Meaning: compliment

'kɒmplɪmənt
n.
a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration
v.
say something to someone that expresses praiseexpress respect or esteem for

pay (one) a backhanded compliment Idiom, Proverb

fish for a compliment

hint that he wants a compliment If Al mentions cars, he's fishing for a compliment on his Jaguar.

left-handed compliment

an ambiguous compliment interpreted as offensive He gave her a left-handed compliment when he said that her dyed hair looked nice.

pay a compliment

say nice things about, say you did a good job Tony paid you a compliment, Rita. He said you have a lovely garden.

return the compliment

1．say or do the same to sb． that he has said or done to one回敬
Mary said：“I love your new hairdo．” and Julie returned the compliment with“what a pretty dress you're wearing，Mary．”玛丽说：“我喜欢你的新发型。”朱丽回答说：“玛丽，你穿的衣服好漂亮啊。”
2． Pay sb． back回报；报复
Henry hit Jerry on the head，and Jerry returned the compliment．亨利打了杰里头上一拳，杰里也对亨利报以一拳。
revenge oneself（up）on…（for）get even with…for为…而向…报仇
Hamlet revenged himself on his uncle，for his father's death．哈姆雷特向叔父报了杀父之仇。
He is sure to revenge himself on anyone who dares to bully or insult him．对胆敢欺负和侮辱他的人，他是一定要报复的。

pay sb a compliment

Idiom(s): pay sb a compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to compliment someone.
• Sally thanked me for paying her a compliment.
• When Tom did his job well, I paid him a compliment.

pay sb a back-handed compliment

Idiom(s): pay someone a back-handed compliment AND pay someone a left-handed compliment

Theme: COMPLIMENT

to give someone a false compliment that is really an insult.
• 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 back-handed compliment—unless it's a joke.

return one's compliment

Idiom(s): return the compliment AND return someone's compliment

Theme: RECIPROCITY

to pay a compliment to someone who has paid you a compliment.
• Mary told me that my hair looked nice, so I returned her compliment and told her that her hair was lovely.
• When someone says something nice, it is polite to return the compliment.

pay sb a left-handed compliment

backhanded compliment|backhanded|compliment

n. phr. A remark that sounds like a compliment but is said sarcastically. "Not had for a girl" the coach said, offering a backhanded compliment.

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

v, phr. To try to make someone pay a compliment. When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he was fishing for a compliment.

pay (one) a abuse compliment

To insult or abnormally criticize one in a address that is bearded as or seems like a acclaim or bit of praise. A: "Those pants absolutely clothing you—your legs don't attending about as fat in them!" B: "Wow, allocution about advantageous addition a abuse compliment!" It's adamantine to acquaint back she's actuality acerb as a antic or back she's absolutely aloof advantageous you a abuse compliment.Learn more: backhanded, compliment, pay

pay someone a abuse compliment

and pay someone a awkward complimentFig. to accord addition a apocryphal acclaim that is absolutely an insult or criticism. John said that he had never apparent me attractive better. I anticipate he was advantageous me a awkward compliment. I'd adopt that addition angered me directly. I abhorrence it back addition pays me a abuse compliment—unless it's a joke.Learn more: backhanded, compliment, pay

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