Pearl Nash
A compliment always goes a long way.
No matter how simple (“You have a lovely smile”) or interesting (“I love how your eyes catch the light and turn mahogany brown”), a well-meant compliment establishes positive rapport and may even express attraction.
But how can you tell a man’s giving you a compliment because he’s being nice or because he genuinely finds you attractive?
Let’s find out.
Here are the 7 compliments that signal there may be something more to a man’s feelings for you than meets the eye.
1) “You light up the room”
The truth of the matter is that sexual attraction absolutely is based on appearance.
However, appearance only plays a certain role. What’s more, it’s true what they say – beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
Don’t believe me?
Think of one of your exes and how they look now that you haven’t been together for years. You’re not really attracted to them anymore, but once upon a time, you could have drowned in the mesmerizing beauty of their eyes, right?
Point made.
Sexuality fluctuates over time, and therefore it stands to reason that appearance isn’t the only thing that makes one attractive to others. Moreover, psychologists say that we generally want partners who meet our intrinsic ideals, such as warmth and loyalty, rather than extrinsic ideals like appearance or status.
The key word here is ‘warmth’. When a man tells you that you light up the room, he isn’t only saying you’re beautiful on the outside – he’s telling you that existing in your presence is like getting bathed in sunshine.
He’s essentially pointing out that you make him feel comfortable and safe. And that’s the biggest compliment anyone could ever receive.
Which brings us to the next point…
2) “I like how you make me feel”
People are inherently self-absorbed.
This isn’t a dig by any means – it’s just a fact. We’re so preoccupied with our own thoughts, feelings, and responsibilities that we often get caught up in our egos, and our relationships with others reflect that.
Ever heard of the reciprocity of liking effect? It states that we are more likely to like people who like us back because we enjoy the feeling of being liked in the first place.
This means that a man who tells you he feels good in your presence genuinely likes you.
Sure, it doesn’t necessarily signal sexual attraction, but it definitely increases the odds.
3) “I really like your [detail]”
According to studies, people who look at images of their loved ones experience increased automatic attention and sustained motivated attention.
This could mean that romantic love makes us more prone to concentrate on the object of our affection, notice little details, and focus on what they say.
Therefore, a man who genuinely finds you attractive will probably spend a great deal of time staring at your face, noticing the little things that make you *you*, and admiring your appearance as well as your personality.
When I met up for a first date with my ex, for example, he gave me a compliment that made me feel really good because it was so detailed and interesting: “I really like how your eyebrows frame your face.”
Sure, it’s nice to be told that you have a nice smile or that the blue of your eyes is mesmerizing.
An unusual compliment that shows the man in question is paying attention, though…
That’s so much better.
4) “I love [something you have put a lot of effort into]”
Research for this article has brought me to many places on the internet, including Reddit forums.
One of the most common pieces of advice for complimenting a woman in the right way is to highlight just how much you like something she has obviously put effort into.
“I love the glitter in your hair.”
“You’ve got such a great style.”
“I love that tattoo on your arm, I think it really complements your makeup.”
This is because women love to get compliments on something that is within their power and that displays their personality. A great jawline is a win in the genetic lottery. It’s not something you can style to showcase who you are deep down.
And since a man who gives you this kind of compliment apparently spent quite some time brainstorming how to offer the best compliment out there, it’s another sign he may fancy you.
5) “You’re really [positive personality trait]”
Sure, this one could just be a friendly compliment. But if it’s paired up with some of the compliments above…
Yep, that’s a different story.
Remember how we said that it is intrinsic values rather than extrinsic ones that make a relationship work?
That’s important here.
If a man gives you a compliment related to your personality, it shows that he pays attention. It shows that he cares about who you are beyond your appearance. And it could potentially mean he finds you attractive – not just for how you look but also for how you act.
“You’re really driven. When you want something, you don’t give up. It’s inspiring.”
“You’re so witty. I don’t understand how you can come up with such clever retorts all the time.”
“I love your sense of humor. You crack me up.”
Aren’t these kinds of compliments the absolute best?
6) “You intimidate me”
This one varies depending on the man’s personality.
While Greg might approach you, flirt with you, and ask you out because he fancies you so much, Josh could feel so intimidated by your beauty that it takes him months to even start a conversation with you.
When a man tells you that he finds you intimidating, he’s essentially saying you’re so attractive he doesn’t know what to do with all his feelings for you.
He feels confused. Scared. Anxious. And throughout all of that, there’s a deep longing and strong desire.
He’s not only intimidated by your appearance or your personality; he’s intimidated by how strongly he feels when you’re around.
7) “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen”
This one’s pretty obvious, but it bears mentioning.
Look, not everyone who says this actually means it. Some people – especially if they’re manipulators who love to love-bomb – use this compliment just because they want to get a positive reaction.
But if you’re talking to a man who comes across as sincere and kind, you can be sure that he probably means it when he says you’re the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.
If he didn’t mean it, he’d settle for a compliment of lesser intensity, such as “You’re so pretty” or even “You’re beautiful”.
And no, this compliment doesn’t only apply to women who are objectively gorgeous.
You can absolutely be the most beautiful woman someone’s ever seen – not because you look like a model but because sexual attraction is extremely subjective.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
