When to Use Backhanded Compliment?
A Compliment That Implies It Is Not Really a Compliment at All She Paid Me a Backhanded Compliment When She Said My Work Was "Surprisingly Good." Why Would...
: a compliment that implies it is not really a compliment at all She paid me a backhanded compliment when she said my work was "surprisingly good."
Why would someone give you a backhanded compliment?
Those who give backhanded compliment think they're getting a leg up on a perceived rival while burnishing their own reputation. ... “You're not thinking enough about how you're being perceived; you're thinking about how they're going to be perceived,” said Norton. “This really feels like a winning strategy for people.”
How do you give a backhanded compliment?
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Here are five helpful ways to respond to a backhanded compliment:
- Ignore it. Staying silent doesn't mean you're letting yourself be pushed around. ...
- Say "thank you." ...
- Acknowledge the positive portion. ...
- Address the insult head-on. ...
- Keep your sense of humor.
Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.
