backward compliment

A compliment which unintentionally comes across as an insult.

Japanese Meaning

意図して褒めようとしたが、受け取り方によっては逆に侮辱と感じられてしまう褒め言葉

Calling her 'surprisingly articulate' felt like a backward compliment that made the whole room awkward.

彼女に「意外にちゃんと話せるね」と言ったのは皮肉めいた褒め言葉のように感じられ、部屋全体を気まずくさせた。

Sense（1）

A compliment which unintentionally comes across as an insult.

(example) Those glasses just look too cute for you!

backward compliments

（ plural ）