Chinese compliment

Chinese compliment

A false or facetious display of obeisance, or an insult disguised as a compliment. A derogatory phrase, it should not be confused with the linguistic or sociological components of compliments as used in Chinese language and culture.
See also: Chinese, compliment
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • Chinese
  • a big girl's blouse
  • a few cards short of a (full) deck
  • a few bananas short of a bunch
  • carry a Chinaman on (one's) back
  • have a Chinaman at (one's) neck
  • have a Chinaman on (one's) back
  • Chinaman's chance
  • Chinaman's chance, he hasn't a/not a
  • not going to win any beauty contests
References in classic literature
She was just trying to impress upon her mind that Amoy was two hundred and eighty miles from Hong Kong, when Fun came scuffling back, bearing what she thought was a small sword, till he unfurled an immense fan, and presented it with a string of Chinese compliments, the meaning of which would have amused her even more than the sound, if she could have understood it.
Eight Cousins
For example: l Bounty - a certainty l Cauliflower - an effiminate sheepdog lEmit - a virtual glove lMarmite - a pressure group for mothers lPhilately - a Chinese compliment More tomorrow.
off the Record