Also: Left-handed Compliment
Meaning of Idiom ‘Backhanded Compliment’
A backhanded (or left-handed) compliment is an ambiguous statement that seems to be or is intended to be a compliment but is actually critical and could be seen as an insult; an insult disguised as praise.
When someone pays you a backhanded compliment, they are actually being condescending.
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Sentence Examples
“Whenever I put on a suit and tie people tell me I clean up well. I can’t help but take that as a backhanded compliment!”
“Trent, at work, told me he was impressed with how I have the boss in the palm of my hand. It’s a backhanded compliment. He’s calling me a brown-noser!”
“Men often pay women backhanded compliments such as “It’s great that you don’t worry about how you look.”
“Nice backhand!” “Is that a backhanded compliment?”— Easy Virtue (2008)
“As of now, I don’t want to be with anyon. Not even if it’s as wonderful a person as you are.” “Another backhanded compliment.” — Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)
“I like you, and I don’t like anybody.” “Oh, I see. Is this one of your backhanded compliments?” “Take it however you want. I’m just stating a fact.” — And So It Goes (2014)
“Well, you were always ambitious.” “Is that a backhanded compliment?” “No, it’s just a statement.”— Lake Effects (2012)
“You’ve got quite a rep, but you’re actually pretty sound.” “Backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it.” — Skins: Mini (2011)
“Well, you may not be much of a cook, but the effort is certainly appreciated.” “What kind of backhanded compliment is that?” — The Lost World: The End Game (2002)
Origin
Since at least the late 1800s, the term ‘backhanded’ has been used figuratively to mean “oblique in meaning; indirect, devious, equivocal, ambiguous, or sarcastic.
The variant left-handed compliment comes from the use, dating from around 1600 of the word left-handed to mean “questionable” or “doubtful.” (American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms). This use, in turn, derived from the left long being associated with wrongness or evil. The word sinister was the Latin word left or “on the left side” which became through Old French, our modern word sinister.
More Idioms Starting with B
More Compliment Idioms
More Latin Related Idioms
- De Facto
- Ad Nauseam
- A Word To The Wise
- Pros and Cons
- Get Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed, to
- Die Is Cast, the
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