I'll Take That as a Compliment

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    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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