Mary told me that my hair looked nice, so I returned her compliment and told her that her hair was lovely.
•When someone says something nice, it is polite to return the compliment.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
return the compliment — {v. phr.} To say or do the same to someone that he has said or done to you; pay someone back. * /Mary said, I love your new hairdo and Suzy returned the compliment with What a pretty dress you re wearing, Mary. / * /John punched Jerry in the nose … Dictionary of American idioms
return the compliment — {v. phr.} To say or do the same to someone that he has said or done to you; pay someone back. * /Mary said, I love your new hairdo and Suzy returned the compliment with What a pretty dress you re wearing, Mary. / * /John punched Jerry in the nose … Dictionary of American idioms
compliment — com|pli|ment1 [ kamplımənt ] noun count * 1. ) something nice that you say to praise someone: It is a compliment to be compared to her. pay/give someone a compliment: He kept paying me compliments on my cooking. take something as a compliment… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
return — re|turn1 [ rı tɜrn ] verb *** ▸ 1 go/come back ▸ 2 put/send/take something back ▸ 3 do/say something similar back ▸ 4 produce profit ▸ 5 hit ball back ▸ 6 elect someone to position ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive to go back to a place where you… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
compliment — I UK [ˈkɒmplɪmənt] / US [ˈkɑmplɪmənt] noun Word forms compliment : singular compliment plural compliments * 1) a) [countable] something nice that you say to praise someone It is a compliment to be compared to her. pay/give someone a compliment:… … English dictionary
return — I UK [rɪˈtɜː(r)n] / US [rɪˈtɜrn] verb Word forms return : present tense I/you/we/they return he/she/it returns present participle returning past tense returned past participle returned *** 1) a) [intransitive] to go back to a place where you were … English dictionary
return the compliment — phrase to do something for someone in return for something that they did for you He lent me several of his CDs, and I’d like to return the compliment. Thesaurus: to reward someone s kindnesssynonym Main entry: compliment * * * give a compliment… … Useful english dictionary
compliment — ► NOUN 1) an expression of praise or admiration, either in words or by an action. 2) (compliments) formal greetings. ► VERB ▪ politely congratulate or praise. ● return the compliment Cf. ↑return the compliment … English terms dictionary
compliment — 1 noun (C) 1 a remark that expresses admiration of someone or something: You have lovely hair , Bob told Emma, who blushed at the compliment. | Maria s used to receiving compliments on her appearance. | pay sb a compliment (=tell someone that… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
compliment — com|pli|ment1 [ˈkɔmplımənt US ˈka:m ] n [Date: 1600 1700; : French; Origin: Italian, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir; COMPLY] 1.) a remark that shows you admire someone or something ▪ Being compared to Abba is a great compliment. ▪ Rob… … Dictionary of contemporary English
return the compliment — 1. to do something for someone because they have done something for you. Our neighbors looked after the house while we were away, and we ll return the compliment when they go on vacation. 2. to do or say something unfriendly to someone because… … New idioms dictionary
