Co-worker, to me: Don't take this the wrong way, but that's a nice shirt. If I'd thought of it at the time, I'd have gasped and said "How dare you, sir? That tears it, we're having a gunfight. Right here, right now."
Should just say "duel" and leave it open to interpretation, imo.
How can you take the 'the wrong way'? what is the wrong way?
That's my point. In what universe could "That's a nice shirt" be construed as offensive?
Maybe he didn't want you to think he was hitting on you? Or maybe he just thinks you pride yourself on wearing terrible shirts. Which I would not put past you.
Maybe he wanted you to think about why he would start a sentence with "don't take this wrong way" if he was just going to compliment you.
He's calling you gay, that smurfer.
@Laddy: Actually the guy who said that was openly gay, so no he wasn't.