Question

in_the_loop_023 a criticism that is phrased in such a way that it appears to be a compliment Compare to: damn with faint praise

Accepted Answer

BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT Patricia said she can’t wear fake gold jewelry the way I can because it turns her skin green, and I think she was giving me a backhanded compliment. She was really letting everyone know that she wears real gold jewelry while the jewelry I have on is fake.Paul is not a very nice person. He is always giving people backhanded compliments that sound like he is being nice when he is really just insulting them. The term backhanded combines the meaning of back meaning insincere or malicious and hand meaning to give.

Id	in_the_loop_023
Idiom	BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT
Definition	a criticism that is phrased in such a way that it appears to be a compliment
Examples	Patricia said she can’t wear fake gold jewelry the way I can because it turns her skin green, and I think she was giving me a backhanded compliment. She was really letting everyone know that she wears real gold jewelry while the jewelry I have on is fake. Paul is not a very nice person. He is always giving people backhanded compliments that sound like he is being nice when he is really just insulting them.
Cross-Refs	Compare to: damn with faint praise
Extra Info	The term backhanded combines the meaning of back meaning insincere or malicious and hand meaning to give.

Backhanded Compliment Jewelry I Meaning Gold Giving Nice