In Clueless, there is a moment which I love as Cher (Alicia Silverstone) tells her father she negotiated from Cs to As, and asks 'Aren't you proud of me?'
Her father responds 'I couldn't be prouder than if these were based on actual grades.' The actor (Dan Hedaya) speaks this with inflections suggesting to Cher (and to the audience) that he means 'I couldn't be prouder if these were based on actual grades.' But he's a litigator - he doesn't put a redundant 'than' in the sentence - its doing something. I think he's saying 'It would be inappropriate to be prouder of this achievement than As. I'm proud of you, but less than As would have made me.' But, its a phatic judgment, because he knew Cher would not be getting As and he doesn't want her to think he's at all disappointed.
