Backhanded Insult

A compliment couched in the form or tone of an insult. Often used by people who *want* to be nice, but fear being seen as weak or disingenuous, but can be unintentional.

When Maurice told Mary she was "the least photogenic pretty chick" he'd ever seen, he meant that pictures didn't do her beauty justice, but it came off as a backhanded insult.

Backhanded Insult by PBMax February 24, 2008

Back-handed insult 

Something that sounds like an insult until you explain and find out its really a compliment

Dude 1: man, she's F.A.T.

Dude 2: dude she doesn't even weigh 100 pounds.

Dude 1: dude F.A.T. means Fabulous and Tasty. Its a back-handed insult

Back-handed insult by The Duk3 March 29, 2021