people in the U.S. I doubt that any statement could be made that would apply to all but 3 million of them. (Possibly 99% of people have two legs, but nothing more complicated.)

That's why vast majority is a better term. With 300 million people even our minorities are vast.

Used the expression before. Heard other people use it. Live in the US.

For future reference, OP, you can always say "the vast majority" to put the same meaning behind your words.

As someone who lives in the U.S. - using "99% of people do x" translates more to "Everyone does x" than to "The majority of people do x" for me, If I'm part of your stated 1% - I would probably speak up and see who else does as well, to prove or disprove the statistic because it would be interesting if I were actually in that 1%

99% of Americans would say don't say that unless you want someone to take it literally.

@crh225: I highly doubt that 99% would say that. That seems excessive.

As an American, I rarely hear the idiom "99% of [hyperbolic fact]."

I am sure 99% of all statistical statements are made up.

When going for the hyperbole I always opted for 99.999% 'ninety-nine point nine nine nine'

what @crh225 says is an interesting point. You see, to me I really wouldn't take someone literally with this expression except in the most extreme of cases where they were clearly saying with a straight face and speaking on a serious subject "Our studies show that...". It could just be a general language use thing rather than this specific statement, I think Brits tend to be a lot less literal in their normal speech

It's an estimation right? You just omitted "I think / I guess". 95% and 90% are also usually used in the same way.

nah, not an estimation. More of a stock phrase. I very much doubt even a poll of "Who likes puppies" (or something even more agreeable. Though I struggle to think what) would get as high as 99%. Claiming 99% statistically is the stuff of dictators.

while "About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder", "Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 68 births", and autism spectrum disorders, like the traditional Asperger's could lead someone to take what you mean more literally - those two quotes might lead one to conclude United-Statesians (because Americans could be from either of two continents) have a slightly higher chance of taking you literally(?)

@MishaRosnach, that is the point.

@crh225: Ah. Too bad I didn't get it. I woulda made a joke.