pay a backhanded compliment

pay (one) a backhanded compliment

To insult or negatively criticize one in a manner that is disguised as or seems like a compliment or bit of praise. A: "Those pants really suit you—your legs don't look nearly as fat in them!" B: "Wow, talk about paying someone a backhanded compliment!" It's hard to tell when she's being sarcastic as a joke or when she's really just paying you a backhanded compliment.
See also: backhanded, compliment, pay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pay someone a backhanded compliment

 and pay someone a left-handed compliment
Fig. to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult or criticism. John said that he had never seen me looking better. I think he was paying me a left-handed compliment. I'd prefer that someone insulted me directly. I hate it when someone pays me a backhanded compliment—unless it's a joke.
See also: backhanded, compliment, pay
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • pay (one) a backhanded compliment
  • pay (one) a left-handed compliment
  • a backhanded compliment
  • backhanded
  • backhanded compliment
  • compliment
  • lefthanded
  • left-handed compliment
  • left-handed compliment, a
  • pay compliment