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left-handed compliment

idiom

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

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    backhanded compliment

    An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.

  2. 02

    Chinese compliment

    A pretense of deference; a veiled or subtle insult.

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