backhanded compliment
Meaning: A criticism that is phrased in such a way that it appears to be a compliment.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The term backhanded combines the meaning of back meaning insincere or malicious and hand meaning to give.
More idioms — Daily Life
- beat a hasty retreat — To run very fast in the opposite direction.
- beat someone to the punch — To do something before someone else does it.
- behind the eight ball — In a difficult situation or position.
- hit someone below the belt — To act unfairly.
- beside oneself — Distraught; very anxious and troubled.
- beside the point — Irrelevant.
More English idioms
- have bats in one's belfry — Harmlessly crazy or eccentric.
- bet one's boots — To be sure.
- bet one's bottom dollar — To be sure.
- beyond the pale — Beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior.
- big shot — An important, powerful, or influential person.
- big wheel — An important, powerful, or influential person.
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