A glowing pink glass perfume bottle with an orange feather-shaped stopper stands on a mirrored tile.

Original artwork, not a still

Ally

I mean, with all due respect, you sort of walk around with uppity breasts, and the hair flips aren't the most subtle. And your perfume -- you could be flammable. Now what if somebody shut you down as a safety hazard, how would you feel then?

— Ally McBeal · 1997

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Cushioning the barbs with "all due respect," the speaker itemizes the other person's showy manner: a bold bust, conspicuous hair flips and a heavy perfume. They then pose a mock-serious question about being shut down as a safety hazard, turning personal criticism into a fussy, half-comic warning.

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