backhanded

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back|hand|ed /b'ækh'ændɪd, AM -hændɪd/
also back-handed
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be an insult but could also be understood as a compliment. A backhanded compliment is also a remark which seems to be a compliment but could also be understood as an insult.
Saying she's improved comes over as a backhanded compliment.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
If you say that someone is doing something in a backhanded way, they are doing it indirectly.
In a backhanded way, I think a lot of my energy and strength comes from my campaigning.

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