Some compliments stand the test of time, while others are discarded in favor of more modern alternatives. Perhaps the compliments you witnessed your parents or grandparents giving one another when you were young aren’t the compliments you and your partner use now, but you wish they were. Here are 15 old-time compliments we wish would come back.
1. “You’re as cute as a bug’s ear.”
While you might not typically look at a bug and think that it’s cute, much less its ear, surprisingly, this was a popular compliment to pay your significant other back in the day. It was used to call someone adorable, and its innocent connotations should be brought back and used today.
2. “Your goodness has forced me into silence.”
The idea of forcing someone to do something is often associated with controlling relationships, but this old-time compliment means something completely different. When you say this to someone you care about, you’re communicating that they’re so noble and honorable that they’ve left you speechless. You love everything about them and struggle to find the words to express this.
3. “You’re bricky.”
If you think about this phrase in a modern setting, it sounds like you’re telling someone they’re difficult, stubborn, stiff, and unwilling to be flexible. However, the meaning is the opposite if you’re using it in an old-time setting. Because bricks are historically known for being one of the strongest materials to build, calling someone “bricky” shows them that you think they’re strong and resilient.
4. “You are the rising sun, which I adore.”
Everyone loves a sunrise, which is why this old-time quote uses the beauty of a tranquil sunrise to compliment a loved one. Perhaps you could say this to your significant other when you’re on an early morning stroll together along the beach—bonus points if there’s a rising sun in the background!
5. “They are straight-fingered.”
While this might make you think that you’re complimenting the straightness of someone’s fingers, it has another meaning altogether. In the 16th century, people used this compliment to tell someone they appreciated their honesty. It’s similar to the quote, “You’re straight as an arrow.”
6. “You have the power to sway me as you please.”
Again, this old-time compliment is not intended to imply control but rather adoration and passion. It’s another, more colorful way to tell someone that you’re willing to do anything for them and that they mean so much to you.
7. “You are the prime article.”
This phrase might immediately bring to mind a busy printing press or a newspaper, but it holds a different meaning. Calling someone the “prime article” means telling the person you love that they’re the most beautiful person in the room and you only have eyes for them.
8. “Your virtues give a commanding power to every mortal.”
This is another old-time compliment that implies someone is incredibly beautiful. In fact, if you used this to compliment your significant other, you would be telling them that they’re so beautiful they stand out in a crowd. This is a bold statement and indicative of some pretty powerful feelings.
9. “The grace of eloquence is seated on your lips.”
Sometimes, you want to veer away from superficial compliments that focus entirely on the physical appearance of your significant other. Instead, you want to tell them how smart you think they are or how much you admire their character. One way to do this is through this old-time quote. Telling your partner that the “grace of eloquence” is “seated” on their “lips” implies that you think they’re intelligent and articulate.
10. “What a cowfyne you are.”
Nobody likes the thought of being compared to a cow, which is why you’ll be relieved to hear that this compliment has nothing to do with pasture animals. In fact, back in the day, the word “cowfyne” meant “sweetheart,” so this compliment is intended to let your partner know that you think they’re amazing and sweet.
11. “You fly beyond fate’s control.”
Another way to compliment someone beyond their physical appearance is to laude their achievements and shine a light on their success. To “fly beyond fate’s control” means that your partner has achieved their dreams in life despite coming up against obstacles and going through seasons of hardship.
12. “I’m chucked of all a heap.”
You might be led to believe that this compliment is just a way to tell someone you’re overwhelmed or exasperated about something. However, it has a different meaning altogether. It really means that you like someone so much they’re driving you to distraction. In other words, you find them fascinating and can’t stop thinking about them.
13. “You’re a pippin.”
It’s understandable for you to think that when you pay your partner this old-time compliment, you’re calling them a mythical creature, the kind you might find in Lord of the Rings. However, what you mean when you say this to someone is that you find them incredibly unique, and you have a lot of admiration for them.
14. “You’re a bearcat.”
Again, you’d be forgiven for thinking that when you call someone a bearcat, you’re saying they fall within the mythical beast category. However, this old-time compliment described when someone was outgoing, confident, and extroverted. If your partner is the life of the party and attracts everyone in the room to them, you have good reason to call them a bearcat.
15. “You’re a buck.”
Men are often referred to as “young bucks,” even though this phrase has faded over the years, a similar phrase should be brought back. When you call someone a “buck, ” you’re complimenting them on how they dress and letting them know you think their sense of style is smart and professional.
