ENGLISH
REFERENCE

left-handed compliment

idiom
Meaning

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


Examples
SIMPLE

That was a left-handed compliment about my new haircut.

CONTEXTUAL

She told me I looked great for my age, but it felt like a left-handed compliment.

COMPLEX

His remark about her sudden promotion was clearly a left-handed compliment, implying she only succeeded because of her connections.

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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