8 phrases people use when they're secretly impressed but trying to act unimpressed

Ever noticed how some people just can't bring themselves to admit they're impressed?

You share an achievement you're proud of, show them something you've created, or tell them about an opportunity that's come your way, and instead of genuine enthusiasm, you get... something else. A lukewarm response that feels oddly defensive.

I've been there. When I left my six-figure financial analyst job to pursue writing, I got a lot of these responses. At first, I thought people genuinely weren't impressed. But over time, I started noticing patterns in what they said—and more importantly, how they said it.

Here are eight phrases that scream "I'm impressed but don't want to show it."

1. "That's interesting, I guess"

This one's a classic. The flat tone, the casual dismissal, the added "I guess" that tries so hard to sound indifferent.

But here's what's really happening: they're processing something that genuinely caught their attention. 

I remember showing a former colleague my first published article. Her response? "That's interesting, I guess." Three months later, she asked me for writing advice because she wanted to start her own blog.

The "I guess" is the giveaway. Nobody adds qualifiers to things they genuinely don't care about.

2. "Not bad for a beginner"

Oh, this backhanded compliment. It acknowledges skill while desperately clinging to superiority.

When people feel threatened by someone's abilities, they use phrases that technically acknowledge competence while protecting their own ego.

A friend once told me my trail running times were "not bad for someone who started in their thirties." Funny thing is, I was actually beating her personal records.

The "for a beginner" or "for someone who..." additions are ego protection, pure and simple.

3. "I've seen better"

Have they really, though? This dismissive phrase often masks genuine appreciation.

People who are secretly impressed often use dismissive language as a defense mechanism—saying "no" to openly acknowledging something impressive because it challenges their self-image.

When someone immediately jumps to "I've seen better," ask yourself: why did they feel the need to compare at all? Things we don't care about don't trigger comparisons.

4. "It's okay, I suppose"

Another qualifier that tries too hard.

Nobody says "I suppose" about things they're genuinely neutral about. You don't look at a random pen and say "It's okay, I suppose." You just... don't comment.

The "I suppose" is doing heavy lifting here. It's creating distance between the speaker and their actual feelings.

When I started getting traction with my writing after months of crickets, a former colleague said my growing readership was "okay, I suppose." She subscribed to my newsletter the next day.

5. "Some people might find that impressive"

Translation: "I find it impressive but I'm not 'some people.'"

This phrase is fascinating because it acknowledges the impressive nature of something while removing themselves from the equation. They're admitting it's objectively impressive but can't bear to include themselves in that assessment.

I once shared that I'd been maintaining my 5:30 AM writing routine for six months straight. The response? "Some people might find that impressive." The person who said it? Started asking me for productivity tips the following week.

6. "That's one way to do it"

This phrase pretends to be about methodology, but it's really about deflection.

When someone's genuinely unimpressed with how you've done something, they either offer constructive feedback or say nothing. "That's one way to do it" sits in this weird middle ground where they can't fault your results but won't praise your approach.

It's particularly common in professional settings. Show someone a creative solution that worked brilliantly, and if they're threatened by your innovation, out comes this phrase.

7. "If you're into that sort of thing"

The ultimate minimizer.

This phrase works overtime to diminish whatever impressed them by suggesting it's niche or weird.

Seven years ago, when I transitioned to veganism, I mentioned running my first marathon on a plant-based diet. The response from a fellow runner? "That's cool... if you're into that sort of thing."

The addition of "if you're into that sort of thing" is trying to reframe something universally impressive (marathon running) as something only certain people would value.

Final thoughts

Why do people do this? Usually, it's not malicious. It's human.

We all have moments where someone else's success triggers our insecurities. Where acknowledging how impressed we are feels like diminishing ourselves. I've caught myself doing it too.

But here's what I've learned: recognizing these phrases—whether we're hearing them or saying them—gives us power. When others use them, we can see past the words to the impact we're actually having. When we catch ourselves using them, we can pause and choose authenticity instead.

Because genuine appreciation, freely given, doesn't diminish us. It connects us. And isn't that better than hiding behind "I guess" and "I suppose"?