backhanded compliment
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.38 in modern English
41
Scrabble Score
20
Letters
6
Syllables
14
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.
Example Sentences
- ""[…] regardless of what he may say to you, he respects your great learning, and, therefore, has immense confidence in your judgment. The poor dear cannot differentiate between erudition and wisdom." Mr. Philander, with a mildly puzzled expression on his face, turned to pursue Professor Porter, and in his mind he was revolving the question of whether he should feel complimented or aggrieved at Miss Porter's rather back-handed compliment."
- "Perhaps, finally, the Netherlands will shed itself of the backhanded compliment of being the best team never to win a world championship."
- "In a backhanded compliment, Markopolos said the SEC is a "bad regulator, but the best of a very sorry lot.""
Etymology
Compound of backhanded + compliment. Similar figurative uses of backhanded are attested from at least the early 19th century.