Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

left-handed compliment

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables: left--hand-ed -com-pli-ment
IPA

36

Scrabble Score

20

Letters

7

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A complimentary remark which is ambiguous or ineptly worded, so that it may be interpreted as having an unflattering or dismissive sense.

Example Sentences

""We have sat through the whole of dinner and not once mentioned politics." "You made us forget them," Tallente murmured. "A left-handed compliment," Jane laughed."
"In a somewhat left-handed compliment, UN Secretary-General U Thant described Russia's new bosses as "competent and unpretentious.""
"[C]alling someone a "neglected master" makes for one hell of a left-handed compliment."

Inflected Forms

left-handed compliments (plural)

Phrases

damn with faint praise

Frequently Paired Words

damn with faint praise

Synonyms

backhanded compliment

Questions

What does left-handed compliment mean?: A complimentary remark which is ambiguous or ineptly worded, so that it may be interpreted as having an unflattering or dismissive sense.

How to pronounce left-handed compliment

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