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Backhanded compliment? The things men say (lighthearted!)

(120 Posts)
nannafizz Wed 20-Jan-21 08:02:06

A few days ago I came downstairs and DH said ‘you smell nice . I thanked him & thought it must be hand cream or moisturiser as I hadn’t used any perfume. This morning he said over breakfast ‘you smell lovely’ , what is it? I held my hand out and asked if it was my hand cream . No , it wasn’t . Later he came into the bathroom as I was cleaning the bath . ‘That’s it , he said , the lovely smell . Turns out I often smell lovely , just like the bathroom cleaner?

123kitty Wed 20-Jan-21 13:26:08

From my very young DGD came this complicated complement. Granny I really love you and grandpa, but I love one of you more than I love you hmm

Scottiebear Wed 20-Jan-21 13:20:14

Like others my husband rarely does compliments. I have bought new outfits for weddings etc., taken time with hair and make up. Felt really pleased. Response from DH to my question 'how do I look?' has been 'fine'. I've been underwhelmed.

dolphindaisy Wed 20-Jan-21 13:19:05

In the good old days when hairdressers were open I had my hair cut very short, I got compliments from most people but one friend stared at me and said "oh that's much better isn't it"

Patsy429 Wed 20-Jan-21 13:16:28

When I met a friend for the first time she said, 'Oh, you're not a bit like your sister. She's really nice!'

BlueSky Wed 20-Jan-21 13:12:38

Mentioning Alzheimer’s my aunty started saying the most outrageous things. She would have cringed had she realised what she was saying!

Nannan2 Wed 20-Jan-21 13:05:21

My son does it all the time to me, the back- handed compliments, too many to pick one out.He doesnt even realise hes doing it, i have to point it out that thats what it is!grin

V3ra Wed 20-Jan-21 13:03:23

Mind you when Mum had Alzheimer's she pushed her plate away one Christmas and said, "You can't possibly expect me to eat that muck" ?
Luckily my husband, who had cooked, understood!

V3ra Wed 20-Jan-21 12:59:25

My Granny, Dad's mum, would finish her dinner at our house and say to my Mum in a most surprised voice, "That was quite nice really!"
Mum used to seethe ?

Jaxjacky Wed 20-Jan-21 12:53:29

About 8 years ago with friends looking at photos from a NYE party a few years prior, one male friend said to me ‘you used to be quite attractive* cheeky!

fuseta Wed 20-Jan-21 12:49:08

I was in a crowded pub years ago and a bloke pushed past me and spilt his beer over me. I said 'Do you mind!' and he said 'Its a case of mind over matter Darling. I don't mind and you don't matter! I thought it was quite witty actually

BlueSky Wed 20-Jan-21 12:48:44

Good laugh here. Love the MIL’s compliments, priceless! grin

Espana Wed 20-Jan-21 12:46:53

Once I overheard my husband say about me “you might not think so to look at her but Maureen is quite intelligent”

I took it as a compliment.

Thank you foxglove7 best laugh we’ve had this year!

marpau Wed 20-Jan-21 12:37:24

I worked with a girl who had beautiful long red hair. One day she had it cut to shoulder length still Stunning a customer came in and said " oh you've had your hair cut! It was your only asset!! "
My narcc mother and I look very similar and this was often mentioned by friends and acquaintances her stock reply was yes but I'm attractive! Just what I had come to expect from her.

nanna8 Wed 20-Jan-21 12:36:29

We once decorated a hallway in tartan ( ok it was the 1960s) and my MIL just said “ at least it’s clean.” Rude.

Shinamae Wed 20-Jan-21 12:33:13

Some absolute belters on here a couple of which made me laugh out loud which I very rarely do even when watching something on the television so well done!!!!.......??????

aonk Wed 20-Jan-21 12:32:01

My late MIL once said that she had seen a car parking near her flat and thought it might be mine. I said that I had been at work so not mine. She said she soon realised it wasn’t me because the woman who got out was so smart!

Jane10 Wed 20-Jan-21 12:12:33

My Granny once looked at me then remarked, 'At least you've got one good leg.' She wouldn't tell me which one either.

beverly10 Wed 20-Jan-21 11:50:25

My late DH was never one to pay a compliment.I would always know his eye sight was working when on wearing a new item for the first time he would say ' Is that new?'

GinnyH Wed 20-Jan-21 11:45:36

I asked my 6 year old granddaughter if she liked my new top. She screwed up her face and said doubtfully, “It’s a bit blue-ish.” I presume she didn’t like it!! ?

Bazza Wed 20-Jan-21 11:44:24

My oldest (and very glam) friend once said to me “you’re so lucky your hair suits you plain.” She was mortified at how it came out, but I knew what she meant.

Urmstongran Wed 20-Jan-21 11:43:43

ja ?
I think laughter in a marriage is very important. The gift that keeps on giving. He’s 70y next year & I still giggle 50y in his company!

Daftbag1 Wed 20-Jan-21 11:42:17

First time going out with my husband to his work event (where I was going to be meeting his colleagues), I bought a dress, but then as I prepared I started having insecurities, and asked him 'do I look fat in this'? 'No', he said, 'not TOO fat'!

LynneH Wed 20-Jan-21 11:35:26

I was showing my mil some really glam photos of me from a shoot I had won. She told me I looked very nice, but then spoiled it by adding: "Mind you, they can do slot with photography"

Acciaccatura Wed 20-Jan-21 11:33:02

I've had two memorable non-compliments, both when I was in my early forties.
I had been conducting a choir and afterwards, a young male colleague said, "You know, from behind you look about only 18."
I replied, "You know what's really sad? You think you've paid me a compliment!" ?
The second happened when I was performing in a band; not the same person this time but he, too, was a younger male friend. He turned to the person sitting next to him and told her that the lad on the drums was my son. She commented that I didn't look old enough to have a son that age. His reply? "To be fair we are 40' away". ?
Clearly, 30 years on, I need to walk backwards and socially distance to the tune of 40' ?

Gwenisgreat1 Wed 20-Jan-21 11:32:49

I had been at my art club ( in the 60's) then went on to a dance.
I was dancing away with a young man who exclaimed "I do love your perfume, what is it". "Ehm Linseed oil?" i said!