backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

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Rock
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註冊時間: 週三 10月 31, 2007 9:03 am

backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Rock »

Which ones are backhanded insults among the following quotes?

1. "That dress is lovely; it does wonders for your figure."
2. "That dress is so disgustingly ugly that it totally destroys your usual sexiness."
3. "No, honey...I love yours. I don't even like them big."
4. "Relax, sweetie...you were perfectly adequate."
5. "Your haircut really slims your face."
6. "You are the least photogenic pretty chick I've ever seen."

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-differe ... ded-insult
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... compliment
Kooper
YOYO member
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註冊時間: 週三 4月 11, 2007 11:40 pm

Re: backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Kooper »

Five I guess?
Luis Ko
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註冊時間: 週三 6月 06, 2007 10:18 pm

Re: backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Luis Ko »

yeah, if it isn't the third one.. 8) :lol:
i might be a cynic and, a sceptic as well but, i'm definitely not a bad person!!
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Rock
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註冊時間: 週三 10月 31, 2007 9:03 am

Re: backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Rock »

Kooper :?:
Luis :lol: :?:
Iris Wu
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註冊時間: 週二 5月 20, 2014 4:33 pm

Re: backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Iris Wu »

It's much easier to understand the meaning of "backhanded compliments". I think "寓貶於褒" maybe a good translation for it, agree? We can easily point out a few people around us mastering the art of "backhanded compliment"! :)

Examples of "Backhanded insults" are a bit harder to obtain. I would probably pick #2 and #6 as the examples, because they seem to be the toned-down compliments:
  • 2. "That dress is so disgustingly ugly that it totally destroys your usual sexiness."
    6. "You are the least photogenic pretty chick I've ever seen."
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Rock
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文章: 2161
註冊時間: 週三 10月 31, 2007 9:03 am

Re: backhanded compliment vs. backhanded insult

文章 Rock »

Yes, our first lady is right, as always.
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