backhanded compliment
US /ˈbækˌhæn.dɪd ˈkɑm.plɪ.mənt/
UK /ˈbækˌhæn.dɪd ˈkɑm.plɪ.mənt/
1.
complimento ambiguo, lode velata
a compliment that is also an insult or that implies something negative
:
•
Her comment about my dress being 'surprisingly nice' felt like a backhanded compliment.
Il suo commento sul mio vestito, 'sorprendentemente carino', sembrava un complimento ambiguo.
•
He gave me a backhanded compliment, saying I was smart for a beginner.
Mi ha fatto un complimento ambiguo, dicendo che ero intelligente per un principiante.