a backhanded compliment

成語所屬單字compliment

a backhanded compliment — 慣用語

1. A remark that sounds nice but actually contains a hidden insult.

1.慣用語
釋義

明褒暗貶的讚美

A remark that sounds nice but actually contains a hidden insult.

例句

Maya called my dress "interesting," which felt like a backhanded compliment.

Did Brian mean that as a backhanded compliment when he said I was surprisingly smart?