--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I met Ian McKellen queueing for returns…" description: "\"I met Ian McKellen queueing for returns and he said, 'Are you wearing your tights under your trousers?' and I said, 'How on earth did you guess that?' ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/gyles-brandreth-4172_earth_i-met-ian-mckellen-queueing-for-returns_2936847.png" --- # I met Ian McKellen queueing for returns and he said, 'Are… ![“I met Ian McKellen queueing for returns and he said, 'Are you wearing your tights under your trousers?' and I said, 'How on earth did you guess that?' and he said, 'Because I'm wearing mine.'” quote by Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/gyles-brandreth-4172_earth_i-met-ian-mckellen-queueing-for-returns_2936847.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/gyles-brandreth-4172_earth_i-met-ian-mckellen-queueing-for-returns_2936847.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/gyles-brandreth-4172_earth_i-met-ian-mckellen-queueing-for-returns_2936847.png) > “I met Ian McKellen queueing for returns and he said, 'Are you wearing your tights under your trousers?' and I said, 'How on earth did you guess that?' and he said, 'Because I'm wearing mine.'” [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A playful exchange reveals humor and mutual respect, highlighting how shared quirks can bridge strangers. **In simple terms:** A joke about tights creates a friendly bond. Key Takeaway Use humor to connect with others. Themes humor social interaction creativity confidence Mood lighthearted playful Type anecdotal conversational When to use this quote - networking events - ice‑breaker situations - team introductions Key Concepts communication social dynamics entertainment Questions to Reflect On - When is humor appropriate in professional settings? - How do you recover if a joke falls flat? A Different Perspective Humor may be misinterpreted or offend. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Mckellen Queueing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mckellen-queueing-4358125/) [Said Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-wearing-2172167/) [Tights Trousers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tights-trousers-4358126/) [Trousers Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trousers-said-597417/) [Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing/) [Wearing Tights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-tights-1789409/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [When I was eight, nine years of age, my mother bought me a pair of green trousers - corduroy green trousers. I didn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brunello-cucinelli/when-i-was-eight-nine-years-of-age-my-mother-bought-me-a-pair-of/) [Brunello Cucinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brunello-cucinelli/) > [I think people don't often realize how much goes into being a male dancer. It's athletic and it's hard. It's not just men wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-think-people-don-t-often-realize-how-much-goes-into-being-a-male/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) > [Sage," he said. "What are you wearing?" I sighed and stared down at the dress. "I know. It's red. Don't start. I'm tired of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sage-he-said-what-are-you-wearing-i-sighed-and-stared-down-at-the/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Augustus glanced away from the screen ever so briefly. “You look nice,” he said. I was wearing this just-past-the-knees dress I’d had forever. “Girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/augustus-glanced-away-from-the-screen-ever-so-briefly-you-look-nice/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Tofu wore special flame-proof pants – that was well known. “They call them fibbers’ trousers,” she said knowledgeably. “They’re more expensive, but they stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/tofu-wore-special-flame-proof-pants-that-was-well-known-they-call/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“You look nice,” he said. I was wearing this just-past-the-knees dress I’d had forever. “Girls think they’re only allowed to wear dresses on formal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-look-nice-he-said-i-was-wearing-this-just-past-the-knees-dress-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I can't promise I won't soil my trousers in here," he said. "You and me both." Pete extended his hand. Mr. Stovall gripped it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-s-phillips/i-can-t-promise-i-won-t-soil-my-trousers-in-here-he-said-you-and-me/) [Scott S. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-s-phillips/) > [YOU'RE just humming with sexual energy! Is it the fabric? Is it wearing tights?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-madeley/you-re-just-humming-with-sexual-energy-is-it-the-fabric-is-it-wearing/) [Richard Madeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-madeley/) > [It's all about human condition, ultimately. That's what you're looking at. You're also looking to have some fun, as well, because that also translates.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/it-s-all-about-human-condition-ultimately-that-s-what-you-re-looking/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Since Hollywood seems to be more interested in people wearing tights and using powers, there seems to be a fertile ground for movies about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-bahrani/since-hollywood-seems-to-be-more-interested-in-people-wearing-tights/) [Ramin Bahrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-bahrani/) > [“Have you seen what Gio’s wearing? Is it tights? Please tell me it’s tights.” “Should it weird me out that you want to ogle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/have-you-seen-what-gio-s-wearing-is-it-tights-please-tell-me-it-s/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [Since my childhood, I dreamed of wearing the Black and Yellow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-reus/since-my-childhood-i-dreamed-of-wearing-the-black-and-yellow/) [Marco Reus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-reus/) > [A helmet is the most important part of any jockey's kit because of the number of falls you take, so I wouldn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-mccoy/a-helmet-is-the-most-important-part-of-any-jockey-s-kit-because-of/) [Tony McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-mccoy/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [Wherever I go I'm always wearing my smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/wherever-i-go-i-m-always-wearing-my-smile/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) ## More by Gyles Brandreth > [Praise makes me humble, but when I am abused, I know that I have touched the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/praise-makes-me-humble-but-when-i-am-abused-i-know-that-i-have/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [I don't poo-pooh anyone's knighthood or other honors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/i-don-t-poo-pooh-anyone-s-knighthood-or-other-honors/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Princess Anne is like her father. From her, you'll never hear a complaint of any kind about her upbringing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/princess-anne-is-like-her-father-from-her-you-ll-never-hear-a/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [In the Members' Dining Room, the Conservatives eat at one end, the Labour Party at the other, while the Liberals wait at table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/in-the-members-dining-room-the-conservatives-eat-at-one-end-the/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Life has not turned out as I hoped it would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/life-has-not-turned-out-as-i-hoped-it-would/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [“Those who pay their bills on time are soon forgotten. It is only by not paying one's bills that one can hope to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/those-who-pay-their-bills-on-time-are-soon-forgotten-it-is-only-by/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [If you're the Queen you don't need to say anything and you don't get into trouble. If you're the Duke of Edinburgh you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/if-you-re-the-queen-you-don-t-need-to-say-anything-and-you-don-t-get/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [When it comes to personal communication, words are all we've got. It is the simple use of language that makes us human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/when-it-comes-to-personal-communication-words-are-all-we-ve-got-it-is/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [If God had meant us to go metric, why did he give Christ twelve apostles?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/if-god-had-meant-us-to-go-metric-why-did-he-give-christ-twelve/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [First and foremost, I am a writer. That's what I have spent my life doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/first-and-foremost-i-am-a-writer-that-s-what-i-have-spent-my-life/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [“One should always be suspicious of a woman who tells you that her past was burnt in the flames of a schoolhouse in Peshawar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/one-should-always-be-suspicious-of-a-woman-who-tells-you-that-her/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Among the upper classes, especially three or four generations ago, men and women had separate bedrooms. That's just the way it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/among-the-upper-classes-especially-three-or-four-generations-ago-men/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [We did marry in secret and it was several years before we even told our parents that we were married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/we-did-marry-in-secret-and-it-was-several-years-before-we-even-told/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [I've learnt that you've got to accept the audience you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/i-ve-learnt-that-you-ve-got-to-accept-the-audience-you-ve-got/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Prince Philip is very contrary. He challenges everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/prince-philip-is-very-contrary-he-challenges-everything/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) [Explore all 114 Gyles Brandreth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. 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