Compliments can be crass too

In times like these, when terms of endearment, physical forms of greeting and compliments are thrown around lightly even among strangers, there is a thin line between “casual” and “crass”, say etiquette experts who feel men often get the art of complimenting “terribly” wrong.

Taking certain liberties with a woman can put you in embarrassing terrains, says Dr Prakriti Poddar from Mind Over Image Consulting. “You may mean to make the lady in question feel good. But if you go overboard, you can land in a soup. Pick a light compliment that is genuine. There may be a thin line between ‘You look great today’ or ‘That outfit fits you so perfectly’, but the latter borders on risqué. Never give out compliments that are too specific like the ‘neckline looks fabulous’, which is plain obnoxious and blatant,” she adds.

There’s one cardinal rule that can never be broken — a hug or a handshake cannot be initiated by a man. “No bodily contact can be established unless the lady initiates it herself. A man will be considered nothing less than a sleaze ball if he breaks this rule,” says Dr Poddar.

With very less awareness about the rules that govern physical contact and methods of greeting, many people get their social niceties wrong. Pria Warrick, a grooming expert says, “You cannot address any woman as ‘darling’ or ‘baby’, no matter how many people around you are doing it. It won’t flatter her, it will only come across as offensive. Instead be respectful.”