What does half decent mean?

[LaurenM1997]

On Thursday night I got called half decent by someone and I don’t know what it means does it mean I look good or look bad? Just wondering that’s all

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Depends. It can mean they only want to acknowledge you up to being half decent. An example might be you look great but an excessive compliment might come across as flirting so saying it with a touch of sarcasm can work.

It can mean you look less than half decent and they're trying to be honest without embarrassing someone.

It can also mean just half decent. Perhaps they know you can do better or they want you to hold their opinion in higher regard. So they try not to exaggerate. It might simply be enough to say this to mean: you have excelled nominally past acceptable boundaries, enough so that it is noteworthy.

[MysticDevice]

It sounds like kind of a backhanded complement. Either better than they initially expected or not as good as could be but still good.


I'm sure he/she meant no offense by it cause they probably didn't know what else to say at that exact moment.

[SweetDripp]

When someone uses the term half decent, they generally mean it in a positive way meaning they enjoy or look favorably upon something.

[Anonymous]

decent = good enough, passable, suitable...
but you're just half of it in his perception

[LaurenM1997]

Ah yeah 😕

[RebelinSteel]

Do you really want to know, this does change between people.

Happy to say my view on the use.

[LaurenM1997]

It probably means less attractive which I probably am

[RebelinSteel]

Nope means something specific tbh.

[LaurenM1997]

Oh right oh dear

[RebelinSteel]

Okay, the way we have used it is. Sitting in a pub and you see some girls, you divvy up the girls between you n your mates. Someone gets the prettier ones, someone the ‘she’s half decent, and someone gets the left overs.
That’s the nice version
The other version is a girl that you would likely not have sex with sober but if she’s still there last orders or 2am in a club you would make a crack at it.
It also gets applied if a guy normally sees you not dressed up n make up etc, then sees you on a night out.

[LaurenM1997]

Oh 😞

[BlissfullyCurSed]

It literally means I'd do you if there were no options available. Stay away from that person. They sounded pretty toxic to me.☣☣☣

[Still-alive]

Lol yup. He sounds like a narcissist jerk

[Jennz6]

Think about the glass of water 💦, is it half full or half empty?

[LaurenM1997]

Oh I get you now 😕

[Jennz6]

You either an optimist or a pessimist

[Wiredone]

Basically, in simple terms, they are saying that you are a 5 out of 10

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't call it a compliment. No offense. It just means if they can't find someone hotter they'll come back and hit on you

[BarryLiverstone]

They are trying not to hurt your feelings

[LaurenM1997]

Ok thanks

[BarryLiverstone]

You are welcome

[bowenw]

To me it means good.

[elaphe]

Half good and half bad, I guess.

[LaurenM1997]

Oh dear

[BLP11520]

It’s a half hearted compliment