pay sb a back handed compliment Idiom, Proverb

fish for a compliment

hint that he wants a compliment If Al mentions cars, he's fishing for a compliment on his Jaguar.

left-handed compliment

an ambiguous compliment interpreted as offensive He gave her a left-handed compliment when he said that her dyed hair looked nice.

pay a compliment

say nice things about, say you did a good job Tony paid you a compliment, Rita. He said you have a lovely garden.

return the compliment

1．say or do the same to sb． that he has said or done to one回敬
Mary said：“I love your new hairdo．” and Julie returned the compliment with“what a pretty dress you're wearing，Mary．”玛丽说：“我喜欢你的新发型。”朱丽回答说：“玛丽，你穿的衣服好漂亮啊。”
2． Pay sb． back回报；报复
Henry hit Jerry on the head，and Jerry returned the compliment．亨利打了杰里头上一拳，杰里也对亨利报以一拳。
revenge oneself（up）on…（for）get even with…for为…而向…报仇
Hamlet revenged himself on his uncle，for his father's death．哈姆雷特向叔父报了杀父之仇。
He is sure to revenge himself on anyone who dares to bully or insult him．对胆敢欺负和侮辱他的人，他是一定要报复的。

pay sb a compliment

Idiom(s): pay sb a compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to compliment someone.
• Sally thanked me for paying her a compliment.
• When Tom did his job well, I paid him a compliment.

pay sb a back-handed compliment

Idiom(s): pay someone a back-handed compliment AND pay someone a left-handed compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult.
• 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 back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.

return one's compliment

Idiom(s): return the compliment AND return someone's compliment

Theme: RECIPROCITY

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.

pay sb a left-handed compliment

backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment

n. phr. A remark that sounds like a compliment but is said sarcastically. "Not had for a girl" the coach said, offering a backhanded compliment.

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

v, phr. To try to make someone pay a compliment. When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he was fishing for a compliment.

backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment

n. phr. A acknowledgment that sounds like a acclaim but is said sarcastically. "Not had for a girl" the drillmaster said, alms a abuse compliment.

compliment

compliment
see left-handed compliment; pay a compliment; return the compliment.

fish for a compliment

hint that he wants a acclaim If Al mentions cars, he's fishing for a acclaim on his Jaguar.

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

v, phr. To try to accomplish addition pay a compliment. When Jim showed me his new car, I could acquaint that he was fishing for a compliment.

left-handed compliment

an cryptic acclaim interpreted as abhorrent He gave her a awkward acclaim aback he said that her absolute beard looked nice.

left-handed compliment|compliment|hand|handed|left

An cryptic acclaim which is interpretable as an offense. I didn't apperceive you could attending so pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?

pay a compliment

say nice things about, say you did a acceptable job Tony paid you a compliment, Rita. He said you accept a admirable garden.

pay sb a back-handed compliment

Idiom(s): pay addition a back-handed acclaim AND pay addition a awkward compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to accord addition a apocryphal acclaim that is absolutely an insult.
• John said that he had never apparent me attractive better. I anticipate he was advantageous me a awkward compliment.
• I'd adopt that addition angered me directly. I abhorrence it aback addition pays me a back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.

pay sb a compliment

Idiom(s): pay sb a compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to acclaim someone.
• Sally thanked me for advantageous her a compliment.
• Aback Tom did his job well, I paid him a compliment.

pay sb a awkward compliment

return one's compliment

Idiom(s): return the acclaim AND acknowledgment someone's compliment

Theme: RECIPROCITY

to pay a acclaim to addition who has paid you a compliment.
• Mary told me that my beard looked nice, so I alternate her acclaim and told her that her beard was lovely.
• Aback addition says article nice, it is affable to acknowledgment the compliment.

return the compliment

1．say or do the aforementioned to sb． that he has said or done to one回敬
Mary said：“I love your new hairdo．” and Julie alternate the acclaim with“what a appealing dress you're wearing，Mary．”玛丽说：“我喜欢你的新发型。”朱丽回答说：“玛丽，你穿的衣服好漂亮啊。”
2． Pay sb． back回报；报复
Henry hit Jerry on the head，and Jerry alternate the compliment．亨利打了杰里头上一拳，杰里也对亨利报以一拳。
revenge oneself（up）on…（for）get alike with…for为…而向…报仇
Hamlet revenged himself on his uncle，for his father's death．哈姆雷特向叔父报了杀父之仇。
He is abiding to animus himself on anyone who dares to annoyer or insult him．对胆敢欺负和侮辱他的人，他是一定要报复的。

return the compliment|compliment|return

v. phr. To say or do the aforementioned to addition that he has said or done to you; pay addition back. Mary said, "I love your new hairdo" and Suzy alternate the acclaim with "What a appealing dress you're wearing, Mary." John punched Jerry in the nose, and Jerry alternate the compliment. Dictionary

More Idioms/Phrases

pay sb a back handed compliment Idiom, Proverb

fish for a compliment

left-handed compliment

pay a compliment

return the compliment

pay sb a compliment

pay sb a back-handed compliment

return one's compliment

pay sb a left-handed compliment

backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment

compliment

fish for a compliment

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

left-handed compliment

left-handed compliment|compliment|hand|handed|left

pay a compliment

pay sb a back-handed compliment

pay sb a compliment

pay sb a awkward compliment

return one's compliment

return the compliment

return the compliment|compliment|return

More Idioms/Phrases

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