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I'll Take That as a Compliment

Kind of between the Insult Backfire and Compliment Backfire, the reaction of smart people when addressed with an ambiguous compliment (which can be, often intentionally so, a genuine compliment and a backhanded one at the same time).

Examples of I'll Take That as a Compliment include:


Film

 

James Bond: You know I was just wondering what South America would look like if nobody gave a damn about coke or communism. It always impressed me the way you boys would carve this place up.
Felix Leiter: I'll take that as a compliment, coming from a Brit.

 
 

Sharpay Evans: When did you become... one of them?
Ryan Evans: You know, I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Piggy: Gee, you're the biggest cow I've ever saw!
Maggie: Well, if you're in charge, I'll take that as a compliment.

 
  • Amy
 

Bill Trendle: Jesus, lady, you're worse than my wife!
Tanya Rammus: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
  • Flash III: Deadly Nightshade
 

Dr. Desmond Powell: (wolf whistles)
Rebecca Frost: I'll take that as a compliment, you sexist pig.

 

Literature

  • In the third Ciaphas Cain book, Cain says that "there's only room for one lethally dangerous woman in [his] life". This is accompanied by a footnote from the book's in-universe editor, Cain's close personal friend Amberley Vail: "Which I decided to take as a compliment."

Live Action TV

 

Doctor: Blimey, you look beautiful...considering.
Rose: Considering what?
Doctor: That you're human.
Rose: I think that's a compliment...

 
 

Dalek Caan: You think like a Dalek.
Mr. Diagoras: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Dr. Zimmerman: Well, the last beautiful woman to walk in here turned out to be him.
The Doctor: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Dr. Phlox: My children all left the nest years ago, captain.
Archer: I would have never guessed. You don't look that old.
Dr. Phlox: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
    • "Azati Prime"
 

Ensign Travis Mayweather: (Instructing Archer in flying the Xindi shuttle) Good. You're starting to think like an Insectoid.
Captain Jonathan Archer: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Vic: Once upon a time I was a pretty decent chef.
Debbie: 'Decent?' He was another Sara Lee!
Vic: I'll take that as the compliment I'm sure was intended.

 
 

Dave: Bill is certainly not John F. Kennedy.
Bill: I'll take that as a compliment, because if I was, I'd be dead now.

 
  • Holby City episode "Invasion"
 

Percy 'Abra' Durant: You're a fine surgeon, Mr Jordan. But you have the charm of a salt-encrusted slug.
Nick Jordan: I'll take that as a compliment.
Percy 'Abra' Durant: I knew you would.

 
 

Lady Grantham: You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal.
Mrs Crawley: I take that as a compliment.
Lady Grantham: I must have said it wrong.

 
  • CSI episode "Fannysmackin' "
 

Greg: Sara...
Sara:I didn't think you could see me
Greg:I can't...I know that Sidle scent...
Sara:I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Strudwick: Dick, without your cowardice and courage we wouldn't be right back where we started!
Dick: Thank you, Strudwick, I'll take that as a compliment.
Strudwick: I meant it as an insult!
Dick: Too late, it's a compliment!

 

Tabletop Games

  • Dungeons and Dragons; in general, if you call a drow a traitor or betrayer, she will be flattered. Their society is hinged on this, and it's almost a certainty that a drow in a position of authority got there by double-crossing whoever previously held the post.

Video Games

 

Terra: Brother? At first glance, I thought he was some bodybuilder who had strayed from his gym...
Sabin: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

Squall: Typical dirty Chaos trick.
Kuja: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
 

FBI Agent Norman Jayden: Blake, you are an unbalanced, psychopathic asshole!
Lieutenant Carter Blake: I'll take that as a compliment.

 
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