backhanded compliment

Etymology
. Similar figurative uses of backhanded are attested from at least the early 19th century.

Noun

 * 1)  An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.

Translations

 * German: vergiftetes Kompliment; zweifelhaftes Kompliment, zweideutiges Kompliment
 * Japanese: 褒め殺し
 * Polish: dwuznaczny komplement
 * Spanish: crítica velada