I was pondering what we mean when we say someone is likable. Then I realized I don’t know anyone I’d describe that way with no qualifications. It’s always something like “likable but annoying”. Then it hit me that a minimum viable archetype is always [good-trait]-but-[bad-trait].
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What if you switch the clauses? "He can be annoying, but he is likable"? Or even just "annoying but likable"?
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Changes the meaning. You’re describing the evil twin of the one I described.
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Someone had popped into my head who is a high-maintenance pain in the ass and makes a bad first impression. But he doesn't know he's a pain, and he's likeable and enthusiastic.
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