a back-handed compliment

(British, American & Australian) also a left-handed compliment (American)

a remark which seems approving but which is also negative He gave me that classic back-handed compliment. He said I played football very well 'for a woman'.

See return the compliment

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Amram	AM-ram (English), ahm-RAHM (Hebrew)	Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Hebrew
Aylen	['eilən]
Elisaie	-	Biblical Greek
Gamil	-	Arabic (Egyptian)
Antipater	an-TI-pə-tər (English)	Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Perrine	pe-REEN	French