--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he fell down the stairs, he told…" description: "\"“When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a stroke. He was just pissed out of his skull. I love Dirk, he is such a drama queen.”\" — Ava Ga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/ava-gardner-8168_affection_when-he-fell-down-the-stairs-he-told-peo_688379.jpg" --- # When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a… ![“When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a stroke. He was just pissed out of his skull. I love Dirk, he is such a drama queen.” quote by Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/ava-gardner-8168_affection_when-he-fell-down-the-stairs-he-told-peo_688379.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/ava-gardner-8168_affection_when-he-fell-down-the-stairs-he-told-peo_688379.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/ava-gardner-8168_affection_when-he-fell-down-the-stairs-he-told-peo_688379.jpg) > ““When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a stroke. He was just pissed out of his skull. I love Dirk, he is such a drama queen.”” [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pretended a minor injury was a serious medical event to avoid embarrassment, showing how people exaggerate personal setbacks. **In simple terms:** He exaggerated a fall as a stroke to save face. Key Takeaway Avoid blowing minor mishaps out of proportion. Themes humor self‑deception image Mood embarrassed lighthearted Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - daily mishaps - workplace errors - public speaking blunders Key Concepts psychology social coping Questions to Reflect On - When have you inflated a small mistake? - What are healthier ways to handle embarrassment? A Different Perspective Exaggeration can damage credibility if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Ava-gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ava-gardner/) [Drama queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-queen/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a huge Dallas Mavs fan. What I love about Dirk Nowitzki is he has just as much talent as everyone else, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-wasson/i-m-a-huge-dallas-mavs-fan-what-i-love-about-dirk-nowitzki-is-he-has/) [Erin Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-wasson/) > [I love being around Dirk. Off the court, he is hilarious. Like, one of the funniest dudes I've ever been around and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-love-being-around-dirk-off-the-court-he-is-hilarious-like-one-of/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [“I'm here to tell you, there ain't much forgiveness in that old-time religion. That particular savior was a mean son of a bitch. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-m-here-to-tell-you-there-ain-t-much-forgiveness-in-that-old-time/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Go fuck yourself," I replied, always the lady. "I'm staying here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/go-fuck-yourself-i-replied-always-the-lady-i-m-staying-here/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“And I won 'em back fair and square. So what are you going to do about it? Want to fight? Who wants the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/and-i-won-em-back-fair-and-square-so-what-are-you-going-to-do-about/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“He always called me Daughter. It was to distinguish me from his sister Ava. I loved being called Daughter. It sounded so possessive, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/he-always-called-me-daughter-it-was-to-distinguish-me-from-his-sister/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Hell, I suppose if you stick around long enough they have to say something nice about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/hell-i-suppose-if-you-stick-around-long-enough-they-have-to-say/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“I caught his drift, but I wasn't going to argue for a single second. Just get me to the Hampshire House, that's all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-caught-his-drift-but-i-wasn-t-going-to-argue-for-a-single-second/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“In one scene, when I was supposed to say, "In a pig's eye you are," what came out was, "In a pig's ass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/in-one-scene-when-i-was-supposed-to-say-in-a-pig-s-eye-you-are-what/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Great idea," I said. "Call the police. Call the fucking police.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/great-idea-i-said-call-the-police-call-the-fucking-police/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Then, aided by the booze, like a fool I tossed off one of those throwaway lines that would have been better thrown away. "Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/then-aided-by-the-booze-like-a-fool-i-tossed-off-one-of-those/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I just Fell Down the Stairs Holding a Guitar and Accidentally Wrote a One Direction Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-just-fell-down-the-stairs-holding-a-guitar-and-accidentally-wrote-a/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I fell down the stairs of the one level mental institute.so they put me in the safe cusion room but they found a bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-mcswain/i-fell-down-the-stairs-of-the-one-level-mental-institute-so-they-put/) Trinity McSwain > [“His book For Whom the Bell Tolls was an instant success in the summer of 1940, and afforded him the means to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/his-book-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-was-an-instant-success-in-the-summer/) [Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/) > [“In the picture, Ava Gardner's tousled black hair obscured her right eye, and her full, closed lips were pulled slightly to the right, resulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gifford/in-the-picture-ava-gardner-s-tousled-black-hair-obscured-her-right/) [Barry Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gifford/) ## More by Ava Gardner > [It's a shame that it didn't work out with Mick. I was hopelessly in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/it-s-a-shame-that-it-didn-t-work-out-with-mick-i-was-hopelessly-in/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Then, aided by the booze, like a fool I tossed off one of those throwaway lines that would have been better thrown away. "Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/then-aided-by-the-booze-like-a-fool-i-tossed-off-one-of-those/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Great idea," I said. "Call the police. Call the fucking police.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/great-idea-i-said-call-the-police-call-the-fucking-police/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I was born with good health and a strong body and spent years abusing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-was-born-with-good-health-and-a-strong-body-and-spent-years-abusing/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Elizabeth Taylor is not beautiful, she is pretty—I was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/elizabeth-taylor-is-not-beautiful-she-is-pretty-i-was-beautiful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I either write the book or sell the jewels. And I'm kinda sentimental about the jewels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-either-write-the-book-or-sell-the-jewels-and-i-m-kinda-sentimental/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Mickey - the smallest husband I ever had and the biggest mistake I ever made - well, that year, it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/mickey-the-smallest-husband-i-ever-had-and-the-biggest-mistake-i-ever/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in others. But I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/god-knows-i-ve-got-so-many-frailties-myself-i-ought-to-be-able-to/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Our phone bills were astronomical, and when I found the letters Frank wrote me the other day, the total could fill a suitcase. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/our-phone-bills-were-astronomical-and-when-i-found-the-letters-frank/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Maybe, in the final analysis, they saw me as something I wasn't and I tried to turn them into something they could never be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/maybe-in-the-final-analysis-they-saw-me-as-something-i-wasn-t-and-i/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled: “She can't talk! She can't act! She's sensational!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/after-my-screen-test-the-director-clapped-his-hands-gleefully-and/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Don't think for a minute that bad publicity and endless criticism don't leave their claw marks on everyone concerned. Your friends try to cheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/don-t-think-for-a-minute-that-bad-publicity-and-endless-criticism-don/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-m-not-saying-my-own-looks-don-t-give-the-game-away-nothing-i-can-do/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-do-owe-mickey-one-thing-he-taught-me-how-much-i-enjoyed-sex/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“In one scene, when I was supposed to say, "In a pig's eye you are," what came out was, "In a pig's ass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/in-one-scene-when-i-was-supposed-to-say-in-a-pig-s-eye-you-are-what/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) [Explore all 83 Ava Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a stroke. 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