compliment

Related to compliment: complement

backhanded compliment

An insulting or negative comment disguised as praise. She said my new pants really make my legs look much slimmer. What a backhanded compliment!
See also: backhanded, 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

compliment (someone) on (something)

To praise someone for something specific. I have to compliment you on this dinner you made—it's just delicious! The salesman just complimented me on my beautiful smile!
See also: compliment, on

compliments of the house

cliché Said of that which is offered for free by the merchant or establishment. A: "Excuse me, but I didn't order this champagne." B: "Compliments of the house, miss." As a token of congratulations on your wedding day, we at the Kensington Hotel would like to offer a free round of drinks for you and all your guests, compliments of the house!
See also: compliment, house, of

fish for compliments

To attempt to elicit praise from someone, typically by saying negative things about oneself. We know you're a smart kind, Dan. You don't need to fish for compliments by talking about the one C you got. Tara's always fishing for compliments by talking about how she couldn't get her hair the way she wanted it.
See also: compliment, fish

left-handed compliment

An insulting or negative comment disguised as praise. She said my new pants really make my legs look much slimmer. What a left-handed compliment!
See also: 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

pay (one) a compliment

To compliment one; to give one a piece of praise. It took me a little while to realize that he was paying me a compliment. It isn't often she pays her employees compliments, so you should really feel proud.
See also: compliment, pay

pay (one) a left-handed 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 left-handed compliment!" It's hard to tell when she's being sarcastic as a joke or when she's really just paying you a left-handed compliment.
See also: compliment, pay

pay (someone or something) a compliment

To give someone praise, especially for a specific accomplishment or trait. He paid the chef a compliment for the delicious soufflé. I don't really like it when people pay me a compliment for my appearance—I never know how to react.
See also: compliment, pay

pay a compliment to (someone or something)

To give someone praise, especially for a specific accomplishment or trait. He paid a compliment to the chef for the delicious soufflé. Don't pay a compliment to your date unless you really mean it—no one likes empty praise.
See also: compliment, pay

return (someone's) compliment

1. Literally, to compliment someone in return for a compliment they gave first. I always feel the need to return people's compliments whenever they say something nice to me. It feels rude not to, I guess.
2. To reciprocate someone's actions. You helped me last week, so let me return your compliment and do your taxes for you. If Tiffany's the one who started that rumor about me, I'll just return her compliment with a rumor about her.
See also: compliment, return

return the compliment

1. Literally, for one to give a compliment to the person who has given a compliment to one. I always feel the need to return the compliment when someone says something nice to me.
2. To reciprocate someone's actions. You helped me last week, so I'll return the compliment and do your filing. If Tiffany's the one who started that rumor about me, I'll just return the compliment with a rumor about her.
See also: compliment, return
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

backhanded compliment

 and left-handed compliment
an unintended or ambiguous compliment. Backhanded compliments are the only kind he ever gives! And I think his left-handed compliments are all given by accident, too!
See also: backhanded, compliment

compliment someone on something

to say something nice to someone about something connected to that person. I was pleased with Alice's work and complimented her on it. They complimented me on my new tie.
See also: compliment, on

fish for a compliment

Fig. to try to get someone to pay oneself a compliment. When she showed me her new dress, I could tell that she was fishing for a compliment. Tom was certainly fishing for a compliment when he modeled his fancy haircut for his friends.
See also: compliment, fish

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

pay someone compliment

Fig. to give someone a compliment. Tom paid Bill a compliment when he told him he was intelligent. Mary was very gracious when Anne paid her a compliment.
See also: compliment, pay

return the compliment

 and return someone's compliment
to pay a compliment to someone who has paid you a compliment. Mary told me that my hair looked nice, so I returned her compliment and told her that her hair was lovely. When someone says something nice, it is polite to return the compliment.
See also: compliment, return
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

back of one's hand

Rejection or contempt, as in Unimpressed with him, she gave the back of her hand to his suggestion. This phrase is usually the object of a verb such as give or show. [Second half of 1700s] Back of the hand similarly means "an insult" in the term back-handed compliment (see under left-handed compliment) but has a quite different meaning in know like the back of one's hand (see under know like a book).
See also: back, hand, of

left-handed compliment

Also, backhanded compliment. An insult in the guise of an expression of praise. For example, She said she liked my hair, but it turned out to be a left-handed compliment when she asked how long I'd been dyeing it . This expression uses left-handed in the sense of "questionable or doubtful," a usage dating from about 1600.
See also: compliment

pay a compliment

Express praise or commendation to someone, as in Meredith wanted to pay Christopher a compliment so she told him she liked his new haircut . This expression uses pay in the sense of "give something that is due." [c. 1700]
See also: compliment, pay

return the compliment

Also, return the favor. Repay someone in kind, as in Her political opponent came out with a smear campaign, and she returned the compliment. Neither the compliment nor the favor in this idiom is necessarily desirable. [First half of 1700s]
See also: compliment, return
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a backhanded compliment

1. A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be praising someone or something but which could also be understood as criticism. Saying she's improved comes over as a backhanded compliment. Reviewers gave the play the backhanded compliment that it was `surprisingly impressive'.
2. A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be criticizing someone or something but which could also be understood as praise. They were seen as the ones most in need of some culture. This was a backhanded compliment: it implied that they were capable of appreciating the highest works of art.
See also: backhanded, compliment
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

return the compliment

1 give a compliment in return for another. 2 retaliate or respond in kind.
See also: compliment, return

left-handed compliment

a remark that is superficially complimentary but contains a strong element of adverse criticism.
See also: compliment
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌbackhanded ˈcompliment

(American English also a ˌleft-handed ˈcompliment) a remark that seems to express admiration but could also be understood as an insult: She told me that my essay was ‘surprisingly good’, which I thought was a backhanded compliment.
See also: backhanded, compliment

fish for compliments

encourage somebody indirectly to say nice things about you: Stop asking me if you look OK. You’re just fishing for compliments.
See also: compliment, fish

reˌturn the ˈcompliment

do or say the same pleasant thing that somebody else has done or said to you: Thanks for a lovely meal. We’ll try and return the compliment very soon.
See also: compliment, return
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

left-handed compliment, a

An expression of praise or admiration that is actually a faintly disguised insult or reproach. The association of lefthandedness with ambiguity or doubtfulness may come from the practice of the morganatic marriage ceremony (between royalty and a commoner who renounces all claim to the spouse’s title and property); in it the groom gave the bride his left hand instead of the right hand used in conventional marriage ceremonies.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a backhanded compliment
  • backhanded
  • backhanded compliment
  • lefthanded
  • left-handed compliment
  • left-handed compliment, a
  • pay (one) a backhanded compliment
  • pay (one) a left-handed compliment
  • pay a backhanded compliment
  • pay (one) a compliment
References in periodicals archive
Researchers have not yet investigated the adaptation between two culturally different interlocutors who perform contrasting ways of speaking in face-to-face compliment interactions where expectations are not met.
Chinese International Students' Adaptive Orientations to Intercultural Compliment Interactions with Caucasian Americans
So if a fake compliment can make a person happier, even if for a little while.
Using false flattery: Being nice or just being fake?
"So in the four men we have a great group who I know will compliment each other and do a wonderful job for the fans, organisation, me as a coach and of course the rest of the locker room."
ICE HOCKEY
Walker is relishing taking on the chasing pack this season - includingLiverpool- and feels complimented by the money spent so far this summer.
Liverpool told summer transfer spending is a 'compliment' to Man City; Liverpool are looking to close a 25-point gap to last season's champions Man City
Samira mused in the Beach Hut that her usual way of doing things is by asking what his favourite "floor material" might be, but in the end she told Sam she quite liked his "co-ord," though she immediately regretting her compliment.
Love Island's Dani Dyer despairs at Samira Mighty's bad flirting when she compliments Sam Bird's aztec shorts; Dani and Megan taught Samira a thing or two about how to flirt
As productivity levelled out over the course of the week, it turned out that compliments were actually marginally more motivating than the free pizza message overall.
Rejoice foodies! Having pizza at work makes you more productive
"Like most organisations we've been shocked by the prevalence and magnitude of #metoo reports involving employees mistreatment by people in positions of power," says David Perks, CEO of Founder of Pay Compliment.
Agile Performance Management Company Pay Compliment Launch an Anonymised Feedback Capability to Remove Fear of Reprisal for Employees Who Speak Up About Issues and Abuse
Her research--as well as research of other scholars--has shown the wrong kind of compliment doesn't boost self-esteem.
The Psychology of Camper Success
Allyn Hake Sounds like a lovely compliment either way!
WEBCHAT; Prince Philip tells schoolchildren they 'must have really good brains to speak Welsh'
By early evening he was satisfied Missin was "drunk and aggressive" but the trouble was sparked in a pub "by the fact that a man paid a compliment to Jane Hamilton which you resented."
10-year jail sentence for savage attack by 'coward'
"Everyone loves our compliment button, because a lot of larger women do not have the confidence to try clothes things on, or just wear baggy T-shirts.
Complimentary retail therapy Georgia Arlott; Store unveils changing rooms which tells shoppers 'You look stunning' when they are try on clothes
2 From the first-ever nail varnish collection designed to enhance and compliment a natural tan, this gorgeous Models Own Polish For Tans in Sun Hat, PS5, from modelsownit.com, will highlight golden skin from sunrise to sunset.
TAKE 3 SUMMER NAIL VARNISHES; YOUR LOOKS
I bet you're thinking, ''We get lots of compliment letters from our customers, and we always post them in the employee break room or read them in staff meetings.
Build on What's Working
In other words, would you compliment a female and male colleague using the same or different language?").
Teaching pragmatic competence: a journey from teaching cultural facts to teaching cultural awareness
I also compliment her on her brightness, her kindness and generosity (OK, that doesn't happen that often), even her manners in a hope to make her realise that so many things in life are important.
MP JO'S CASE IS PRETTY FLAWED; Why we shouldn't be scared of a compliment