damn with faint praise

Definitions

To provide praise that is minimal or inconsequential, implying that such praise is the best that could be said.

idiomatic

Examples

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

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

“Four of them returned it with a cold, printed note⟳ of rejection; one of them “damned with faint praise⟳.” They wrote that “Our readers report⟳ that they find⟳ some merit in your story, but not enough to warrant its acceptance.””

“And then, finally, when W. could avoid⟳ it no longer, he mentioned Vice, damning with faint praise⟳: “Dick Cheney’s advice was consistent and strong.””

CEFR level