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backhanded
(redirected from backhandedness)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal 0.02 sec.
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: compliment

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: compliment, pay


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