20 Backhanded Compliments That Perfected the Art of Being Passive Aggressive

zachnading Published 01/01/2023 in ouch

Some people just have a knack for twisting words in the right way to make you feel like an absolute piece of shit.

Thanks to AskReddit, we've collected some of the most savage and perfectly-formed passive aggressive compliments to watch out for.

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1.
Using the word "actually" in a "compliment."

"you're actually smart."

"you're actually pretty."

"you're actually not that bad." -deleted
2.
"I wish I was brave enough to wear that." -BrownBearBacon
3.
"Bless your heart." -maclaglen
4.
Pretty much anything a British person says to you, mate. -Nurgus
5.
"You look so good in the pictures." -deleted
6.
“I love that for you." -anonoptomous
7.
"I hope you have the day that you deserve." -CaptainFeather
8.
I don't like it when people tell me "Good for you." They never really mean "Good for you." -Pour_me_one_more
9.
I tell people “You’re a man amongst kings.” Usually takes them a second to realize what I said. -ethan_prime
10.
"I love the way you don't care what anyone thinks about you..." -RoryPaddy
11.
My MIL once said to me “I love how you just play with your kids and don’t worry at all about cleaning your house!” -Happygobecky
12.
"You look so good...for a mom!" I've only had one person say that to me, but conditional compliments like that are never very flattering. -smugmisswoodhouse
13.
"YOU'RE reading!?" -G0Huskies
14.
"You're really pretty for a _____". You can fill in the blank yourself with many different words. -CreepyAssociation173
15.
"How are you still single? you're a really nice guy?" -Redt_Wolf
16.
"You're smarter than you look." -zoqfotpik
17.
"You'd make a great politician." -malfiehenpox
18.
“You’re too pretty to be working here.” Said to me when I was working in a grocery store by a man. -sfmxkitty
19.
Anything not committal, like “that’s really something,” or “I’m speechless.” -dream_monkey
20.
When someone sounds extremely surprised and says that your spouse is really good looking. -Special-Barnacle6030

1.
Using the word "actually" in a "compliment."

"you're actually smart."

"you're actually pretty."

"you're actually not that bad." -deleted
2.
"I wish I was brave enough to wear that." -BrownBearBacon
3.
"Bless your heart." -maclaglen
4.
Pretty much anything a British person says to you, mate. -Nurgus
5.
"You look so good in the pictures." -deleted
6.
“I love that for you." -anonoptomous
7.
"I hope you have the day that you deserve." -CaptainFeather
8.
I don't like it when people tell me "Good for you." They never really mean "Good for you." -Pour_me_one_more
9.
I tell people “You’re a man amongst kings.” Usually takes them a second to realize what I said. -ethan_prime
10.
"I love the way you don't care what anyone thinks about you..." -RoryPaddy
11.
My MIL once said to me “I love how you just play with your kids and don’t worry at all about cleaning your house!” -Happygobecky
12.
"You look so good...for a mom!" I've only had one person say that to me, but conditional compliments like that are never very flattering. -smugmisswoodhouse
13.
"YOU'RE reading!?" -G0Huskies
14.
"You're really pretty for a _____". You can fill in the blank yourself with many different words. -CreepyAssociation173
15.
"How are you still single? you're a really nice guy?" -Redt_Wolf
16.
"You're smarter than you look." -zoqfotpik
17.
"You'd make a great politician." -malfiehenpox
18.
“You’re too pretty to be working here.” Said to me when I was working in a grocery store by a man. -sfmxkitty
19.
Anything not committal, like “that’s really something,” or “I’m speechless.” -dream_monkey
20.
When someone sounds extremely surprised and says that your spouse is really good looking. -Special-Barnacle6030