noun
evasive debating tactic by quibbling over definitions
A humorous term for a rhetorical trick where one avoids a direct answer by arguing about the meaning of a word, often used in political or online discourse. The name comes from a famous example involving the definition of 'gohan' (meal/rice).
あの政治家はご飯論法を使って質問に答えなかった。
That politician used the 'gohan debate tactic' to avoid answering the question.
「朝ごはんは食べましたか」と聞かれて「ご飯（米）は食べていませんが、パンは食べました」と答えるのがご飯論法だ。
When asked 'Did you eat breakfast?', replying 'I didn't eat rice, but I ate bread' is an example of the gohan-ronpō tactic.