backhanded compliment

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.

en-au-backhanded compliment.ogg

backhanded compliment backhanded compliments back-handed compliment

Compound of backhanded + compliment. Similar figurative uses of backhanded are attested from at least the early 19th century.

asteism left-handed compliment poisonous compliment poisoned compliment

damn with faint praise

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