Describing a remark, compliment, or gesture that appears positive or polite on the surface but contains a critical or disparaging meaning underneath. It often involves sarcasm, irony, or veiled insults. The intent is usually to subtly undermine or belittle the recipient, even while ostensibly offering praise or expressing goodwill. This type of communication can be difficult to interpret, especially in written form or if the speaker lacks an established relationship with the listener. Often, the effectiveness of a backhanded comment relies on the speaker's ability to deliver it with a deceptive tone or body language. It’s a method of expressing disapproval or criticism in a way that can be easily denied or explained away.
Backhanded meaning with examples
- After Sarah finished her presentation, her boss said, 'That was, well, certainly *different*. I appreciate you thinking outside the box.' It was clear the boss found her presentation odd and lacking, but cloaked his criticism with polite wording. The veiled comment made Sarah unsure of her performance evaluation and felt like the praise had underlying condescension.
- During the award ceremony, the presenter said, 'It's amazing how you always manage to stumble through your lines and still win.' He may have been trying to play on humor, but was critical. The comment subtly highlighted the recipient's perceived clumsiness while congratulating them. The implication of undeserved success gave off a false sense of congratulations.
- Maria complimented John's new haircut by saying, 'Wow, it's so much better than that awful style you had before. You are finally making progress on your appearance.' The compliment hinges on a previously disliked style, making it less genuine. Although the words seemed friendly, it was clearly insinuated her original haircut was horrible, leaving John with an impression that the compliment was insincere.
- After a disappointing soccer game, the coach said, 'You guys were very creative on the field. Maybe next time we should focus less on the creativity and more on scoring goals. You’ll probably be a good team in 5 years.' The implication that their play style was detrimental to the game, paired with a long timeline before success, showed the coach's disappointment but cushioned with politeness and even optimism.
Backhanded Synonyms
ambiguous back-handed cryptic double-edged insulting ironic oblique sarcastic underhanded veiledBackhanded Antonyms
candid direct explicit forthright genuine honest sincere straightforward unambiguousBackhanded Crossword Answers
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BACKHAND