--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What on earth were you trying to do, make…" description: "\"“What on earth were you trying to do, make yourself look handsome or something? You look like someone's grandmother gone wrong!”\" — Roald Dahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/roald-dahl-899_matilda_what-on-earth-were-you-trying-to-do-make_1380554.jpg" --- # What on earth were you trying to do, make yourself look… ![“What on earth were you trying to do, make yourself look handsome or something? You look like someone's grandmother gone wrong!” quote by Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/roald-dahl-899_matilda_what-on-earth-were-you-trying-to-do-make_1380554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/roald-dahl-899_matilda_what-on-earth-were-you-trying-to-do-make_1380554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/roald-dahl-899_matilda_what-on-earth-were-you-trying-to-do-make_1380554.jpg) > ““What on earth were you trying to do, make yourself look handsome or something? You look like someone's grandmother gone wrong!”” [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harsh comment mocks appearance, using exaggerated humor. **In simple terms:** Mocking looks with humor. Key Takeaway Beware of hurtful jokes. Themes humor appearance insensitivity Mood playful critical Type satirical cautionary When to use this quote - school bullying - online comments - media satire Key Concepts Satire social critique Questions to Reflect On - When does humor become harmful? - How to respond to appearance insults? A Different Perspective Humor can reinforce negativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“This allowed her two glorious hours sitting quietly by herself in a cozy corner, devouring one book after another. When she had read every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/this-allowed-her-two-glorious-hours-sitting-quietly-by-herself-in-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/never-do-anything-by-halves-if-you-want-to-get-away-with-it-be-2/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“You chose books. I chose looks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/you-chose-books-i-chose-looks/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“With frightening suddenness he now began ripping the pages out of the book in handfuls and throwing them in the waste-paper basket. Matilda froze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/with-frightening-suddenness-he-now-began-ripping-the-pages-out-of-the/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it - when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/and-i-love-that-even-in-the-toughest-moments-when-we-re-all-sweating/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [Like my grandmother always said, 'you never know the blessings that come from suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/like-my-grandmother-always-said-you-never-know-the-blessings-that/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [People say, "Why do you call your kids up, why do you worry like that?" And I say, "I was raised like that." My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/people-say-why-do-you-call-your-kids-up-why-do-you-worry-like-that/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [It's because of women like my grandmother Roberta - women who have lived their lives fearlessly, on their own terms - that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/it-s-because-of-women-like-my-grandmother-roberta-women-who-have/) [Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/) > [If you'd asked me when I was younger what life would be like in my 50s, I'd probably have imagined someone like my grandmother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/if-you-d-asked-me-when-i-was-younger-what-life-would-be-like-in-my/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [“I knew a lot of guys at Pencey I thought were a lot handsomer than Stradlater, but they wouldn't look handsome if you saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-knew-a-lot-of-guys-at-pencey-i-thought-were-a-lot-handsomer-than/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Beauty is not how you look, not how handsome you are, not your figure too. Beauty is the inner self, so change your underwear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-is-not-how-you-look-not-how-handsome-you-are-not-your-figure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't look as handsome in Men in Black II as I did in the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shalhoub/i-don-t-look-as-handsome-in-men-in-black-ii-as-i-did-in-the-first-one/) [Tony Shalhoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shalhoub/) > [“Oh, don’t hurt me!” cried Tom. “I only want to look at you; you are so handsome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/oh-don-t-hurt-me-cried-tom-i-only-want-to-look-at-you-you-are-so/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Any man who can look handsome in a dirty baseball suit is an Adonis. There is something about the baggy pants, and the Micawber-shaped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/any-man-who-can-look-handsome-in-a-dirty-baseball-suit-is-an-adonis/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [I don't look as handsome in Men in Black 2 as I did in the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shalhoub/i-don-t-look-as-handsome-in-men-in-black-2-as-i-did-in-the-first-one/) [Tony Shalhoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shalhoub/) ## More by Roald Dahl > [Nowadays you can go anywhere in the world in a few hours, and nothing is fabulous any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/nowadays-you-can-go-anywhere-in-the-world-in-a-few-hours-and-nothing/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When I walked to school in the mornings I would start out alone but would pick up four other boys along the way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-i-walked-to-school-in-the-mornings-i-would-start-out-alone-but/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/there-s-no-earthly-way-of-knowing-which-direction-we-are-going-there/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“When Bruce Bogtrotter had eaten his way through half of the entire enormous cake, he paused for just a couple of seconds and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-bruce-bogtrotter-had-eaten-his-way-through-half-of-the-entire/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Eschew all those beastly adjectives...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/eschew-all-those-beastly-adjectives/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/bunkum-and-tummyrot-you-ll-never-get-anywhere-if-you-go-about-what/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented rollar skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/if-the-good-lord-intended-for-us-to-walk-he-wouldn-t-have-invented/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-witching-hour-somebody-had-once-whispered-to-her-was-a-special/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/those-who-don-t-believe-in-magic-will-never-find-it/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/but-there-was-one-other-thing-that-the-grown-ups-also-knew-and-it-was/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-writing-about-oneself-one-must-strive-to-be-truthful-truth-is/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“the world is a scary place for such a small child”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-world-is-a-scary-place-for-such-a-small-child/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/and-above-all-watch-with-glittering-eyes-the-world-around-you-because/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“We must hurry!’ said Mr. Wonka. ‘We have so much time and so little to do! No! Wait! Strike that! Reverse it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/we-must-hurry-said-mr-wonka-we-have-so-much-time-and-so-little-to-do/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) [Explore all 318 Roald Dahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## More Grandmother quotes > [“Did he kill Grandmother?” I whispered. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Erra’s voice said in my ear. “She is already dead. Besides, your grandmother was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/did-he-kill-grandmother-i-whispered-don-t-be-ridiculous-erra-s-voice/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“Because he doesn’t want me talking to my grandmother.” Barabas looked at Curran. Curran shrugged. “It’s a family thing. Sometimes your father puts your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/because-he-doesn-t-want-me-talking-to-my-grandmother-barabas-looked/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [Honestly, and seriously, I know I have to do a Telugu film. It was my grandmother's dream to see me in a Telugu film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swara-bhaskar/honestly-and-seriously-i-know-i-have-to-do-a-telugu-film-it-was-my/) [Swara Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swara-bhaskar/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [I guessed my mother figured if my father got right down to the task of eating he wouldn’t be so inclined to jump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-guessed-my-mother-figured-if-my-father-got-right-down-to-the-task/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I'm a grandmother, and a mighty proud one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/i-m-a-grandmother-and-a-mighty-proud-one/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/) [Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/) > [I have a role now that I think becomes me. I am a grandmother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-have-a-role-now-that-i-think-becomes-me-i-am-a-grandmother/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [My hero among heroes is my grandmother, she's the epitome of strength and I try to mock that strength all the time. She's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/my-hero-among-heroes-is-my-grandmother-she-s-the-epitome-of-strength/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) > [I use the phrase 'sibling society' to suggest a culture fundamentally without fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, or ancestors. The thinking is horizontal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-use-the-phrase-sibling-society-to-suggest-a-culture-fundamentally/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [I'm proud of my hands; they look like my grandma's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serinda-swan/i-m-proud-of-my-hands-they-look-like-my-grandma-s/) [Serinda Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serinda-swan/) [Browse all 1,839 Grandmother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What on earth were you trying to do, make yourself look handsome or something? 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