History Main / IllTakeThatAsACompliment

* Deliberately invoked way back in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianDawn''. After a GDI-aligned player is framed for destroying a village by the very media-saavy Brotherhood of Nod, a bemused Lieutenant Carter notes that they must finally consider you a real nuisance:

[[folder: Film -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Film -- Live-Action ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

--->'''The Doctor:''' Blimey, you look beautiful . . . considering.\\

'''Rose:''' I ''think'' that's a compliment . . .

--->'''Dalek Caan:''' You think like a Dalek.\\

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': From [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E19ZeroHour "Zero Hour"]]:

--->'''Dalek Caan:''' [[/folder]]

[[folder: You think like a Dalek. ]]
\\

[[AC:Film -- Animated]]

[[AC:{{Film}} -- Live-Action]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

--->'''Dalek Caan:''' [[AC:You think like a Dalek.]]\\

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]

Kind of between the InsultBackfire and ComplimentBackfire, the reaction of ''smart'' people when addressed with an ambiguous compliment (which can be, often intentionally so, a genuine compliment and a [[BackhandedCompliment backhanded one]] at the same time). Contrast YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame.

'''J.D.''': I know. [[GenreSavvy I thought if I took it as a compliment it would drive you insane and you'd go away.]]\\

-->'''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.
-->'''Piggy''': Uh...
-->'''Maggie''': And if not, I guess I'll just have to sit on you.
-->'''Piggy''': MOM!!!!!!
-->'''Maggie''': Hey! I'm only kidding!

-->'''Migel:''' You fight like my sister!\\

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

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

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

-->'''Gen. Lord Cornwallis:''' This is hardly the conduct of a gentleman!
-->'''Col. Benjamin Martin:''' If the conduct of your officers is the measure of a gentleman, I'll take that as a compliment.

-->'''W. Somerset Maugham:''' If you're suggesting I was her lover, you're mistaken.
-->'''French Criminal Investigator:''' It would be no affair of mine. And without wishing to say anything offensive... I must add that, from what I've heard of her proclivities... I should say that you were not her type.
-->'''W. Somerset Maugham:'''I'm prepared to take that as a compliment.

-->'''Capt. Von Trapp:''' If the Nazis do take over Austria, I have no doubt, Herr Zeller, that you will be the entire trumpet section.
-->'''Herr Zeller:''' You flatter me, Captain.
-->'''Capt. Von Trapp:''' How clumsy of me. I meant to accuse you.

-->'''Randolph Duke:''' Mother always said you were greedy.
-->'''Mortimer Duke:''' She meant it 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!

-->'''Liz''': God, Jack, why are you being such a wang about this?
-->'''Jack''': I'll take that as a compliment. An Wang, the founder of Wang Computers, is one of the greatest business men of the 20th century! And you're the one being a lowercase wang, Lemon.

-->'''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.

* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' -- when snarky old ladies collide...
--> '''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.
:: And vice versa...
--> '''Mrs Crawley''': And must you always sound like the sister of UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette?\\

-->'''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.

-->'''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.

-->'''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.
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}:

--->'''Dr. Cox''': What can I say? I just wish you were at home with her.
--->'''J.D.''': (''smiles'') [[InsultBackfire You and me both.]]
--->'''Dr. Cox''': That was an insult.
--->'''J.D.''': I know. [[GenreSavvy I thought if I took it as a compliment it would drive you insane and you'd go away.]]
--->'''Dr. Cox''': (''grits his teeth and walks away'') [[OutGambitted Damn it!]]

-->'''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.

--->'''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.

-->'''Warden:''' You are a heartless shrew, you know that?
-->'''[[TokenEvilTeammate Morrigan]]:''' Yes, yes. I shall take that as a compliment, whether intended or not.

-->'''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.

--->'''Terra:''' Brother? For a moment I thought he was another of Vargas' bears!
--->'''Sabin:''' A bear? I'll, uh, take that as a compliment.

-->'''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Squall]]:''' Typical dirty Chaos trick.
-->'''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX 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.

-->'''Javert''': ...we've all been operating under the horrible misconception that you reformed. I shall set the record strait: [[FelonyMisdemeanor You are evil incarnate]].
-->'''[[TheGadfly James]]''': I shall take that as a compliment.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''Film/QuantumOfSolace''
-->'''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.
* ''Film/{{Spectre}}'':
** Said word-for-word by C when M confronts him about [[spoiler:the deactivation of the Double-O program]]; M isn't amused.
-->'''M:''' You're a cocky little bastard, aren't you.
-->'''C:''' ''(Laughs)''...I'll take that as a compliment.
-->'''M:''' I wouldn't.
* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical2''
-->'''Sharpay Evans:''' When did you become... one of them?
-->'''Ryan Evans:''' You know, I'll take that as a compliment.

* ''Film/TradingPlaces''
-->'''Randolph Duke:''' Mother always said you were greedy.
-->'''Mortimer Duke:''' She meant it as a compliment.

-->'''French Criminal Investigator:'''It would be no affair of mine. And without wishing to say anything offensive... I must add that, from what I've heard of her proclivities... I should say that you were not her type.

* In the third ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' 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 (and sometimes lover) Amberley Vail: "Which I decided to take as a compliment."
* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'', Vimes responds to [[UpperClassTwit Lord Rust]] telling him "You are no gentleman" with "I ''knew'' there was something about me I liked."

* ''Series/DoctorWho'', "The Unquiet Dead"
-->'''Doctor:''' Blimey, you look beautiful...considering.
-->'''Rose:''' Considering what?
-->'''Doctor:''' That you're human.
-->'''Rose:''' I ''think'' that's a compliment...
* ''Series/DoctorWho'', "Daleks in Manhattan"
-->'''Dalek Caan:''' You think like a Dalek.
-->'''Mr. Diagoras:''' I'll take that as a compliment.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Life Line"
-->'''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.
* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episodes
** "A Night in Sickbay"
--->'''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.
* ''Series/QueerAsFolk''
-->'''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.
* ''Series/NewsRadio'' episode "French Diplomacy"
-->'''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.
* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' -- when snarky old ladies collide...
--> '''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.
:: And vice versa...
--> '''Mrs Crawley''': And must you always sound like the sister of UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette?\\
'''Lady Grantham''': The Queen of Naples was a stalwart figure. I take it as a compliment.\\
'''Mrs Crawley''': You take ''everything'' as a compliment.\\
'''Lady Grantham''': I advise you to do the same. It saves many an awkward moment.
* ''Series/{{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.

* In one episode of ''{{Series/Monk}}'', "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall", a reporter is very proud of his talent to take nearly anything that is said as a compliment.

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}:
** "My Cookie Pants" has a rare example of JD holding his own against Dr. Cox, this time with Perry ranting about how much he doesn't care about J.D. and Elliot's relationship.
--->'''Dr. Cox''': What can I say? I just wish you were at home with her.
--->'''J.D.''': (''smiles'') [[InsultBackfire You and me both.]]
--->'''Dr. Cox''': That was an insult.
--->'''J.D.''': I know. [[GenreSavvy I thought if I took it as a compliment it would drive you insane and you'd go away.]]
--->'''Dr. Cox''': (''grits his teeth and walks away'') [[OutGambitted Damn it!]]

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''
-->'''Warden:''' You are a heartless shrew, you know that?
-->'''[[TokenEvilTeammate Morrigan]]:''' Yes, yes. I shall take that as a compliment, whether intended or not.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': Solas' reaction to Iron Bull's comment on his efficient, no-frills style compared to most mages. Dorian's reaction when Sera asks if there are more Tevinters like him; "like him" meaning "keeping their magic rubbish to themselves."
* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' his this exchange between the [[TheUndead Forsaken]] and [[OurElvesAreBetter Blood Elf]] faction leaders after the Galakras encounter in the Siege of Orgrimmar.

--> '''Mako''': Your best friend is a... polar bear dog? Somehow, that makes perfect sense.
--> '''Korra''': I'll take that as a compliment, city boy.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'':
--> '''Pacifica''': Mabel sounds like an old granny's name.
--> '''[[FunPersonified Mabel]]''': I'll take that as a compliment!

* 'WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'':
--> '''Migel''': You fight like my sister!
--> '''Tulio''': I fought your sister, that's a compliment.

-->'''Capt. Von Trapp:'' If the Nazis do take over Austria, I have no doubt, Herr Zeller, that you will be the entire trumpet section.
-->'''Herr Zeller:'' You flatter me, Captain.
-->'''Capt. Von Trapp:'' How clumsy of me. I meant to accuse you.

* ''Film/{{Amy|1988}}''

* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical 2''

* ''Amy''

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': Solas' reaction to Iron Bull's comment on his efficient, no-frills style compared to most mages. Dorian's

Said word-for-word by C when M confronts him about [[spoiler:the deactivation of the Double-O program]]; M isn't amused.

* ''HeavyRain'' (RabidCop page quote)

* In ''Literature/{{Corpies}}, Titan's response to Corbin slandering Bubble Bubble is to note that by making himself a target for extremist pro-super groups and still expecting protection, he is showing a lot of trust in the Hero community.

* ''HighSchoolMusical 2''

* ''TradingPlaces''

* ''ThePatriot''

* ''QueerAsFolk''

* ''NewsRadio'' episode "French Diplomacy"

* ''DowntonAbbey'' -- when snarky old ladies collide...

* ''ThirdRockFromTheSun'':

* In the third ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' 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."