Who doesn’t want to receive a meaningful compliment every now and then? But, some people take this too far. They want others to compliment them all the time and it’s because they’re insecure or have low confidence. It’s not always easy to know if someone is trying to get you to compliment them, so keep an ear out for any of these 10 phrases. They’re a clear sign that the person is looking for praise (which can be really annoying).
1. “I Got Ready In A Rush!”
You tell your friend her makeup is beautiful and she says, “No, I got ready in a rush!” Someone who keeps saying that they look bad, even when they’ve been complimented for how they look, comes across as suffering from low self-esteem. They clearly want people to load on the praise, such as by saying, “No! You look amazing! Come on.” (Needy, much?) What they don’t realize is that pretending they haven’t put any effort into their appearance can make others feel so awkward ’cause they have to reassure them. Ugh.
2. “Don’t Post That Pic Of Me!”
If you’re at a party and you snap a picture of your gorgeous friend who tells you that they don’t want you to upload it to social media, they might be trying to fish for a compliment or two. This is especially the case if they seem to glow when you point out how amazing they look. You, and everyone else, knows that they look incredible, so it might feel awkward for them to be claiming otherwise. They just want attention.
3. “Isn’t That Awesome?”
Another way in which people might try to fish for compliments is by asking you a question. So, they might say, “I’m going on holiday to Norway next week – isn’t that awesome?” Or, “My side hustle is going so well, don’t you think that’s cool?” They’re direct about the type of attention they want. By asking you if their latest news is awesome or cool, they’re expecting you to agree and lay on the compliments and congratulations.
4. “Does This Top Look Good On Me?”
Whenever someone asks you to weigh in about their appearance, they’re looking for some validation. They might be feeling a bit low about themselves and want to hear that they look good or they’ve purchased the perfect top or dress to accentuate their features. Of course, if this is a once-off, they might genuinely want to know your opinion.
5. “I Wish I Had Your…”
If someone tells you that they wish they had your gorgeous hair/confidence/ambition, they’re trying to get you to tell them why they’re great in return. It’s so true that when you receive a compliment, you usually experience that feeling of wanting to give one back. Or, the person might be feeling a bit jealous of everything you have, and they’re feeling it so strongly they can’t shut up about it.
6. “I Don’t Think Anyone Likes Me…”
If you pay someone a compliment, such as by saying that others are drawn to them, they might tell you that it’s not true because they don’t think anyone likes them. So now, you’re expected to list all the reasons why they’re so great. Yawn. Although they might legit feel that no one likes them, it’s better if they learn to take a compliment instead of throwing it back so they can get more!
7. “I’m So Clumsy/Messy!”
When someone puts themselves down, such as if they call themselves clumsy, messy, or something else, they’re using self-deprecating comments to try to get sympathy. They might be embarrassed about whatever trait of theirs they don’t like. But, they might also be doing this so people will challenge their words, like by saying, “No, you’re not!” or “I’m also super-clumsy, don’t worry!” to make them feel better.
8. “I Know Nothing About This, But…”
When talking to someone, they might say that they don’t know anything about a certain topic, even if they do. This is a phrase used by people with low self-confidence so they don’t come across as braggy while still snatching praise. So, they might say they know nothing about podcasts even though they’re building a successful one, or they know nothing about dating, even though they’re happily married. They don’t realize how this makes them seem unconfident.
9. “I’m Just Lucky.”
If you give someone kudos for achieving their goal, they might say, “I’m just so lucky!” Um, okay. While they might be super-humble, which is awesome, they might also be seeking some extra validation. Maybe they want to hear just how amazing they are. The thing is, by claiming they’re “lucky,” they’re denying all the hard work they’ve put into their goal.
10. “I Had No Idea!”
Sometimes, people who are fishing for compliments might try to brush off their achievements or success by saying, “I had no idea I’d get the promotion!” or “I had no idea my work would be so well received!” It comes across as weird. How could they have no idea at all? They might be pretending to be taken by surprise so people will praise them and think they’re wonderful.
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