damn with faint praise
Subtly undermine someone
To damn with faint praise is to offer such lukewarm or qualified commendation that it functions as criticism.
The phrase captures the way tepid endorsement can be more damaging than outright attack—saying someone is "adequate" or "not bad" when stronger praise is expected reveals disapproval.
The review damned the film with faint praise, calling it "watchable." The expression comes from Alexander Pope's 1734 poem about critics.
- complimentWords expressing approval
- left-handed complimentInsult disguised as praise
- backhanded complimentPraise that subtly insults
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
- backhandedDeceptively unkind praise
backhanded remark · disparagement · insincere · passive-aggression · perfunctory · understatement · commend · subtext · read between the lines · unenthusiastic · equivocation · condescension · half-hearted · shade · killing with kindness · double-edged sword · applaud · Alexander Pope
- Pope Quoteshope springs eternal, fools rush in
damn with faint praiselavish praise
Excessive spoken admiration
extol · rhapsodize · praise to the skies · champion · laud
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