Backhanded Compliments

One of the phrases my mother used when she didn’t like something was “ do you like it?…that’s all that matters”. She’d pass out at the way I’m decorating the kitchen!

Oh these are lovely really made me chuckle

I once bought a lovely camel coat. I showed it off to my DS who promptly told me I looked like Ron Atkinson!

Sorry to change but just wanted to know up thread Rufus2 from Australia, then I realized the date.

I was proudly showing a friend around our new home and she remarked “Oh we need a new sofa too”.

Being a Liverpudlian by birth - we specialise in back handed compliments and out jokes are like guerilla warfare I try to be ready for snide remarks.

NDN: What a pretty dress! Ive loved it for years!

Me: Its an old fashioned style - but of course you would know that being so much older.

Love it!

Antonia, that little boy is a real friend and no hypocrite what a treasure!

Buying some beanpoles at a farmer' market -
Stallholder 'Are you OK to get those back to your car?' and then gave me an appraising look and continued 'You look sturdy enough.'
What could I say?! He raised beautiful rare breed cattle so was paying me a high compliment!

These are hilarious! Thank you everyone for a really good laugh!

A neighbour came by whilst I was out hoeing the front garden and mentioned that another neighbour, an elderly gentleman, had come home from hospital the previous day.
I said I would pop in to see him. "Oh, that would be lovely!" exclaimed my neighbour, "he would be so pleased .. even you would be better than nobody". Cheers for that!

At a posh friend's party another lady came up to me started talking and then slipped into the conversation very quietly 'please give Margaret the number of yours' smiled and went to speak to another lady. It took me a few minutes to work out that she meant cosmetic surgeon, several ladies had little nips and tucks that were at the party including my sister-in-law Margaret. I was a bit miffed at first then took it as a compliment as my face was then, and still is all mine.

I don't believe the phrase 'shabby chic'. It's either shabby or chic, it's just an excuse for untidy people to use. Same as a sofa 'throw'. Everyone will know you can't afford a new sofa.

Oh, I don’t know Sawsage2, I think sofa ‘ throws ‘ will become very popular this autumn due to rising energy prices., regardless of the state of the sofa !

I was attending a summer solstice celebration and had forgotten to bring a dress to change into (long story). Anyway, one of the other, younger ladies had a spare dress with her and offered me to borrow it. “Don’t worry” she said “it’s a biggie!” She had to be 2 sizes larger than me!

dolphindaisy - That is soooo funny...

Great thread ?

It was 1978, an 18 yr old me was sitting at the village disco, watching a group of girls dancing in front of a panel of judges who were there to choose a carnival queen for the forthcoming summer carnival.
My friend’s 20 yr old brother came up to me and said “why aren’t you out there dancing? You have a good chance of winning, after all, there aren’t many candidates”.
He seemed surprised when I ignored him and quickly made an exit for the toilet.

In my 40's, happy with my healthy eating plan and weight reduction, I overheard a man ask for me at reception...she's tall, dark hair, hefty and a lovely smile. ?. The only word I heard was hefty....... ?. I had spoken to him earlier that day.

Many years ago when the children were little, a friend wanted to introduce me to her new clothing business that she ran as home parties. She showed me how it was done:
"that top looks lovely on you, yes, show off your bust - your best feature"
I was encouraged to communicate with the lady trying on a pair of trousers:
"Your ankles are your best feature" was all I could come up with? - decided against joining the fashion business & it still makes me cringe think about it. ?

When I was working as a cleaner in a posh house, I hadn’t been introduced to the young gardener but was told he would knock for his wages which I was to give him, I opened the door to him and was met with ooooh you don’t look like a cleaner! I laughed and said so what do cleaners look like then, ha! Not like you he said with a wink! I must admit it made me smile cheeky beggar!

BigLouis
What does NDN mean, please?

I think people who are trying to sell you something overuse the 'shabby-chic' and 'farmhouse' far too much.
Throws, in my family there's me who is usually too warm but can get an occasional chill, my DD who feels the chill a lot, DGD who often gets chilly and DGS who insists on more blankets on his bed even on the hottest nights, so we do have 'throws' aka blankets around.

I was watching a punch and Judy show with my then young son in shopping centre. I was wearing my lovely new Duffel coat. But I never wore it again after the Punch and Judy man called over to ask if 'Paddington's Mother' was enjoying the show. I was mortified!

When in my early twenties I worked as a very highlevel P.A. to a wealthy London property developer. After a year with him I told him I was leaving as my husband and I were moving.

"Oh dear!" he said with a sad face "I liked you as you are efficient but don't look it!".

My best friend once said to me that her new boyfriend had got used to my ugly nose and it didn’t bother him anymore. I’ve never quite recovered ???. We are still friends.

I remember a colleague received this backhanded compliment - “I love your hair - it looks much better than it did before”. She did laugh about it afterwards. It was years ago, but I’ve never forgotten it.