Buzz
You probably don’t want to make anyone feel uneasy when giving a compliment, especially when it’s the guy you like or want to impress. There are plenty of ways to do this smoothly, without awkwardness or discomfort. We’ve put together a list of suggestions and strategies that you can apply to compliment a guy without overdoing it.
This article is based on an interview with dating expert John Keegan, founder of The Awakened Lifestyle. See the full interview here.
Steps
Be sincere.
The key here is to say what you truly think. If you try too hard to compliment a guy, not only could it make him feel uneasy, but it could also come across as insincere. Whenever you think of a compliment, focus on what you genuinely feel. That way, your compliment will sound more natural.
- If your compliment comes from the heart, he will appreciate it and probably won’t feel awkward.
- For example, if a guy has had a tough day and looks exhausted and frustrated, avoid saying, “Wow, you look amazing!”
Don't overpraise.
Compliment once and leave it at that. When complimenting a guy, avoid adding more words or explanations about what you mean. Doing so might make it seem like you're not sincere or perhaps a bit too flattering. Instead, just compliment him and then carry on with the conversation without going overboard.
Compliment moderately.
Don't shower him with excessive praise, or your compliments might seem insincere. Limit yourself to just one or two compliments at a time. If you go over that, it might come across as overly bold and make him uncomfortable. If you continue to compliment him, it could give the impression that your earlier compliments weren't genuine.
Compliment his personality.
The more specific the compliment, the better. Compliment him on his generosity, maturity, or bravery. Think of his admirable or admirable qualities and highlight them. He will be happy to see you appreciate these traits, and your compliment will not make him feel uncomfortable.
- For example, if he stood up against wrongdoing to protect himself at school or work, you could say, "You're so brave" or "You always make the right decisions."
- Choose the right qualities to praise. For instance, don't say, "You're so generous" if he's actually known to be frugal – your compliment might come across as sarcastic or mocking.
Say he's a great listener.
He'll be thrilled, and you'll come across as calm and confident. When complimenting a guy during a conversation, simply mention that he's a good listener and that you truly appreciate him for that. Say that everyone enjoys talking to someone who genuinely listens.
- For example, you might say, "You're really good at listening. That's such a valuable trait because not everyone can do that."
- You could also say, "You know, it's so pleasant to talk to someone who really knows how to listen like you do."
Compliment his eyes.
Everyone loves being complimented on their eyes. This is an easy compliment that you can give at any time. You can compliment his eyes while having a conversation or meeting him anywhere. Try to come up with a creative way to describe his eyes.
- For example, you could wait until he's finished saying something and then say, "Your eyes are a beautiful hazel color, so romantic!"
- Feel free to use other descriptive terms like "passionate," "genuine," or "sparkling" to praise a guy's eyes.
Compliment him on being cute.
Give a short and sweet compliment. You can tell a guy he's cute without any romantic intentions, but if you like him, that's even better! Compliment him naturally without being too serious. He'll really appreciate it and might even blush.
- Try a simple compliment like "You look handsome" or "You're so cute."
- If he does something kind, you can say "You're so thoughtful" or "What you did is really admirable."
Compliment his physique (but in an innocent way).
You can compliment his physique without making him feel awkward. Most guys have a physical trait they're proud of, so why not make use of this? Compliment him on those features – he'll love it. You can also pick a feature that you like and praise him for it.
- If he likes wearing shirts that show off his arms, you could say, "That shirt you're wearing really shows off your nice arms."
- If you like the shape of his nose, you could say something cute like, "I love your high nose!"
Compliment his beautiful hair.
Compliment his hairstyle, hair color, texture, or all of the above. Most guys spend quite a bit of time taking care of their hair (even if they pretend not to care). Let him know that you notice.
- Try saying, "I love your hairstyle. It really suits you."
- You can also say, "Your hair looks great. You really know how to take care of it."
Compliment his style.
Talk about his clothing and accessories. If a guy puts a lot of effort into his appearance, make sure you let him know you notice. Compliment his outfit or overall look. Whatever you praise, he’ll be happy to hear it.
- You can give general compliments like, "You really know how to dress," "You look amazing," or "You're so handsome."
- Alternatively, you can be more specific, like "Those shoes are perfect with your outfit" or "I love the watch you're wearing. It really completes your look."
Advice
- Notice things he seems to take great care in. If he's passionate about his work or his car, those are easy things to compliment him on!
