receive a compliment

Meaning

This phrase means to be given praise, admiration, or approval by someone else. It refers to the act of accepting kind words about your appearance, work, or character, and often focuses on how a person reacts to the praise.

Examples

• She always gets flustered when she receives a compliment about her artwork.

  She always gets flustered when she receives a compliment about her artwork.

• It's important to learn how to receive a compliment gracefully instead of dismissing it.

  It's important to learn how to receive a compliment gracefully instead of dismissing it.

• He received a nice compliment from his manager during the annual performance review.

  He received a nice compliment from his manager during the annual performance review.

• I received a compliment on my jacket from a complete stranger on the subway today.

  I received a compliment on my jacket from a complete stranger on the subway today.

• Some people find it difficult to receive a compliment without feeling incredibly awkward.

  Some people find it difficult to receive a compliment without feeling incredibly awkward.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I received a complement from my teacher.

  ✓ I received a compliment from my teacher.

  Complement with an 'e' means to complete or go well with something (e.g., 'the wine complements the cheese'). Compliment with an 'i' is the praise.

• ✗ She accepted a compliment for her beautiful dress.

  ✓ She received a compliment on her beautiful dress.

  We usually use the preposition 'on' (not 'for') when specifying what the compliment was about.

Related Expressions

Practice

• She smiled warmly when she ___ from her coworker.

  💡 Got a nice piece of praise.

  Show answer

  received a compliment

• It is polite to say thank you when you ___.

  💡 Someone praises you.

  Show answer

  receive a compliment