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Complimenting a person is one of the fastest ways into their heart. However, delivery matters because as you're about to see, the line between making someone smile and getting punched in the face can be just a couple of words.

Recently, Redditor u/shamilat made a post on the platform, asking other users: "What's a compliment and an insult at the same time?" And people immediately started sending in their suggestions.

Whether the phrases were coming from personal experiences or imagination, these one-liners have to be some of the most ambiguous things you can say!

#1

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Back in the 1980s, New Zealand's prime minister said that anyone who chose to emigrate from New Zealand to Australia could be proud that they were raising the average IQ of both countries.

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Damon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, back in the 1980s, our Prime Minister set a world record for drinking a yard (2.5pints) of beer in 11 seconds - so f**k off

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#2

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones “You’re really smart for someone with your job” (I’m a professional dogwalker)

Dude, just because I choose to do this work doesn’t mean I couldn’t do something else. I just love this and followed my passion.

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#4

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Awww it's such a waste you're a lesbian.

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#5

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones You’re pretty for an (insert ethnicity) girl.

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the child
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is just bigotry honestly... "you're pretty for [anything about me]" would just piss me off lol

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#6

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones I always get "Wow, we used to think you were a real b***h but you're actually really nice!" from friends at some point. It makes me so sad that I'm a naturally shy person around a new group of people. It makes me so self-conscious when I meet new people because I know that line and it's variants will eventually be said again.

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Sofia Gonzalez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a very shy, quiet person at school but I guess I've always had RBF and so one of my now friends always though that I was a angry and wanted to hurt someone because of how my face looked 😂

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#8

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones This is amazing! Who helped you cook this?"

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#9

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones “Oh you’re smarter than you look”

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#10

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones You're so brave for wearing that dress.

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October
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right up there with: "Have you been to the hairdresser?" "Yes I have!" "Interesting..."

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#11

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones I love when I wear makeup and people say “Did you get a good nights sleep? You don’t look tired today!”

Doesn’t matter how much or how little sleep I get, I always have very dark circles under my eyes. It’s genetic.

So no, I’m not tired… That’s literally just my face.

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#12

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones I got a "you're looking pretty good for a guy in their 40's". Well, thats nice i guess, but I was 35 at the time.

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My best friend is 2 years younger, a foot shorter, with gray hair. Mine is blonde. Clerk at optometrist office, " oh, it's so nice that you brought your daughter in with you." To me. I wanted to tell my wonderful doctor that she needs a new eye exam.

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Suzi Q
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Women get that too. You look great for your age. Just say you look great. The "for your age" shouldn't be said.

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now you know how women feel about backhanded compliments.

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Richard Willis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While in hospital, after visiting finished, the chap in the next bed said ‘You have a really lovely relationship with your daughter.’ I had to enlighten him with ‘That’s my wife’!

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Pam Akers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there with: "You look good for your age". Just met this guy -- he had no idea of my age!!

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Lola
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

40s is not old either. I would take that as a compliment as well.

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Boredcanadian1234
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Sean Harrison
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually get the opposite. People say to me "When you hit 40, you'll understand" then I tell them I'm 50!

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Dolly & Meduza
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's nothing. I did got to live in a apartment for 55+ because no one did write a contract and it was empty for long time. When I moved, the new person who moved in said after he got the key, "you don't look a day older than 45", I was 22.

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#13

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Such a pretty face, if you would just lose some weight dear...

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#14

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "I hope your day is as pleasant as you are."

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#15

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "You're very beautiful for your age." or "I can tell you were beautiful when you were younger."

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#16

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "I can see that you're trying."

(When someone shows you something they worked hard on, and it's the only positive thing you can think of to say.)

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Brafne Heiwer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time in grade school my friend gave me a trophy that proudly read "You Tried".

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#17

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "You speak English so well." Yeah, because it's my native language.

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#18

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "Are you twins??? " Said the cashier to me and my brother... who's 12 years older than me...

Edit: of course my brother took it as a compliment... that little-

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#19

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones “I love how you’ll just wear anything” -John Mulany

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the child
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOOK AT THAT HIGH WAISTED MAN HE GOT FEMININE HIPS - john mulaney

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#20

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones There’s the classic, “I don’t care what they say about you, you’re alright.”

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Scagsy
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like to use this one as a joke to people who I know and love. I would never say it upon meeting someone. Only my nearest and dearest get the abuse. (And they laugh coz they know I'm only playing).

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#21

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Friend of mine in high school got a “compliment” from a teacher, “you’re so pretty for a black girl”

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Scagsy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's outrageous. Shoulda replied 'You're pretty racist. For a teacher'.

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#22

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones You're pretty bright for someone that has (insert any disability here)

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#23

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Wow you don't seem autistic at all!

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#24

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones I wish I had the confidence to wear that.

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Susie Elle
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess this depends on what it's referring to. If someone were to wear, say, a shirt with a very bright color or something that makes you stand out in a crowd, I guess "I wish I had the confidence to wear that" would refer to confidently wear something that draws attention to you while others would be too shy to wear it. Okay thanks for attending my TedTalk

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#26

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Your child is so good-looking (or smart). Who did they get that from?

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#27

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones “You look so young” isn’t the compliment people think it is. I feel like nobody takes me seriously at first meeting and it’s just pointing out to me that my body never developed much during puberty and digs into my insecurities of looking like a child. Makes me feel like a child and I’ve gotten these comments my whole life. But if I complain I get “relax you’ll appreciate it when you’re older”

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Katiekat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never appreciated this, and I'm 54, don't look my age, and as the baby of the family, feel like I've struggled my whole life to be taken seriously and treated like an adult.

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#28

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones I used to be told frequently that I looked like a teenager when I was in my 20s and early 30s. I know they didn't mean it rude, but I most certainly didn't want to look 17 while pushing my kid around in a stroller at 30. I remember catching someone looking at me when I was pregnant and I could see the judgement in their eyes so I not so subtly put my left hand on my stomach so the person could see my engagement ring and wedding band.

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#29

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones After sex: "That was better than I expected"

I actually got that one in college.

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#30

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones You're one of the good ones. (Refering to race)

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#31

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "You look soooo cute in cheap clothes. i could never pull that off omg"

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know that I'm blessed, people like you could wear a Versace dress and still look like a scarecrow while I go dumpster diving and look like a million dollars.

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#32

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones While walking next to me "Wow I didn't realize how short you are!" I always reply with it's because my personality is 10 feet tall!

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phil blanque
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow...while talking to you I did not realize how little YOU are....little...

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#33

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "Wow, you smell a lot nicer than usual!"

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Dolly & Meduza
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is people who smells bad even hours after bathing. It not their fault some smells, even after using deodorant.

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#34

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones A nurse to my ex gf— “I really wish I could be as skinny as her!”

I was in the hospital from SMA Syndrome, a thing that happens when you lose so much weight that your intestines close shut.

Good news! If you too are depressed with life and have little desire to eat anything ever, you too can be 70 pounds and get these fabulous curves!

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#35

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones "You're so skinny!! What's your secret?" An eating disorder, babe.

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Eucritta
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no context outside of a physician's office where unsolicited comments on a person's body are appropriate, no matter the intent.

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#36

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones As someone with curly hair, when I straighten it

"Wow your hair looks so much better straight"

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#37

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Asian American here.

"Whoa, you don't have an accent at all!"

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#38

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Anything that ends with "for you."

That's great hat, for you. But its the perfect size, for you.

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#39

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones Or when being black… “you’re so well spoken”

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#40

People Share What Insults Can Be Disguised As Compliments And Here're 40 Of The Most Savage Ones My auntie once said to me: You know, you used to be a bit funny looking as you were growing up but you have turned in to a really handsome chap.

I really didn't know what to make of that, if I should be happy or offended.

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