To be confused at the definition of the word patronising?

[Mare11bp]

Couple of weeks ago went into Laura Ashley Home, one of my fave shops. Got chatting to an assistant and said that I loved the shop and wanted her job (which I do). She was pleasant but responded by saying "come back anytime and you can patronise us a bit more" she was smiling as she said it, I said "pardon?" and she repeated it again.

Yesterday at work someone said to me "I hope you don't think I am being patronising but I think you did a great job there" I was over the moon with the compliment!!!

I thought being patronising was an insult so why do people think they may be patronising when they are trying to be nice!

There there dear, don't worry your pretty little head about it

Patronise also means to give your business to someone. If you patronise a shop you are a regular shopper there.

I use patronise to mean use as a patron so would use it like in the shopping example. But also as the second one as well!

Bugger.

Mrskwazi beat me to it....

Jolly well done, what a clever girl!

I think that the first one meant it in the sense of being a patron of the shop.

Sometimes people worry that they are being patronising when trying to give a compliment because it can sometimes feel like you might be, IYSWIM!

MAybe the shop keeper was being passive-aggresive?

To patronise can mean to do business with, or it can mean to be condescending, which your coleague didn't want to be.

Right, I get it, cheers.

Perhaps I should do another post on here?

Why are people so fucking rude on this web site?

It can mean both things. I remember the first time I heard it (when I was about 18) used to describe giving custom to a shop, and it completely threw me too!

Who's being rude?