Question of the Day #1329

Yankees owner seemingly gives Blue Jays backhanded compliment

From the headline of this article at Yahoo! Sports.

  上記の文で、backhanded complimentの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "backhanded compliment" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

皮肉なお世辞、ほめ殺し

   

Answer

According to :

a compliment that implies it is not really a compliment at all

 

Examples

1. She paid me a backhanded compliment when she said my work was "surprisingly good."
2. I say this unironically, and not as a backhanded compliment.
3. She was insulted by his back-handed compliment.
4. The judges loved your performance, but this was a backhanded compliment since they also highlighted it was blunt.
5. The husband said the food was tasty, which seemed like a backhanded compliment since he ate only two spoonfuls.

   

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