dubious compliment
Praise that stings
A dubious compliment is a remark that appears to be a compliment but is ambiguous or questionable in its sincerity or effect: Saying she's 'not bad for her age' is a dubious compliment.
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- passive-aggressionCovert expression of anger
passive aggressive · indirectness · polite fiction · self-esteem · sarcasm · tact · insecurity · subtext · reading between lines · understatement · face-saving · saving face · euphemism · humor · faux pas · interpretation · defensiveness · satire
dubious, dubiously, dubiousness, dubiety, doubtful, doubtfully, doubtfulness, doubtless, undoubted