I may need to say something that is (seemingly) nice about someone, but I’d prefer it be very subtly backhanded or nearly believable hyperbole.
Edit: I realized that I was imagining something like how the Colbert Report was done where it’s easy to believe I’m agreeing when really I’m spoofing.
“I never thought of it that way.”
“That’s a new perspective.”
“I love your confidence!”
You’re excused
This works only in Dutch. I used to work in the service industry, where every now and then you’d have rude or ungrateful people.
In Dutch, the formal way of saying ‘thank you’ is ‘Dank u’, but that’s very close in pronunciation to French ‘dans cul’, meaning ‘in the ass’.
So with people I secretly loathed I would thank them with an ever do slight French twang.
that’s great
In the Southern United States men will do this with Northern men passing through. Mumbling yes ma’am instead of yes man.
Real cuntish if you ask me, I think they need a taste of their own medicine.
“I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you are”
Awe thanks!
Find reasons to agree with someone. Things like “You are so right”, “I never thought of that”, " I loved the way you put that", “I remember what you said x days/weeks/years ago; it still makes me smile/encourages me”…
Few things are as uplifting as making someone else feel special. Be genuine about it and the recipients day (or more) will brighten.
What do you think the word “backhanded” means?
I think they thought it meant “veiled compliments” and not “veiled insults.”
Which isn’t hard to confuse really.
My backhand in tennis is much more powerful than my forehand, so it must mean “strong” or “powerful”, it only makes sense
“Thank you for your contribution.”
I like that you tried.
(Is this one?)
Very nice.
I’m nostalgic of the time when I haven’t met you
You seem like management material.
Try to channel your best Ron Swanson while saying it.
Like middle management if you want to get extra spicy and yet still subtle
“Wow you look good today.”
I had someone tell a coworker “you look better” when he was trying to give a compliment, and it came out so uncomplimentary we were all laughing when he left.
It may be backhanded or not
I think it’s backhanded because it implies that the person doesn’t usually look good any other day.
Oh, your hair is (pause) fine.
“I’ve never heard anyone express an option like that out loud before.”
“What a unique approach to the problem!”
“I bet you played football in highschool, right?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’d look good in a uniform?”
It’s a good thing you’re pretty.
You remind me of myself
“You remind me of you when I was your age.”
The series Ted Lasso is chock full of these, but my favorite was after Jade meets Rupert and he leaves, she says, “Well, he seems rich.”
Like it almost sounds like a compliment, but only if you lack the self-awareness and empathy of someone who isn’t rich.
You’re at the top of the bell curve!
I like that one!
The best part is that it isn’t really an insult.
Statistically speaking, any given person is most likely to be near the peak of the bell curve of a given thing.
Someone being offended by it means that they think they’re above average, and you think they’re average. There’s nothing wrong with being average…most people are.
Which always reminds me of a saying: When you’re trying to comprehend human behavior you need to remember how dumb the average human is… Then remember that half of humans are dumber than that.
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That one just seems meaningless.
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Where I’m from it’s a nice thing to say, sort of like saying thank you. It’s basically the same as saying “god bless you”. Regional differences are fun!
My experience is it’s used as “go fuck yourself” when it’s coming from strangers or people trying to place themselves as superior. In more familiar relationships, it can also can be used to express sympathy (especially about pain or difficult circumstances), as thanks, or to communicate you’ve misunderstood something (but it’s okay that you did).
it’s also synonymous with “you’re a fucking idiot, stop talking”
Yeah I know (not familiar with the precise connotations but the general concept at least.)
I don’t see why it would be a compliment in any way, at most it would just be confusing.
It’s not a compliment, but it is a backhanded comment. My grade for the commenter? 50%. Didn’t understand the assignment, but tried anyway.
I can’t edit my comment for some reason so…
Edit: bless their heart
You too? Haven’t been able to edit for a couple of weeks. I think it has to do with a ban on some comm.
I can be more than a little annoying at times. Wouldn’t surprise me if this was the reason lol
(i subtlety downvoted you)
And misspelled “subtly”? You’re really typing with both fists today!
Me do good?
