You're a pretty girl. No offence.

[tree123]

source: British TV drama: House of Cards

Mattie stormed to a bar table where a customer was drinking. When the man turned around, he accidently poured his drink to Mattie.

Mattie: oh, God! That's all I need.

Man: I'm so sorry...

Later they stroke up a conversation. The man said 'you're a pretty girl'. It seems to me that he was realizing he was dropping a clanger, he added 'No offence. I got a daughter at your age'...

---

Why did he say 'No offence' after 'you're a pretty girl'?

Is it inappropriate to praise a woman in front of her?

---

 

[GoesStation]

It's a very delicate matter, as Urquhart demonstrates, especially when there's such a big age difference. I doubt he said "I got". He spoke very careful English and would not have omitted the auxiliary verb.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

source: British TV drama: House of Cards

Mattie stormed to a bar table where a customer was drinking. When the man turned around, he accidently poured his drink to Mattie.

Mattie:oh, God! That's all I need.

Man: I'm so sorry...

Later they strike up a conversation. The man said 'you're a pretty girl'. It seems to me that he was realizing he was dropping a clanger, because he added 'No offence. I got a daughter at your age'...

---

Why did he say 'No offence' after 'you're a pretty girl'?

He didn't want her to think he was flirting/hitting on her/making a pass at her/coming on to her.

Is it inappropriate to praise a woman in front of her?

Commenting on a stranger's or coworker's looks is usually a bad idea.

It's also inappropriate to call a young woman who's a stranger or coworker a girl.

Note:

Check the definitions of strike up and stroke.

 

[GoesStation]

It's also inappropriate to call a young woman who's a stranger or coworker a girl.

It is now. The British version of House of Cards was made thirty years ago when I believe it was still pretty typical practice in Britain.

 

[tree123]

It's also inappropriate to call a young woman who's a stranger or coworker a girl.

Note:

Check the definitions of strike up and stroke.

Is it appropriate to comment on, especially positively, stars or the Royal members' looks and their attires in the media?

In the Daily Mail, I used to read some reports that journals wrote some stars look stunning in some dress, something like this.

 

[GoesStation]

Is it appropriate to comment on, especially positively, stars or the Royal members' looks and their [STRIKE]attires[/STRIKE] attire in the media?

In the Daily Mail, I used to read some reports that journals wrote some stars look stunning in some dress, something like this.

As you've noticed, it's very common for newspapers and magazines to comment on celebrities' appearance. Whether it's appropriate or not is a matter of opinion.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't use the British tabloid press as indicators of what's appropriate and what's not in real life.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It is now. The British version of House of Cards was made thirty years ago when I believe it was still pretty typical practice in Britain.

Oh! I thought it was a new show. Now I know.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Is it appropriate to comment on, especially positively, stars or the Royal members' looks and their attires in the media?

In the Daily Mail, I used to read some reports that journals wrote some stars look stunning in some dress, something like this.

That's fine. It has nothing to do with you or me.

Do you write for a magazine? If you do, just follow your magazine's standards.

 

[tree123]

That's fine. It has nothing to do with you or me.

Do you write for a magazine? If you do, just follow your magazine's standards.

No, I don't. I don't think my English can reach the benchmark of being a writer for an English magazine.

The reason I asked this question is it is one of my ways to learn English, the life and culture etc. via reading reports from English media outlets.

 

[tedmc]

No, I don't. I don't think my English can reach the benchmark of being a writer for an English magazine.

The reason I asked this question is it is one of [STRIKE]my[/STRIKE] the ways [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] I learn English, the life and culture of the people etc. [STRIKE]via[/STRIKE] by/through reading reports from English media outlets.

.

We don't use the preposition via that way. It is used with a place, a person or a medium.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

.

We don't use the preposition via that way. It is used with a place, a person or a medium.

I like your "by/through," although I do hear via used that way sometimes.

I don't like "via reading reports" as much as I like "via reports."