We’ve all been there — someone drops an insult, and suddenly your brain just… stalls. Hours later, you’re in the shower like, “Ugh, I should’ve said THIS!”
Well, good news: a neuroscientist has apparently cracked the code for the ultimate comeback. Dr. Dean Burnett told BBC Science Focus that he’s found a 3-word response that can flip an insult on its head, maybe even make the other person laugh. Ready for it?
👉 “Calm down, grandma.”
Sounds silly, right? But here’s why it works: it instantly makes the insulter look out of touch, ridiculous, or just plain dramatic. And unless you’re actually arguing with your grandma, it knocks them down a peg without you breaking a sweat.
Burnett says it shifts the power dynamic, making the insulter look like the one who’s lost the plot. Words really can hurt… but the right comeback? That can sting too.
(And yes, it definitely beats my usual go-to: “Oh yeah?!”)
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