I Have My Ways

When someone is questioned on how he knows something or how he is going to get something done, sometimes he won't want to answer. Instead, he'll just utter this Stock Phrase: "I Have My Ways." This cryptic response is unlikely to satisfy the asker for long, but it gets across the point that the asked person doesn't want to reveal the exact nature of their "ways" just yet.

Generally used in one of these cases:
 * 1) The person being asked wants to keep the answer a secret, either because a source's identity needs to remain private, they don't want the other person to know how to get such information, or any other such reason.
 * 2) The answer is so disturbing that the questioner REALLY doesn't want to know.
 * 3) The person being asked is just going to make it up as he goes along.

Sometimes used as a Hand Wave. Not to be confused with We Have Ways of Making You Talk, which is about unorthodox torture methods.

Live Action TV
"Amanda: How did you find me? Lee: We have our ways."
 * Scarecrow and Mrs. King episode "The First Time":

"Villain: "Who is this?!" Mickey: "Probe Control." Villain: "How did you find me?" Mickey: "We have our ways.""
 * In an episode of the old SF/Spy show Probe, the Big Bad has protagonist Austin James isolated from his friends, taunting the hero through his radio implant (long story). Suddenly, Austin's secretary breaks in on the frequency.

"Movie Doctor "I have my ways." Crow "Ways! Lots and lots of ways!" (as doctor is leaving room, he turns around and looks back) Crow "WAAAYS!""
 * Mystery Science Theater 3000 had a field day with this one in the episode The Brain that Wouldn't Die.


 * Practically Nico's catchprase on Necessary Roughness.

Web Comics

 * In Homestuck, when John questions Rose about her information on the game, she replies "My perception of the future has been informed by other sources." These "informants" are primarily Doc Scratch and the Horrorterrors, neither of which John (or anyone except Rose, really) would be likely to approve of.

Western Animation

 * Family Guy: Lois hints at her wily, secretive ways of obtaining a map of her neighbor's house. Cut to a scene of her walking into City Hall and asking for a map.
 * In the Avatar: The Last Airbender episode "The Blind Bandit", Katara is asked how she got information from two uncooperative boys and replies suggestively, "A woman has her ways." Cut to the two boys covered up to their necks in ice.