backhanded compliment
backhanded compliment · backhanded compliments
vergiftetes Kompliment, zweifelhaftes Kompliment, zweideutiges Kompliment
An insult disguised as a complimentAn insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.
» The English teacher uses subtle, backhanded compliments that undermine the non-native speakers' abilities.
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.
vergiftetes Kompliment, zweifelhaftes Kompliment, zweideutiges Kompliment
Examples
1 sentencesThe English teacher uses subtle, backhanded compliments that undermine the non-native speakers' abilities.
Translations
3 languagesDeutsch
By meaning 1
insult disguised as a compliment:
Origin
Compound of backhanded + compliment. Similar figurative uses of backhanded are attested frCompound of backhanded + compliment. Similar figurative uses of backhanded are attested from at least the early 19th century.
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