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backhanded compliment
(redirected from left-handed compliment)

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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!


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For example, a left-handed compliment is often less than complimentary, someone's "right-hand man" is typically a highly trusted servant or colleague, and a legal oath is taken with the right hand raised, a left-handed oath being considered non-binding (McManus, 2002).
It may seem a left-handed compliment to say The Industry Standard was by far the best and most professional of this lot, but I mean it sincerely.
Consider it a left-handed compliment to Brito and, indirectly, to Fernando.
 
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