Back during the dark times (my first marriage), my sister-in-law and her aunt got into a fight. Her aunt is from the old country (Venezuela), and English was her second language. At one point the aunt called the sister-in-law “The most self-less person she had ever met.” This prompted an “Oh, thank you very much” from the sister-in-law, and snickers from me.
So, anyone else have any stories about complements being passed off as insults.
Once I was talking to my grandmother about my cousin. I called my cousin a “martyr” but my grandmother (English is second language for her, too) thought I said, “murderer”.
It was a hilarious scene, really, because my grandmother got very upset and aackh, I just hope she wrote me back into the will.
Formerly unknown as “Melanie”
Once at a chuch camp counselor retreat, we gathered in a circle and were asked to say something nice about the person to our right. To my left was a brassy daughter of another counselor, a Methodist minister. On her turn, she turned to me, paused, then said, “You’re weird.” Her father gasped. In all graciousness, I said, “Why thank you.” Cracked the whole group up.
I always was joking and doing weird stuff (exploding mosquitos on my arm; it can be done). So the fact that she, a quite attractive and popular girl, noticed my weirdness was indeed a compliment.
Let the Truth of Love be lighted/ Let the Love of Truth shine clear. Sensibility/ Armed with sense and liberty
With the Heart and Mind united in a single/ Perfect/ Sphere. - Rush