---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Neighbors would pass, and when they…"
description: "\"Neighbors would pass, and when they honked I'd remember that I was in my Speedo. Then I'd wrap my towel like a skirt around my waist and remind my sist..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/david-sedaris-333_egyptian_neighbors-would-pass-and-when-they-honke_3137022.png"
---

#  Neighbors would pass, and when they honked I'd remember…

![“Neighbors would pass, and when they honked I'd remember that I was in my Speedo. Then I'd wrap my towel like a skirt around my waist and remind my sisters that this was not girlish but Egyptian, thank you very much.” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/david-sedaris-333_egyptian_neighbors-would-pass-and-when-they-honke_3137022.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/david-sedaris-333_egyptian_neighbors-would-pass-and-when-they-honke_3137022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/david-sedaris-333_egyptian_neighbors-would-pass-and-when-they-honke_3137022.png)

> “Neighbors would pass, and when they honked I'd remember that I was in my Speedo. Then I'd wrap my towel like a skirt around my waist and remind my sisters that this was not girlish but Egyptian, thank you very much.”

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Embarrassment can be transformed into humor, using cultural references to reframe awkward moments.

**In simple terms:** Turn awkwardness into funny stories with cultural twists.

Key Takeaway

Use humor to defuse embarrassment.

Themes

humor culture self‑deprecation

Mood

lighthearted playful

Type

anecdotal humorous

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- family gatherings
- travel mishaps
- personal storytelling

Key Concepts

comedy social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor change your perception of embarrassment?
- What cultural references help you reframe awkwardness?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper insecurities if overused.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Egyptian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egyptian/) [Honked Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honked-remember-5572718/) [My sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-sister/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Speedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-speedo-5572717/) [Skirts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skirts/) [Speedo Wrap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speedo-wrap-5572719/) [Speedos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speedos/) [Towel Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towel-like-5572721/) [Towels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towels/) [Waist Remind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waist-remind-5572720/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm definitely not comfortable in a Speedo! That's as uncomfortable as it gets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rodriguez/i-m-definitely-not-comfortable-in-a-speedo-that-s-as-uncomfortable-as/)

[Adam Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rodriguez/)

> [We went sailing one time, and he wore a Speedo, and any smart woman should know that means bisexual at least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-went-sailing-one-time-and-he-wore-a-speedo-and-any-smart-woman/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [See you this Sunday in Miami Kane, I wonder how Paul will look in a speedo..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/see-you-this-sunday-in-miami-kane-i-wonder-how-paul-will-look-in-a/)

[Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/)

> [Sometimes when I'm swimming, I think that maybe someday I'll put my red Speedo up for auction. Or maybe I'll donate it to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/sometimes-when-i-m-swimming-i-think-that-maybe-someday-i-ll-put-my/)

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> [I've been in a Speedo half my life. So I am really comfortable with my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-shanteau/i-ve-been-in-a-speedo-half-my-life-so-i-am-really-comfortable-with-my/)

[Eric Shanteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-shanteau/)

> [I stay away from Speedos. That would cause me absolutely unnecessary publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-stay-away-from-speedos-that-would-cause-me-absolutely-unnecessary/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I might wear my pink Speedo. I think I should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-might-wear-my-pink-speedo-i-think-i-should/)

[Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/)

> [A dozen swimming events have already been completed in the Olympic competition. I wonder where they got the name 'Speedo.' It doesn't sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/a-dozen-swimming-events-have-already-been-completed-in-the-olympic/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [On the correctly formed pubescent girl, a Speedo looked wonderful. When it was wet, it was an incitement to riot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/on-the-correctly-formed-pubescent-girl-a-speedo-looked-wonderful-when/)

[Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/)

> [I'm big into fashion, so after swimming, when I hang up the Speedo, I definitely want to get into fashion and start designing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-m-big-into-fashion-so-after-swimming-when-i-hang-up-the-speedo-i/)

[Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/)

> [I have to wear six pairs of speedos when I run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/i-have-to-wear-six-pairs-of-speedos-when-i-run/)

[Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/)

> [This is the worst thing to happen to beaches since the Speedo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/this-is-the-worst-thing-to-happen-to-beaches-since-the-speedo/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [Bes had indeed put on his ugly outfit. He climbed onto the roof of the limbo and stood there, legs planted, arms akimbo, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/bes-had-indeed-put-on-his-ugly-outfit-he-climbed-onto-the-roof-of-the/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I don't get all this Speedo stuff actually, I mean, whatever happened to the feather boa?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-don-t-get-all-this-speedo-stuff-actually-i-mean-whatever-happened/)

[Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/)

> [I always wanted to entertain. When I was six, a scrawny, scrawny kid, Id get in my red speedo and do muscle moves. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-always-wanted-to-entertain-when-i-was-six-a-scrawny-scrawny-kid-id/)

[Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/)

## More by David Sedaris

> [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/)

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> [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/)

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> [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. The microwave, the water kettle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/a-japanese-woman-we-d-met-in-paris-came-to-the-apartment-yesterday/)

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> [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/)

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> [“You have how many children in your family?" the teacher would ask. "I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

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[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

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## More Egyptian quotes

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> [The Egyptian society needs to include its women if it wants to have economic prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/the-egyptian-society-needs-to-include-its-women-if-it-wants-to-have/)

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[Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/)

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[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [Girls have always wanted to be pretty, even in Egyptian times. Cleopatra wore all that eyeliner, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/girls-have-always-wanted-to-be-pretty-even-in-egyptian-times/)

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