Graham is English. The English have a wonderful talent for making backhanded “complements.” E.g. “you’re a truly unique individual” or “I always feel more intelligent after speaking with you.”
The American convention is to look for the positive and assume that was intended. The English convention is to look for the negative and assume that was the real meaning.
E.g. “Sam is going better than you. Do better.” Could mean “Even that incompetent dipshit Sam is going to do better than you can, that’s how much of a hole you’re in.”
One example, sorry for the bad translation from Bavarian, would be: "You can see it that way (as well)". Which can basically mean, a) you might actually have a point or b) you are dead wrong.
Yeah that one's funny, it's either "that's a legitimate point of view" or "amazing that somebody can manage to hold such a ridiculous point of view", depending on tone.
Hehe, ok :) I get it though, I'll be on the lookout for practical uses. It's all in the tone.
Samuel and Moshe end up in front of a judge because they keep fighting. The judge has had enough of it and says to Samuel to apologize for calling Moshe an asshole. He says "Moshe, I'm sorry, you're an asshole".
The American convention is to look for the positive and assume that was intended. The English convention is to look for the negative and assume that was the real meaning.
E.g. “Sam is going better than you. Do better.” Could mean “Even that incompetent dipshit Sam is going to do better than you can, that’s how much of a hole you’re in.”