Deflecting compliments
Informal Polite
What it really means
When complimented, British people usually play it down: "Oh, this old thing? It was three pounds in a charity shop." Fully accepting praise ("Yes, I am good at that") can sound arrogant. As a newcomer, a warm "Thank you, that's kind" is always safe — you don't have to master self-deprecation on day one.
Chinese explanation
受到夸奖时，英国人通常会淡化："哦，这件旧衣服？慈善商店三镑买的。"完全接受赞美（"对，我确实很擅长"）可能显得自大。作为新来者，温暖地说一句"Thank you, that's kind"永远不会错——不必第一天就学会自嘲。
Example conversation
A: Your presentation was brilliant!
B: Oh, it was nothing — I threw it together last night, honestly.
A: Well, it didn't show!
A：你的演讲太棒了！
B：哪里哪里——说实话是昨晚临时拼凑的。
A：完全看不出来！
What you could say back
Related phrases
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All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake