What does someone mean if they describe you as 'striking'

[surlycurly]

As per the thread title, close to me someone regularly describes me as 'striking'. Unfortunately it doesn't feel like a compliment. I'm on holiday at the moment and was commenting to them about the cultural differences re catcalls beeping horns etc, when they said well 'I suppose you're quite striking. And Italians are boobs men and you have big boobs. It's probably that'. To be honest, I've never heard that kind of stereotypical crap before, and I'm not a teenager who needs to get compliments from random men. It's just that this person regularly describes me as 'striking' rather than attractive. Are the two synonymous to you?

Tilda Swinton is striking

To be honest, I've never heard that kind of stereotypical crap before, and I'm not a teenager who needs to get compliments from random men.
Was your friend actually suggesting you should take the cat calling as a compliment though? Or just offering her interpretation of why it might be happening a lot. As a fellow big boobed woman, I don't think she's wrong that curves do attract a lot of random gross comments from men.

I’d saying striking meant someone who was distinctive, in a good way. They’re not classically blond-and-blue eye pretty, but have good, strong features. Definitely a compliment.

brill!

It's a compliment.

Striking makes me think of Eva Green. Not pretty or cute, but utterly breathtaking.

It's a compliment, I would say unconventionally attractive. I would say Barbara Streisand, Cate Blanchett, Uma Thurman are all striking. Not pretty as in sweet pretty but have something about them
That draws you in.

Ha! This is brilliant- I'm having. My whole perception of myself changed!!! I don't have a big nose but I am french looking (although much taller). I have fiery eyes and strong cheekbones with a tall, curvaceous figure. And I don't see myself as pretty but maybe now it's acceptable to say attractive!

What you describe is the kind of look that would definitely be described as striking, in a complimentary way.

Well Sheila Hancock stands out for me, very unusual features but unique

Judi Dench, Madonna, Tyra Banks, Annie Lennox - striking

Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Priyanka Chopra, Audrey Hepburn - classically beautiful

Google it !!!!!

There wouldn't be much conversation on here if everyone just googled stuff @Pyewhacket

That you're attractive... in an interesting 'wow' way rather than a conventional pretty way.

So rather than the girl next door you're the dark haired vixen type... that's what I'd guess

We have this in German as well, "apart" meaning different, striking, not ordinary.

It's a good thing.

Definitely a compliment.

It's a compliment! Just a bit of an old fashioned term.

I know a guy, in his 70's, upper-class (if you go along with that sort of thing) bit of a posho but not snooty, also a bit of a ladies man - in a respectful way - who uses the term "handsome" to describe an attractive woman. He'll say something like "Ah, now, DoncasterHombre, she is a very handsome woman, don't you think"? if one of you lot catches his eye if we're out and about.

I usually reply with "Aye, she is a bit of a fox but she's to young for you, cock" and he looks at me very disdainfully.

If you are complaining about unwanted male attention and asking why, it would seem to me that you are fishing for a compliment and to say you are 'striking' is a way of answering without feeding your overinflated ego OP

Years ago my mates boyfriend said I was pretty. This obviously put her nose out of joint as she said, oh no X is pretty, Funny is just striking.

So I see it as a negative comment tbh, or at least it was then!

To me, Angelina Jolie is striking... Reese Witherspoon is pretty... so I'd take it as a compliment.

I would see it the other way round. Pretty is boring, striking is unforgettable.

Your mate was just jealous.

If you have form with this friend who is apparently self conscious about their looks then maybe they’re not the person to discuss looks with? There’s so much to talk about when your discussing holidays, a list of all the men that catcalled me wouldn’t be on my list! I might make a comment like ‘the men I’ve met are quite sleazy, it’s uncomfortable if you’re on your own.’ But it doesn’t need to be a big conversation with this particular friend.

As it is you sound very confident in your looks, so I imagine being called striking won’t exactly worry you from a friend you already know is not very confident. I’m sure you obviously know that ‘striking’ isn’t an insult anyway.

Maybe you are right! I shall re-frame that memory as a positive then.

Yes, I do think she was jealous of me for some reason, don't think she ever really liked me tbh!

This made me laugh so much!