When you compliment someone and hear you flatter me as a response, do you wonder what that means?
In short, people use the phrase to humbly accept your compliment and express their gratitude for it.
Read below to understand more about the meaning and to find some examples of how to use the phrase.
You Flatter Me Meaning
The word “flatter” comes from the Old French word “flater”, which means “to deceive; caress”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word as “to say nice things about somebody, often in a way that is not sincere.”
Therefore, the phrase you flatter me means that they appreciate your compliment, but they don’t necessarily agree or believe it to be true.
Don’t panic, they’re not saying you’re a liar. They just feel that you’re too kind and generous for saying nice things about them.
By saying the phrase, they’re also trying to be polite, so they don’t appear as an overly confident and arrogant person.
You Flatter Me in Example Conversations
After discussing the meaning, I have written some example conversations below to show you how to use the phrase in daily life.
Conversation 1
Student 1: “Hey, I heard you got an A on the calculus exam. Congratulations!”
Student 2: “Thanks, but you flatter me. I actually just scraped by with a B.”
Student 1: “Well, either way, good job. Calculus is no joke.”
Student 2: “Yeah, tell me about it. I spent hours studying for that exam.”
Student 1: “Well, it paid off. Maybe I should take some studying tips from you for the next exam.”
Student 2: “Sure, happy to help. Just remember, hard work and dedication are key.”
Student 1: “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Good luck on the next exam.”
Student 2: “Thanks, you too. See you in class.”
Conversation 2
Dance Instructor: That was an amazing performance, Sarah. Your technique is coming along.
Sarah: Thank you, you flatter me. I still feel like I have a lot to improve on.
Dance Instructor: Trust me, I can tell you’re putting in a lot of effort, and it’s paying off. Keep it up.
Sarah: Thank you, I’ll try my best.
Dance Instructor: And don’t be too hard on yourself. Dancing is all about having fun and expressing yourself.
Sarah: Thank you for the encouragement!
Conversation 3
Customer: I just have to say, your customer service is outstanding. You guys are the best!
Employee: Thank you, you flatter us. We try our best to make sure our customers are happy.
Customer: No, really. You guys go above and beyond.
Employee: That’s really sweet, we appreciate the compliment.
Customer: Keep up the great work!
Employee: Thank you for your kind words.
Conversation 4
Noer: Wow, your Billy Kaplan costume is amazing!
Xeto: You flatter me, but thank you!
Noer: You look just like him. The attention to detail is incredible.
Xeto: Thanks! I tried to make it as accurate as possible. It’s my favourite character from Marvel comics.
Noer: Well, you nailed it. You should enter the cosplay contest with this costume.
Xeto: I might do that, haha!
If you want another example of how to use you flatter me, you can find it in my previous post, where I discuss the phrase your reputation precedes me.
Wrapping Up
I hope this article helps you the next time you receive a compliment, because I think you flatter me is a great phrase to have in our back pocket.
By remembering the phrase, you no longer need to be confused about politely showing your appreciation for their compliments.
Before you go, make sure to also check my post where I discuss about the phrase “no skin off my teeth” to richer your conversation skill!
