(Lighthearted) Compliments which aren't really compliments

[Mynameistallullah]

What backhanded compliments do you get?

I have had the following in the past week 😂. No idea why as all from different people.

1. "I love your hair - I wish I had the time or the inclination to do that" (it was up in a braid because my hair is a mess and I don't earn a lot of money and can't afford to have it cut 😂). Compliment came from someone at work who earns about 5 x my FT salary fwiw

2. another work one "You're so lucky - I wish I had time for a lunchbreak" 🙄😂. I responded to this one later in the day by offering to cover for half an hour everyday and just doing my work at her desk (her job is one where you have to sit there in case customers come in, but I wouldn't have to do her work iyswim). She hit the roof and said she prefers not to have a lunchbreak...um...

3. this one was a weird one and you'd need the context to get it maybe... but, from family member hearing that I finish work in time to collect my kids from school "you are so lucky - you have the perfect life" (I won't go into it, but I very clearly don't 😂)

Not sure why I've got so many this week, but thought I'd share and see what other backhanded compliments people get...or maybe I'm the only one #blessed

I've had several people 'compliment' me for having the confidence to embrace my big feet...

They're a size 9 and I hate them, but I can't chop me toes off.

My cousin used to say she was glad she didn’t have brown eyes like me.
Also how she was glad her feet were small. Hers were smaller than mine.

When I was a teenager, a young lad said “you’d make an amazing prop - you’ve got enormous legs”.

Thanks for that! 😂 Maybe that’s why I still hate rugby all these years later!

I didn't realise "you're looking well" meant you look plump/like you gained weight. Is that true? ? I've had this compliment and also given just because they looked good and definitely not because they gained weight

I wore my favourite fluorescent coat at the weekend, yes, it’s a vibe…
”oh, that’s a bold colour, really brave. Not many people would try to pull that off”…
😎

I will always remember my Mum telling my Sister "I don't know how you managed to have such good looking children!"

‘I love your hair like that’.
Pause.
‘it really takes the weight off your face’.

I was just thinking the same! I’ve never said it to mean that so I don’t think everyone means it that way.

I’ve recently lost 5 stone and loads of people have said I look really well so im
not certain it’s always backhanded

“you are so good at applying concealer, I had no idea your skin was so bad underneath” when I had a bare face.

Getting told “I admire your confidence so much” and similar things over and over on nights out/ special occasions etc. just because I was overweight and wearing a dress/ high heels (like every other woman there). I’m the least confident person ever. What was I supposed to do, cover myself in ashes and sackcloth? Stay home?

We have a family joke that my Dad ( now deceased) was sat with my DD when she was a baby , and he was impressed how well she sat and said Oh she's quite sturdy
"Sturdy" to him was a compliment as a frail child was an ill child .Not that sturdy meant chubby

DD is 22 and tall'n;willowy but still mutters (good naturedly) about it.

😂

Solidarity from a fellow size 9 🙂

Comment from mother in law about my dress:
"That's a nice top"
She obviously thought it was too short!

From a mate (that had been out drinking a few hours before I met her in the pub): “Wow! You look so glam…you’re like a hollyoaks reject”

Got told I looked 'very professional' today in a surprised voice, implying that normally I don't...

Please share how you've had your hair done!

My bloody fitness tracker gave me some side eye a couple of days ago - said “congratulations on recognising not to push yourself too hard today”. I had actually done a workout. Trolled by my own Oura ring!!

It's another you're looking well one.
In face I get you're looking pause for ages well.
Does that mean I looked really shit before or gaunt/unwell?
When I was heavily pregnant someone said I needed the vehicle reversing voice. It was said in a way that was meant to make me laugh, as though I was this legend for having a huge, triplets might be in there bump. Looking back I don't even know why it was said.

A few posters have said this. When someone says 'you're looking well' do they really mean 'you got fat?'

😆

I've lost 2 stone, people have noticed and complimented me but then say, oh - you don't want to lose anymore though do you. What does that mean? I don't look better? I'm still overweight & by no means skinny so not really sure we're they're coming from.

Not when I say it. I mean they're looking great.

I was interviewing someone for a job. She told me I’d been very lucky to land such a good job at such a young age.

I’d worked incredibly hard to get the job, and wasn’t as young as she’d assumed.

I think it’s not really a compliment when people go on about how ‘amazing’ and transformed someone looks when they’ve lost weight. It’s really saying you looked like dog shit before.

You'd be pretty if you wore makeup.

I had “you’re much better looking than you think you are” once from a new acquaintance. I must just come across as insecure because I hadn’t been moaning about my looks to her.