backhanded compliment
noun[C]
(alsoback-handed compliment)uk/ˌbæk.hæn.dɪd ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/us/ˌbæk.hæn.dɪd ˈkɑːm.plə.mənt/(USalsoleft-handed compliment)aremarkthatseemsto say somethingpleasantabout apersonbut could also be aninsult:
I say this unironically, and not as abackhandedcompliment.
She wasinsultedby his back-handedcompliment.
behaviouror anactionthatseemstosuggestsomething good about someone or something but could also be aninsult:
It was abackhandedcomplimentthat theworstcriminalssoughthim out torepresentthem.
TheappearanceofHollywoodstarsin Britishadsis something of a back-handedcompliment.
- Thatsoundslike abackhandedcomplimentbut it isn'tmeantto be.
- He didn'twaitfor aresponseto his back-handedcompliment.
- "Rudeness indisguise"includesback-handedcomplimentsorsarcasm.
- Hislackofdeferenceisactuallyabackhandedcompliment.
Praising insincerely or too eagerly
- bootlicker
- bow and scrapeidiom
- crawler
- creep
- cupboard love
- fawn
- glad-handing
- grovel
- hagiographic
- idealization
- idealize
- obsequious
- people pleaser
- play up tosomeone
- schmooze
- servile
- slobber
- toady
- toadying
- unctuous
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Insults & abuse