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Favorite backhanded compliments

Recently became aware of "Bless your heart" I was considering how DL may be a font of such phrases. Wondering if others have a favorite go to stinger.

by Anonymousreply 42July 11, 2025 2:22 AM

If someone shows off an item and says how inexpensive it was - just say "Ah - cheap clothes suit you!" or cheap jewelry / other.

by Anonymousreply 1July 10, 2025 6:44 PM

When shown a new article of clothing, haircut, etc.: "I love that you're not afraid to just be yourself!"

by Anonymousreply 2July 10, 2025 6:54 PM

I hope you have the day that you deserve!

by Anonymousreply 3July 10, 2025 6:56 PM

John Gielgud was a master of this in the dressing room, after a performance:

"You've done it again!"

"You've never been better."

Always accompanied by a vigorous hand clasp or embrace.

by Anonymousreply 4July 10, 2025 7:00 PM

Sez you

by Anonymousreply 5July 10, 2025 7:08 PM

LOL R4. Tony Randall said once that when he saw a friend in a play that wasn't very good, he would go backstage and say: "Well - that was really SOMETHING!"

He said he stopped when someone said it to him after a show.

by Anonymousreply 6July 10, 2025 7:09 PM

How interesting

by Anonymousreply 7July 10, 2025 7:13 PM

I was told the appropriate response to a theatre performance went you went backstage was Fabulous, darling, fabulous!

by Anonymousreply 8July 10, 2025 7:18 PM

Just now heard of “bless your heart”? Well, bless your heart.

by Anonymousreply 9July 10, 2025 7:19 PM

What a darling maternity dress... oh, sorry.

by Anonymousreply 10July 10, 2025 7:21 PM

The classic backstage comment came from Estelle Winwood: "Oh, darling, if only you could have been out there in the audience with me!"

by Anonymousreply 11July 10, 2025 7:34 PM

“ This is a nice car .. for you. “

by Anonymousreply 12July 10, 2025 7:36 PM

R4 in the same vein I use "that was really something!" Never said it was something [italic]good.[/italic] I'm definitely adding "you've never been better!" to my repertoire.

by Anonymousreply 13July 10, 2025 7:41 PM

Oops I just read R6, sorry!

by Anonymousreply 14July 10, 2025 7:42 PM

You're a wonder!

by Anonymousreply 15July 10, 2025 7:43 PM

God love you, OP!

by Anonymousreply 16July 10, 2025 7:45 PM

In her book (No Bed of Roses), Joan Fontaine says her sister Olivia de Havilland said to her after a performance, "Well, that was really something!"

Joan then asks the reader: "Something is what?"

by Anonymousreply 17July 10, 2025 7:47 PM

"If that's the kind of (dress, shirt, car, etc.) you wanted, you certainly got a good one!"

by Anonymousreply 18July 10, 2025 7:49 PM

visiting someone’s tacky home: “somebody’s been busy in here!”

by Anonymousreply 19July 10, 2025 7:50 PM

"Bless your heart" *can* be meant sincerely. "How nice..." almost never is, as the "...for you, you hateful cunt" is silent.

And Judy Garland's backstage comment apparently was, "How DO you do it?!"

by Anonymousreply 20July 10, 2025 7:55 PM

"Well, look at you!"

by Anonymousreply 21July 10, 2025 7:56 PM

"You're likable enough, Hillary." *smiles*

by Anonymousreply 22July 10, 2025 7:59 PM

Once, when asked what i thought of a terrible show, i replied,.what did u think ..to a performer, who was in ithe show...i knew this. He replied, its My show...and i replied, it Sure is. It was Bad...my friends hubby kept giving out throughout the show and sayjng he was Never coming to a show again it was Bad.

by Anonymousreply 23July 10, 2025 9:02 PM

"You're very brave. "

"I could never do that!"

by Anonymousreply 24July 10, 2025 9:21 PM

Never knew that Bless your heart was a backhanded compliment

by Anonymousreply 25July 10, 2025 9:26 PM

I’m in the South and I’ve never heard “Bless your heart” used in a backhanded manner. I’ve only heard it from one person and sh would be 82 if she were still alive. I feel like this is a phrase that has gotten popular on the internet but not used in actual real life.

by Anonymousreply 26July 10, 2025 9:30 PM

This is R7 - for a moment I thought R8 was giving me shade. LOL

by Anonymousreply 27July 10, 2025 9:35 PM

I'm R6 so switch that around.....I thought R7 was giving me shade.

Maybe DL should have a 15 drinks a day limit like Carnival.

by Anonymousreply 28July 10, 2025 9:37 PM

My dementia-riddled mom would say if you gained weight,

“Wow, you really filled out nice!”

She would say it it with a wide-eyed, sincere and disarming tone that had the whole family howling with laughter.

by Anonymousreply 29July 10, 2025 10:05 PM

After meeting my skinny mother years before, on meeting Dad's younger brother's new fiancé said, "At least this one is well-fed"

by Anonymousreply 30July 10, 2025 10:09 PM

I get the shade in R30, but my mind cannot figure out the relationship: "Dad's younger brother's new fiancé"!

by Anonymousreply 31July 10, 2025 11:03 PM

r31, soon to be aunt in law

by Anonymousreply 32July 10, 2025 11:04 PM

Have YOU ever been into space?

by Anonymousreply 33July 10, 2025 11:12 PM

Have YOU ever had an intelligent thought?

by Anonymousreply 34July 10, 2025 11:16 PM

Along the lines of some of the foregoing, "You're looking prosperous!" (said cheerfully to a man) really meant, "You've put on a bit of weight, bub" a century ago. I've made use of the expression a few times (to people who had no idea what I was getting at).

by Anonymousreply 35July 11, 2025 12:53 AM

"You have such a pretty face" (said to a fat girl)

by Anonymousreply 36July 11, 2025 1:18 AM

That joke gets funnier every time you tell it…

by Anonymousreply 37July 11, 2025 1:25 AM

"Oh, Lucy, that dress looks divine on you!"

"Oh, you really like it?"

"You know I always have."

by Anonymousreply 38July 11, 2025 1:45 AM

That pattern is flawless, it just works on ANYONE.

by Anonymousreply 39July 11, 2025 1:56 AM

Whenever people say bad things about you, I rush to yours defense.

by Anonymousreply 40July 11, 2025 2:01 AM

[quote]After meeting my skinny mother years before,

WHO met your skinny mother?

[quote] on meeting Dad's younger brother's new fiancé

So.... your uncle's fiance. Took a little bit to wrap my head around that clunky phrase but that I got.

[quote]said, "At least this one is well-fed"

WHO said?

Who met your mom, and who said your future aunt was fat?

Learn to write and how to tell a story because you're terrible at both.

by Anonymousreply 41July 11, 2025 2:12 AM

"Interesting."

by Anonymousreply 42July 11, 2025 2:22 AM
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