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the "strange" compliment you remember best

(90 Posts)
giulia Sun 17-Dec-17 11:00:36

Around 1955 (I was about 9 or 10) the boys in my road reluctantly accepted me into their males only Street gang. When I was the last to jump back off the railway line as the steamtrain approached, the gang leader said "Gosh, Ju! You're ALMOST as good as a boy!" I've since had my share of positive comments about my looks or character but, strange as it it seems, that was the one I best remember. What unusual compliments do YOU recall?

Greengage Mon 18-Dec-17 15:31:43

When I was in my late teens my brother's friend whom I hadn't met before said 'I thought you were much younger until you opened your mouth'! Thankfully he wasn't referring to my teeth, but to the adult conversation!!!

grandtanteJE65 Mon 18-Dec-17 15:20:33

I was about 26 and mini skirts were on the way out, but it was a very hot summer day, and I had one on. I was walking downstairs in a public library when a man patted my bottom and said, "Nice arse, hen!"

Even though I appreciated the compliment, I never felt comfortable in a mini skirt again.

GrandmaMoira Mon 18-Dec-17 15:01:36

I have two, one good, one bad.
When I was in my late 30s I went to a family funeral and met my BIL who I hadn't seen since for around 15 years. His first words were "don't you look old". I was not impressed. My DH accosted his brother who said he meant I used to look like a little girl and now I looked adult - I did always look very young for my age (no longer).
Some years ago at work, I had a chat with a pregnant colleague who was feeling unwell. I suggested she needed to look after herself and rest more for her baby's sake. She said she had to work. A couple of days later she told me she was taking time off, I was right, and how did I get to be so wise. That was a lovely compliment.

vampirequeen Mon 18-Dec-17 14:55:01

A female colleague once asked me if I'd lost weight. I was quite pleased but said that I didn't think I had because I hadn't been dieting as such. She said she thought I must have because........my bum didn't take up as much of the corridor when I was walking down it.

MaryXYX Mon 18-Dec-17 14:01:45

A few times I've been told I'm fabulous. Usually when I'm wearing my multicolour hair, as I was this morning for our choir concert.

00mam00 Mon 18-Dec-17 13:27:10

At a wedding years ago A ‘friend’ wearing a very expensive dress called my name across the church, saying ‘I see you’ve had the sewing machine out again ——‘. Yes I had but never wore that outfit again.

The compliment I find disturbing is when you run into someone you haven’t seen for years and they say ‘you haven’t changed a bit’, my usual retort is ‘what so I’ve been old grey and wrinkled since I was a teenager?

When I had cancer in my early 60s the consultant said, ‘you’ve got the breasts of a 20 year old. When I told my DD she said ‘so there’s some poor 20 year old going round with the saggy breasts of an old woman’.

Musicelf Mon 18-Dec-17 13:23:55

My mother was very glamorous in her younger days, and people were always telling her how lovely she was. They would look down at me and say, "You don't look like your mum, do you?"

LouLou21 Mon 18-Dec-17 13:03:48

Showed a work colleague my new diamond band and she said “oh yes LITTLE Diamonds” wanted to punch her face.

grandMattie Mon 18-Dec-17 12:59:21

My mama a few years before she died, looked at a photo of two small children, obviously the same age. IT was of my "almost twin" first cousin and me. She peered at it and said "the baby on the left is obviously Robert, but who on earth is that really ugly baby on the right?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry...

NonnaW Mon 18-Dec-17 12:45:49

On holiday staying with my SIL, she came out with 2 classics. DH and I had been out for the day and I’d bought some earrings. When I showed them to her, she said “oh I can’t wear anything like that, they make me feel tarty”. Then she went and had her hair done so I told her how nice it looked. She said “yes but I wanted it to look tatty like yours”.

MissAdventure Mon 18-Dec-17 12:17:03

My friend was sitting in front of the mirror taking off her make up, whilst her husband lay in bed, watching.
He said "Oh I do love you, you know." Then added: "And when I win the lottery, don't worry, because I'm going to pay for you to have a face lift".

Milly Mon 18-Dec-17 12:09:42

My husband was looking through old photos and said "you were good looking then" !!! I didn't answer so he repeated it.

Witzend Mon 18-Dec-17 11:45:16

Not backhanded, but the one I really treasure from my Dh was one Christmas, when we had sundry guests, including his brother who was going through very difficult times with his ex, who'd never really made their house comfortable or nice, and I don't mean in a stylish way.
Dh said, 'Thank you for making a nice home,' and I still think it's one of the nicest things he's ever said to me.

seadragon Mon 18-Dec-17 11:42:21

........missed out 'I realised'..... in my last sentence!!!! Got a bit misty eyed......

seadragon Mon 18-Dec-17 11:41:11

My grandma was quite scary though she did not go in for corporal punishment - a look was enough. She was always very house proud too. In my late teens (1967) my parents agreed I could stay over in town in her flat as they lived on the outskirts of the city. This meant sleeping with her in her box bed in the living room though she had two other bedrooms. Whenever I stayed over she gave me breakfast in bed - 2 hot 'rowies' - (scottish croissants) dripping with syrup butter and delicious crumbs - with a cup of tea. Impossible to manage without messing up her bed. It was only long after she died that this was her way of showing that she loved me........

Foxyferret Mon 18-Dec-17 11:27:03

I was out in a pub with my ex when a guy on the next table started chatting to us. I jokingly said “He’s only going out with me for my money” and the guy said “Then he needs to go to Specsavers”. The nicest compliment I ever had.

meandashy Mon 18-Dec-17 11:23:56

A 'friend ' told me I'd be pretty if I lost some weight confused.

loopyloo Mon 18-Dec-17 11:15:58

A patient once said to me "You look quite intelligent with your glasses on".

sarahellenwhitney Mon 18-Dec-17 11:14:02

Maggiemaybe.
You and me both
My mother I could ignore with her 'you have got camel legs' Even now my legs are skinny.
DH viewing my expensive new hairstyle 'its different' Any new outfit I bought was 'is it new'??No further comment
But to top the lot, following our wedding. Me 'what did you think to my dress DH remarked 'I liked the bridesmaids dresses'.
That really put the cat among the pigeons.

Marydoll Mon 18-Dec-17 11:13:37

We once had an occasion at school, where were all dressed up in our finery. My boss turned to said to my friend, "You look stunning,( and she was, as always) oh and Mrs Marydoll looks OK, too"

Daddima Mon 18-Dec-17 11:11:02

My mother always used to tell of an old neighbour who, when she and my granny stopped to chat, said, My God Sarah, what a braw lassie”.
Mother was delighted, as she was wearing her first “ grown up “ coat ( a fitted brown number with a fur collar), and was preening herself when the old lady added,
“ She’s just hingin’ wi’ fat!”

GrandmasueUK Mon 18-Dec-17 11:11:02

My niece L had put a picture of herself, the bride and her sister C, the bridesmaid on Facebook. A family friend commented, 'You look beautiful L. Never mind C, I'm sure you'll look beautiful on your wedding day as well.'

inishowen Mon 18-Dec-17 11:10:04

My aunt said to me when I had long hair. "You can get away with having your hair just hanging"!

harrigran Mon 18-Dec-17 11:05:14

It was coming up to my birthday and a friend asked how old I was going to be ' 60 ' was my reply, she said ' well you don't look it but I expect you did once '

icbn2802 Mon 18-Dec-17 11:01:08

Trying to grow my a little.I'd clipped my hair to one side to keep my fringe out of my eyes. My mum piped up she'd never seen me with my hair in that style, then continued to say "looks like you're wearing a wig" Thanks Mum ?
Needless to say the clip came out & the hair came off !