Wiktionary
back-handed compliment
n. (alternative spelling of backhanded compliment English)
Usage examples of "back-handed compliment".
Elemak's question was really a back-handed compliment-he had wondered whether Father had put Nafai in charge of things in his absence.
It was a lot of stuff - I took it as a back-handed compliment that the proprietor was shelling out so much to get me sent down.
Celia was too shocked to be even mildly flattered by this back-handed compliment.