damn with faint praise

English

Verb

to damn with faint praise

1. (idiomatic) To provide praise that is so minimal or inconsequential as to actually amount to criticism.
   • 1735 Alexander Pope, Epistle to Doctor Arbuthnot:

     Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,/And without sneering teach the rest to sneer.

   • 1887: Donn Piatt, Memories of the Men who Saved the Union, p. 296:

     The patronizing manner in which the hero of Nashville is damned with faint praise would amuse were it not so exasperating.

See also

• backhanded compliment