In 15 Seconds
- Gracefully receive praise and positive attention.
- It's about confidence, not arrogance.
- Use when you've achieved something notable.
- Let compliments land instead of deflecting.
Meaning
This phrase is about letting people admire you and enjoying it. It's not about being arrogant, but about gracefully receiving compliments or positive attention when someone is impressed by your skills or actions. Think of it as soaking in the good vibes when you've done something awesome!
Key Examples
3 of 12Texting a friend after winning a small local baking contest
J'ai gagné le concours de pâtisserie ! Je dois dire que j'aime bien accepter l' admiration des juges.
I won the baking contest! I must say I quite like accepting the judges' admiration.
Instagram caption for a photo of a completed art project
Enfin terminé ! Un peu d'art pour égayer votre fil d'actualité. J'accepte volontiers l' admiration pour ce projet.
Finally finished! A bit of art to brighten your feed. I gladly accept admiration for this project.
Receiving a compliment on a new hairstyle at a party
Oh, merci beaucoup ! C'est gentil de remarquer. J'aime bien accepter l' admiration quand on me dit que je suis bien coiffée.
Oh, thank you very much! That's kind of you to notice. I quite like accepting admiration when someone tells me my hair looks good.
Cultural Background
In France, accepting admiration is often done with a 'petit sourire' (small smile) and a modest 'merci'. Over-the-top reactions are generally avoided to maintain 'la classe'. Quebecers are often more expressive and direct with praise. Accepting admiration might involve a more enthusiastic 'Ah, c'est fin !' (That's nice!). In many West African Francophone cultures, admiration is often redirected towards God or the family to avoid 'le mauvais œil' (the evil eye). Belgians often use self-deprecating humor when receiving praise. They might accept the admiration but immediately follow it with a joke to stay grounded.
The 'Merci' Rule
If you don't know what to say after accepting admiration, just say 'Merci, c'est gentil'. It works every time.
Don't over-explain
When you accept admiration, don't start listing all your mistakes. It makes the other person feel like their compliment was wrong.
In 15 Seconds
- Gracefully receive praise and positive attention.
- It's about confidence, not arrogance.
- Use when you've achieved something notable.
- Let compliments land instead of deflecting.
What It Means
This phrase means to allow yourself to be admired by others. It's about not shying away when people praise you. You've earned that positive attention! It suggests a comfortable acceptance of compliments. It's the opposite of false modesty. You're not pushing away praise; you're letting it land. It's a subtle nod to self-worth. You recognize your own achievements.
How To Use It
Use accepter l' admiration when someone compliments you. They might praise your work, your talent, or your outfit. Instead of saying "Oh, it's nothing," you can simply smile. You might say, "Merci, c'est gentil" (Thanks, that's kind). This shows you're okay with their positive opinion. It's a gentle way to acknowledge their praise. It fits when you've achieved something notable. Maybe you won a competition or finished a big project.
Real-Life Examples
Imagine you baked an amazing cake. Your friend says, "Wow, this is incredible!" You can accepter l' admiration by saying, "Merci! Je suis contente qu'elle te plaise" (Thanks! I'm glad you like it). Or perhaps you gave a fantastic presentation at work. Your boss might say, "Excellent job!" You then accepter l' admiration by thanking them. It's about receiving that positive feedback. You don't need to deflect.
When To Use It
Use this when you've genuinely done something worthy of praise. It's good for moments of success. Think about a performance, a skill demonstration, or a creative output. It's perfect after winning an award. It also works for compliments on your appearance. If someone says you look great, you can accepter l' admiration. It's for when you feel proud of yourself. And you want to acknowledge others' recognition.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use accepter l' admiration if the praise feels insincere. If someone is being sarcastic, accept it with caution. Avoid it if you feel uncomfortable with the attention. It's not for situations where you believe you failed. If you made a mistake, don't pretend you deserve praise. It's also not for situations of genuine humility. If you're truly just lucky, maybe just say "thank you". Don't use it if you want to be extremely modest.
Common Mistakes
prendre l' admiration
✓accepter l' admiration
Prendre means to take, which sounds a bit forceful. You're not grabbing the admiration; you're receiving it. It's like taking a gift versus accepting it gracefully.
recevoir l' admiration
✓accepter l' admiration
While recevoir (to receive) is close, accepter implies a willingness. You're not just passively getting it; you're actively allowing it. It's a subtle but important difference in vibe.
Similar Expressions
Savoir recevoir un compliment: This means knowing how to accept a compliment. It's very close in meaning. It focuses more on the skill of responding well.Être flatté(e): This means to be flattered. It's a feeling you have when someone admires you. It's the emotional response.Se sentir fier/fière (de quelque chose): This means to feel proud (of something). It's your internal feeling about your accomplishment.
Common Variations
Accepter les compliments: This is a more general version. It means to accept compliments in general.L' admirationis a bit stronger, implying deeper appreciation.Bien accepter les louanges:Louangesmeans praise. This is quite similar, focusing on verbal praise.Se laisser admirer: This means to let oneself be admired. It's very close and emphasizes allowing the admiration to happen.
Memory Trick
Imagine a statue. People are looking at it, admiring its beauty. The statue doesn't run away; it just stands there, accepting the admiration. Accepter (accept) and admiration (admiration) sound very similar to their English counterparts. Just picture that calm statue soaking it all in!
Quick FAQ
- What's the difference between
accepterandrecevoir?
Recevoir is just getting something. Accepter means you agree to take it. So you recevez a gift, but you acceptez the offer.
- Is it arrogant to
accepter l' admiration?
Not at all! True acceptation is graceful. It shows confidence, not ego. Arrogance is bragging; this is just being comfortable with praise.
- Can I use it for social media likes?
Yes, you can! If you post something great and get many likes, you can accepter l' admiration. It's like enjoying the positive feedback online. Just don't sound too smug!
Usage Notes
This phrase sits comfortably at a neutral formality level. It's generally safe for most everyday conversations. Avoid using it if the admiration feels forced, sarcastic, or if you genuinely believe you haven't earned it, as that could lead to awkwardness.
The 'Merci' Rule
If you don't know what to say after accepting admiration, just say 'Merci, c'est gentil'. It works every time.
Don't over-explain
When you accept admiration, don't start listing all your mistakes. It makes the other person feel like their compliment was wrong.
Body Language
Accepter l'admiration is 50% words and 50% eye contact. Look the person in the eye and smile.
Examples
12J'ai gagné le concours de pâtisserie ! Je dois dire que j'aime bien accepter l' admiration des juges.
I won the baking contest! I must say I quite like accepting the judges' admiration.
Here, the speaker is happy to receive the positive recognition for their baking skills.
Enfin terminé ! Un peu d'art pour égayer votre fil d'actualité. J'accepte volontiers l' admiration pour ce projet.
Finally finished! A bit of art to brighten your feed. I gladly accept admiration for this project.
Oh, merci beaucoup ! C'est gentil de remarquer. J'aime bien accepter l' admiration quand on me dit que je suis bien coiffée.
Oh, thank you very much! That's kind of you to notice. I quite like accepting admiration when someone tells me my hair looks good.
Je vous remercie pour l'opportunité de présenter le projet. Je suis heureux d'avoir pu accepter l' admiration pour mon analyse.
Thank you for the opportunity to present the project. I am pleased to have been able to accept admiration for my analysis.
In a professional context, this shows confidence in one's work and ability to receive positive feedback.
Après le concert, le public applaudissait. C'était un moment où je pouvais vraiment accepter l' admiration.
After the concert, the audience was applauding. It was a moment where I could truly accept admiration.
This highlights a significant moment of public recognition and appreciation.
Ton plat est incroyable ! Il faut savoir accepter l' admiration, même si tu as un peu trop mis de sel.
Your dish is incredible! You have to know how to accept admiration, even if you put a bit too much salt.
A lighthearted jab, acknowledging the success while teasing about a minor flaw.
✗ J'ai beaucoup aimé prendre l' admiration pour ma photo. → ✓ J'ai beaucoup aimé accepter l' admiration pour ma photo.
✗ I really liked taking the admiration for my photo. → ✓ I really liked accepting the admiration for my photo.
`Prendre` sounds too active, like snatching it. `Accepter` is about gracious reception.
✗ Il est facile de gagner l' admiration quand on est bon. → ✓ Il est facile d'accepter l' admiration quand on est bon.
✗ It's easy to win admiration when you're good. → ✓ It's easy to accept admiration when you're good.
`Gagner l' admiration` means to earn it over time. `Accepter` is for the moment of receiving it.
Quand les clients complimentent nos plats, nous savons que nous pouvons accepter l' admiration. C'est le signe que notre travail paie.
When customers compliment our dishes, we know we can accept admiration. It's a sign that our work pays off.
This applies the phrase to a business context, linking it to job satisfaction and validation.
J'ai reçu la meilleure note de la classe ! Je suis contente d'accepter l' admiration de mes camarades et du professeur.
I got the best grade in the class! I'm happy to accept the admiration of my classmates and the teacher.
Merci pour vos retours positifs sur mon dernier article ! J'apprécie vraiment de pouvoir accepter l' admiration de mes lecteurs.
Thank you for your positive feedback on my latest article! I really appreciate being able to accept admiration from my readers.
Wow, ce voyage était incroyable et vos commentaires le sont aussi ! J'adore accepter l' admiration pour ces moments.
Wow, this trip was incredible and your comments are too! I love accepting admiration for these moments.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to complete the sentence.
Après son concert, la pianiste a ______ l'admiration du public.
The past participle 'accepté' is used with the auxiliary 'avoir'. It does not agree with the subject 'la pianiste'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to tell a friend to take a compliment?
Ton ami te dit que tu es génial. Que devrais-tu faire ?
'Accepter l'admiration' is the correct collocation with the proper article.
Match the French phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are common verb-noun pairings with 'admiration'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
A: 'Tu as fait un travail incroyable !' B: 'Merci, c'est gentil de ta part d'______.'
In this context, B is thanking A for *expressing* the admiration. This tests the understanding of the direction of the action.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAprès son concert, la pianiste a ______ l'admiration du public.
The past participle 'accepté' is used with the auxiliary 'avoir'. It does not agree with the subject 'la pianiste'.
Ton ami te dit que tu es génial. Que devrais-tu faire ?
'Accepter l'admiration' is the correct collocation with the proper article.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common verb-noun pairings with 'admiration'.
A: 'Tu as fait un travail incroyable !' B: 'Merci, c'est gentil de ta part d'______.'
In this context, B is thanking A for *expressing* the admiration. This tests the understanding of the direction of the action.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIt is neutral to formal. You can use it in a book or a professional meeting, but also with friends when discussing deep topics.
Yes! 'Accepter un compliment' is more common for specific, small praises. 'Accepter l'admiration' is for a more general feeling of being admired.
Because 'admiration' is a feminine noun that starts with a vowel. 'La' becomes 'l'' to make it easier to say.
If you say it out loud to someone, it might sound a bit funny or dramatic. It's usually used to *describe* the act rather than as a direct response.
Related Phrases
être sous le charme
similarto be charmed/enchanted
se pavaner
contrastto strut or show off
faire l'unanimité
builds onto be universally admired
recevoir un accueil triomphal
specialized formto receive a triumphant welcome
