Someone describes you as 'Quite slim' - what does that mean to you?

[FortunateSass]

Genuine question.. would you interpret it as Larger side of Slim? Borderline overweight? Almost Slim?
I've struggled with my body image my entire life, hid behind baggy clothes and loose fitting outfits.
The past few years I finally feel more at peace with my body and have started to wear my fitted clothes.
Today after discussing my lunch choice (salad) my colleague asked why I always eat healthy, I explained I wanted to shift a few pounds to which they said "Why? You're already quite slim?"

Me too.
The other meaning ('you're quite wrong about that' meaning completely wrong) is more old fashioned/a bit Enid Blyton.

So he meant you're on the slim side, but not very slim.

Its not just an Irish context is it, I use fierce, fierce wind, fierce fire, fierce meaning a lot of, ie a strong wind, a windy wind, thats literally what fierce means!

Now I’m confused what you mean!

In the UK it could mean on the smaller size of large, given the average British woman is a size 16.

What??!!!

The quantifier is slim. So a lot of slim is very slim

Exactly! Talk about twisting shit.

I'd see it as a compliment - to mean slim enough.

@SmokeyWigwams Is it really? I had no idea! I'm a few sizes smaller that that

Thinking on it, I reckon it actually depends entirely on context, tone and intent. I've just said "she's quite slim" to myself in two different tones of voice and with different facial expressions and they both meant very different things.

So tbh I think it's impossible to judge from an online forum.

Ultimately though, don't let it get to you OP. Your colleague had no business commenting on your food or your body, but I would guess that they weren't trying to be rude to you in any way, they were probably just being clumsy.

@MeadStMary Thank you for a great reply, I honestly don't think he meant it horribly at all. He's a great guy and we're close friends at Work - just the littlest of comments can stick and I (obviously) take them to heart sometimes. Hopefully I won't give it a seconds thought tomorrow!

size 12ish

I concur with a few on here. Quite as a precursor to anything descriptive would mean almost but not fully.

Quite slim - smaller than average but not slim as in thin.
Quite tall - tallish but not super tall
Quite fat - larger than average but not obese.
Quite like 'something' - like but not love, wouldn't be overly bothered.

I wouldn't use it in a super extreme confirmation of a description.

(I would describe myself as 'quite thin' having lost a lot of weight but I still have an arse I could grab with both hands! BMI 24)

Its not just an Irish context is it, I use fierce, fierce wind, fierce fire, fierce meaning a lot of, ie a strong wind, a windy wind, thats literally what fierce means

No it's not the same.

It has two meanings as per the screenshot.

1. Aggressive, violent [like your examples, can be applied to many scenarios, including wind, fire etc]

1. Fierce meaning 'very'. Totally different.

I mean, it was right there in my post!

I would interpret her comment as you being slender but not skinny.

I agree with @2Orangesandlemons

trying not to call you TOO THIN

“Quite slim” likely = not very thin/skinny and not fat. I suspect that “quite slim” to many people is probably someone who looks to be a dress size 10 or 12. So definitely smaller than the average now. Slim (or skinny depending on perspective) a size 6 or 8, average being a 14 or 16, large (or fat if you like) an 18 plus. Obviously this is based on the UK dress size average now being a 16 and also obviously going to depend on someone’s height and how toned they are 🤷‍♀️as well as possibly their age and even social background as to how they view weight.

You know your colleague best as to whether she might have meant something rude - but many people might qualify the word “slim”, especially as people are gradually getting fatter. In some people’s heads ‘slim” might mean thin/underweight and so isn’t always a compliment. She might have food or body issues herself 🤷‍♀️

Quite slim = definitely not fat.

To me quite means a bit. Maybe in Jane Austen type novels I'd interpret it as very. So quite slim is not very slim but not overweight either.

I think ‘quite’ is the same kind of qualifier as ‘pretty’ in this context. So the comment is the same as saying “you’re pretty slim”. As in they unequivocally think you’re slim.

Actually I think it depends on how she said it. For example,

Slightly hesitatingly, "You're already quite slim" = you're a perfectly healthy size, not notably slim, not overweight.

Slightly alarmed, "You're already quite slim" = you're actually very thin already and they are worried that you have an unhealthy body image and have lost perspective

It means YOU ARE FAT

No of course it doesn't - but wtf does it matter. You are the weight you are. You may be over or underweight, I've no idea. Or you may be average. Grow up

If you had replied back to her that she was quite rude, what would you would have meant by that?

@NannyGythaOgg Wow, thanks for the helpful, kind comment. It's much appreciated!

That's not a nice way to respond to someone who says quite openly they've struggled with their body image.

@MysweetAudrina Great way to put it, I never thought of seeing it in a different context like that!