pay someone a backhanded compliment
- pay someone a backhanded compliment
pay someone a backhanded compliment & paysomeone a left-handed compliment
Fig. to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult or criticism. •
John said that he had never seen me looking better. I think he was paying me a left-handed compliment.
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I'd prefer that someone insulted me directly. I hate it when someone pays me a backhanded compliment—unless it's a joke.
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
Backhanded compliment — A backhanded compliment or left handed compliment or is an insult disguised as a compliment. It is generally used to belittle or condescend, or often one uses a backhanded compliment when one wants to insult someone in a subtle way. [ [http://www … Wikipedia
compliment — noun 1 expression of praise ADJECTIVE ▪ big, great, tremendous, ultimate ▪ To listen to someone is the greatest compliment you can pay. ▪ biggest, highest … Collocations dictionary
