--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They had a nice,if not private, reunion…" description: "\"“They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert joined them. He didn't exactly ruin it, but if he insisted on enacting their pretense tonight, e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/johanna-lindsey-3725_bad-timing_they-had-a-nice-if-not-private-reunion-b_2279810.png" --- # They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert… ![“They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert joined them. He didn't exactly ruin it, but if he insisted on enacting their pretense tonight, even for her mother,it surely would. Unfortunately, he entered the room wearing a horribly bright lime-green dinner jacket that had his mother…” quote by Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/johanna-lindsey-3725_bad-timing_they-had-a-nice-if-not-private-reunion-b_2279810.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/johanna-lindsey-3725_bad-timing_they-had-a-nice-if-not-private-reunion-b_2279810.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdc/johanna-lindsey-3725_bad-timing_they-had-a-nice-if-not-private-reunion-b_2279810.png) > ““They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert joined them. He didn't exactly ruin it, but if he insisted on enacting their pretense tonight, even for her mother,it surely would. Unfortunately, he entered the room wearing a horribly bright lime-green dinner jacket that had his mother immediately scowling at him. So even after that kiss upstairs, he'd decided on an evening of humorously baiting his mother again. Bad timing, with her own mother there, or maybe not.At least it kept Rebecca's own mood light for the moment, since she knew why he did it. Nor did Julie hold her tongue, remarking in disgust, "I see your taste is still beyond flamboyant. You're a bloody peacock, Rue." He actually looked behind him as he replied, "I thought I had my feathers tucked away nicely.”” [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A flamboyant outfit disrupts a tense family gathering, highlighting how humor can ease awkward moments but also cause friction. **In simple terms:** A loud jacket creates tension but also lightens the mood. Key Takeaway Use humor wisely, aware of others' sensitivities. Themes family dynamics humor social etiquette appearance conflict Mood tense light‑hearted ironic Type anecdotal dialogue When to use this quote - wedding reception - family dinner - celebration - reunion - conflict resolution Key Concepts self‑presentation social perception family expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can you gauge when humor is appropriate? - What cues indicate a joke may cause offense? A Different Perspective Humor can backfire if it ignores others' feelings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-timing/) [Baiting Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baiting-mother-5316274/) [Bloody Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bloody-peacock-5316276/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Jacket Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jacket-mother-5316278/) [Kiss U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kiss-u/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Reunion Rupert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reunion-rupert-5316275/) [Scowling Kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scowling-kiss-5316277/) ## Related quotes > [“Miss Chauvenet." Morgan willed himself to speak his tongue near to tied. He was unable to take his gaze from her. She looked as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/miss-chauvenet-morgan-willed-himself-to-speak-his-tongue-near-to-tied/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [So I didn't adopt Homer because he was cute and little and sweet, or because he was helpless and needed me. I adopted him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-cooper/so-i-didn-t-adopt-homer-because-he-was-cute-and-little-and-sweet-or/) [Gwen Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-cooper/) > [It's bad timing, but a lot of kids become teenagers just as their parents are hitting their mid-life crisis. 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Bad timing is the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levy/two-people-can-be-perfect-for-each-other-but-if-the-timing-s-wrong-it/) [Adam Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levy/) > [“How many times did we pass each other before we met? If only I’d known…. I would have searched for you endlessly. If only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/how-many-times-did-we-pass-each-other-before-we-met-if-only-i-d-known/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [“Sensing that this stranger was not the dangerous kind, and being the caring, big-hearted dog that he had built his reputation on, Lucky decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaal-kaczmarek/sensing-that-this-stranger-was-not-the-dangerous-kind-and-being-the/) [Kaal Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaal-kaczmarek/) > [Maybe it was all just wrong timing. But I wont question it. It was in Gods plan for it to happen this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-it-was-all-just-wrong-timing-but-i-wont-question-it-it-was-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest sadness is falling in love with the right person in the wrong timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-sadness-is-falling-in-love-with-the-right-person-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I put that on myself with not telling the Knicks. It was just bad timing but I'm not perfect, far from it. The front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-put-that-on-myself-with-not-telling-the-knicks-it-was-just-bad/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [“The real moments that changed the world are when church members miss the meaning of a whole sermon, and take no accountability for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-real-moments-that-changed-the-world-are-when-church-members-miss/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“I know I’m not exactly Prince Charming material right now. Zipper-head, gimpy hand and all the rest.” There was a tremor in his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mayberry/i-know-i-m-not-exactly-prince-charming-material-right-now-zipper-head/) [Sarah Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mayberry/) > [“Picking a few hits requires a tolerance for many bad ideas, mediocre ideas, and even good ideas cursed with bad timing. Above all, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-thompson/picking-a-few-hits-requires-a-tolerance-for-many-bad-ideas-mediocre/) [Derek Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-thompson/) > [I try to wait until things set up just right before I take a trade. Then, when I'm ready to take the trade, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bradford-raschke/i-try-to-wait-until-things-set-up-just-right-before-i-take-a-trade/) [Linda Bradford Raschke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bradford-raschke/) ## More by Johanna Lindsey > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Highwaymen?" she asked, and couldn't hide the hopeful note from her tone. "In the middle of the day?" "So they're desperate." Being robbed wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/highwaymen-she-asked-and-couldn-t-hide-the-hopeful-note-from-her-tone/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“And what makes you think I'm going to do anything you say?" "Because for the time being you are legally mine,and that means you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/and-what-makes-you-think-i-m-going-to-do-anything-you-say-because-for/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [My mother helped me to get past that. She was always there for me, until she dies. I remember she told me once, about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/my-mother-helped-me-to-get-past-that-she-was-always-there-for-me/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“You have exciting eyes,Becca. Too dark to read, which cloaks you in mystery. Pink would offset that, don't you think?" How was she supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/you-have-exciting-eyes-becca-too-dark-to-read-which-cloaks-you-in/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Lady, no man in his right mind would want to kill you. There’s many things I could think of that a man would want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/lady-no-man-in-his-right-mind-would-want-to-kill-you-there-s-many/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“When will you be returning?" "Not as soon as I'd like to. I'm going to have to waste a couple days finding an…acceptable...wife." Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/when-will-you-be-returning-not-as-soon-as-i-d-like-to-i-m-going-to/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“He twirled her around a few more times before he said offhandedly, "Aren't you tired of fighting yet? I'm beginning to find it quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/he-twirled-her-around-a-few-more-times-before-he-said-offhandedly/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Is there a reason you are here?" he finally demanded. With complete nonchalance she replied, "Well,I've brought my trunks. I do believe I'm moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/is-there-a-reason-you-are-here-he-finally-demanded-with-complete/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [I don't actually listen to much music since I need quiet to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/i-don-t-actually-listen-to-much-music-since-i-need-quiet-to-work/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Done, Mr. Thunder,” Jocelyn said with a good deal of pleasure. “You now work for me.” She had to turn away quickly before she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/done-mr-thunder-jocelyn-said-with-a-good-deal-of-pleasure-you-now/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [With my life comes my heart, yours now to crush or cherish as you will. It is my hope you will have a care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/with-my-life-comes-my-heart-yours-now-to-crush-or-cherish-as-you-will/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“What you can't do is leave me!" He was thrown back. There were still six crewmen standing against him. That wasn't deterring him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/what-you-can-t-do-is-leave-me-he-was-thrown-back-there-were-still-six/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [Defeat held no honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/defeat-held-no-honor/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Fancy finding you here," he said jauntily. Nothing about it was fanciful, and she suspected he might have followed her. Why else would he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/fancy-finding-you-here-he-said-jauntily-nothing-about-it-was-fanciful/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Explore all 122 Johanna Lindsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) ## More Bad timing quotes > [I try to wait until things set up just right before I take a trade. Then, when I'm ready to take the trade, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bradford-raschke/i-try-to-wait-until-things-set-up-just-right-before-i-take-a-trade/) [Linda Bradford Raschke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bradford-raschke/) > [“Picking a few hits requires a tolerance for many bad ideas, mediocre ideas, and even good ideas cursed with bad timing. 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The front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-put-that-on-myself-with-not-telling-the-knicks-it-was-just-bad/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [The greatest sadness is falling in love with the right person in the wrong timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-sadness-is-falling-in-love-with-the-right-person-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe it was all just wrong timing. But I wont question it. It was in Gods plan for it to happen this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-it-was-all-just-wrong-timing-but-i-wont-question-it-it-was-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sensing that this stranger was not the dangerous kind, and being the caring, big-hearted dog that he had built his reputation on, Lucky decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaal-kaczmarek/sensing-that-this-stranger-was-not-the-dangerous-kind-and-being-the/) [Kaal Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaal-kaczmarek/) > [“How many times did we pass each other before we met? If only I’d known…. I would have searched for you endlessly. If only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/how-many-times-did-we-pass-each-other-before-we-met-if-only-i-d-known/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [“Two people can be perfect for each other but if the timing's wrong it's never going to work out. Bad timing is the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levy/two-people-can-be-perfect-for-each-other-but-if-the-timing-s-wrong-it/) [Adam Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levy/) > [“It was all a matter of missed connections, bad timing, blundering in the dark. We were always in the right place at the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/it-was-all-a-matter-of-missed-connections-bad-timing-blundering-in/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“and I’ll tell you, pretty much every bad thing in life is a result of bad timing, and every good thing is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/and-i-ll-tell-you-pretty-much-every-bad-thing-in-life-is-a-result-of/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [It's bad timing, but a lot of kids become teenagers just as their parents are hitting their mid-life crisis. So everybody's miserable and confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/it-s-bad-timing-but-a-lot-of-kids-become-teenagers-just-as-their/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [So I didn't adopt Homer because he was cute and little and sweet, or because he was helpless and needed me. I adopted him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-cooper/so-i-didn-t-adopt-homer-because-he-was-cute-and-little-and-sweet-or/) [Gwen Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-cooper/) > [“Occurrences can be unpredictable. If we have to endure a cascade of rumpling coincidences, it’s fate that dictates our lives, taking over the common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/occurrences-can-be-unpredictable-if-we-have-to-endure-a-cascade-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) [Browse all 51 Bad timing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-timing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert joined them. He didn't exactly ruin it, but if he insisted on enacting their pretense tonight, even for her mother,it surely would. Unfortunately, he entered the room wearing a horribly bright lime-green dinner jacket that had his mother immediately scowling at him. So even after that kiss upstairs, he'd decided on an evening of humorously baiting his mother again. Bad timing, with her own mother there, or maybe not.At least it kept Rebecca's own mood light for the moment, since she knew why he did it. Nor did Julie hold her tongue, remarking in disgust, \"I see your taste is still beyond flamboyant. 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