praise with faint damns
Definitions
To provide minimal critique, implying that the criticism is the worst that could be said of someone or something.
Examples
“The former accordingly greeted his book with warm approval, and the latter praised it with faint damns.”
“But his emphasis on the novel’s interest⟳ in sex was a come-on – a way of praising it with faint damns.”
CEFR level
C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See also
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