To ask what you think when people comment on a pretty face or smile?

[cherrycrumblecustard]

Is this a polite way of calling people fat, do you think? Or am I reading too much into it?

Well, I probably will sound boastful but people always comment on mine. But I think they just think I'm fat.

I have a lovely friend who a) is morbidly obese b) has a particularly pretty face. I wouldn't dream of commenting on the latter because I know it would not go well. I don't think anyone has ever said to a size 8 woman "you've got a pretty face".

Bizarre! I've always thought that "you're looking well" means "I quite fancy you" when a bloke says it and means "you're looking well" when a woman says it. Maybe that's because I'm not fat?

I've never thought of the compliment of having a pretty face and / or a lovely smile meant fat at all. I can't help noticing how some people's faces light up when they smile - regardless of their body size.
Sadly, some people sort of smirk or sneer even when they smile. Maybe they can't help it though!

Maybe, argy

No one ever said 'you're looking well' to me when I was slim, though!

I think when you get to a point where you're misinterpreting perfectly normal everyday compliments such as, 'You're looking well' for 'You're looking fat', it's time to either do something about your weight (if you are actually fat) or your self esteem. Or possibly both.

I don't think it is a misinterpretation. I think people want to say something nice but struggle to do so when you obviously look hefty, so 'you look well' roughly translates as 'you obviously haven't been ill and lost your appetite, then!'

I think of it as robust, sturdy, kind of connotations!

I don't think anyone has ever said to a size 8 woman "you've got a pretty face"

That's absolutely ridiculous?!

There are tons of very pretty size 8 women around and of course people tell them how pretty they are

I think they'd be more likely to just say she was pretty than comment specifically on her face.

It is a misinterpretation if that person actually means you look well OP.

You could be looking well for many reasons and none of them related to your weight.

Unless you're surrounded by passive aggressive people in your life, who take ever opportunity to have a dig at your figure, I'd say the problem is all in your mind.

And if it's not in your mind and you are surrounded by PA people, who seem to be thinking of your weight a lot, you really need to change your circle of friends.

I thought I'd explained Worra. But anyway, I'm sorry, but you don't get to decide how I feel about what people say to me.

Then what's the point of starting a thread asking people if they feel you're reading too much into it?

I think you're reading far too much into it and reading things that are not there.

If you're unhappy with that reply, I can't help that.

I'm very fat and get "you've such a pretty face" a lot. I have no reason to suspect people are lying .... I was told I was pretty when I was thin (my face was always my best feature) and it was the last place I put on weight so my face was still nice long after my body had gone to pot.
I don't think it necessarily follows that people think you're fat if they comment on your face and smile....If I was thin my face and smile would still be my best features (and eyes). Unless you know you're fat I'd be more inclined to think they genuinely think you have a nice face.

'She has a pretty face' instead of 'she is pretty' means fat to me as well.

I have only heard someone being described as having a pretty face if they are overweight.

And yes, you look well= fatter.

Well, it might not mean that to some people, but I have some elderly relatives who mean it that way for sure.

I have complimented friends on having pretty faces and meant it. Nothing to do with their weight.

OI Iv been told I have a pretty face and smile I'm not quite size 8 but a 10 so near enough

I'd just take it as a compliment since people don't actually have to comment anything about your appearance at all they must mean it ?

My husbands uncle described me as bonny when I was introduced to him.
I was two stone lighter back then and probably around a size 8.
I later discovered older people may use bonny to mean pretty. I was a little take aback at the time, as I thought he was calling me fat!

Jesus who has time for all this?
If you're fat,you're fat no matter what compliments you receive or what people say.
If you're not, then it's irrelevant.
If you're not sure and trying to find the answer in other people's words then just get on a blooming scale.

P.s. I am fat,i know i am fat , so i don't have to agonise over compliments.

Yes rogue! I dont mind if someone says I have a pretty face (no one ever does though, who randomly throws out compliments like that?!) Because theyre hardly going to say youre gorgeous with a great arse, when it's the size of a bull calf's

I have been told randomly that I have nice teeth.

Should I have been offended?!

I don't think most people give compliments for no reason. Objectively I have even, white teeth.

I obviously don't make it to the pretty face level though! Boo hoo!

"Bubbly" to me is won't shut up. I think of the cyclist Laura Trott as bubbly - she isn't fat.

Who could possibly get worked up about this. I've been told by a number of people when I meet them that I'm looking well. I've never been fat.

What works for me is not analyzing or giving a shit about what people say about my appearance. Eye of the beholder and all that. I get a bigger kick out of being complemented for other things. which rarely happens