The art of refusing compliments

A tested toolkit of elegantly curated techniques to fight flattery

Statistics prove that women lavish compliments at 39x the rate that men do and receive 139x more. (All statistics and wisdom are the writer’s own). However, we women have no idea what to do with a compliment once it lands on us. These elegantly curated techniques (also the writer’s own) may help. And please don’t thank me – I won’t know how to take that.

The boomerang: Protest vehemently and fling that compliment right back at the giver who dared say something nice about you. “You think I have nice hair? What’s wrong with you? It’s just the opposite. It’s wiry as a bottle brush and I’m balding quicker than the Brazilian rainforest." Most conversations will then turn to helpful hairfall home remedies from onions to raw eggs. Beautiful! Back on safe (though smelly) ground.

The electric drill: This move is so simple, it’s genius. To drill the most resolute compliment-giver’s patience down, respond to any compliment with a “No! Really?”

“How well you speak!”

“No. Really?”

“Of course. Such a clear mind.”

“No. Really?”