pay a compliment 

Flatter or praise to someone.

Pay a compliment: Flatter or praise to someone.
He paid her a compliment when he told her she looked like a model

pay a compliment by Patoedu14 June 9, 2016

Empty compliment 

Saying a compliment without really meaning it and just to make the other person feel good.

Bill: Hey Phil you are really beautiful.

Phil: No, I'm not. Even my grandma calls me ugly.
Bill: Stop being so hard on yourself.
Phil: Well then stop giving me empty compliments.

Empty compliment by John Floppy Clock December 15, 2013

blackhanded compliment 

A comment made about an African-American that is somehow related to their race and would be mundane/not worth mentioning were they white.

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) made a blackhanded compliment about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), saying he is “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

blackhanded compliment by thegthang May 3, 2012

backhanded compliment 

What might at first sound like a compliment but could/should really be taken as an insult when considered in its entirety.

The Republican Senator would never desecrate the holy institution of marriage by voting to allowing gays to wed; just ask his ex.

backhanded compliment by Anon April 19, 2005

50/50 Compliment

A compliment that also has a rude insult poorly disguised within it.

Upon hearing a 50/50 Compliment, you will not know whether to say "Thanks" or "Fuck you".

Christopher: "Wow, Laura, you're hair looks much better today than it usually does".

Laura: "Uhh, Thanks for the 50/50 compliment...Go fuck yourself".

50/50 Compliment by zachary_MIDWEST November 20, 2009

Nigger Compliment 

The act of giving someone a compliment on something that ordinary people deal with because they are things that need to be done. Like Chris Rock says, "Nigga's always trying to take credit for some shit that other motherfuckers do as a normal part of life. "I take care of my kids!" "You're supposed to take your kids you underachieving son of a bitch!" " I ain't NEVER been to jail!" "You ain't SUPPOSED to go to jail!"

Ashley: Hey, what are you doing?
Dave: Paying my bills online...
Ashley: That's good you're taking care of your stuff...
Dave: Ugh, you're giving me a nigger compliment...

Nigger Compliment by Yelhsa N. February 7, 2010

mercy compliment

when a person says something that seems like the beginings of a compliment but then just leaves it open ended and very uncomfortable.

"hi how are you?"
"i'm pretty good."
"you dyed your hair."
...
...
...
"uhh yep"
(turns to friend)
"talk about the epitome of a mercy compliment"

mercy compliment by holymoleydood October 9, 2009