compliment

noun

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

/ˈkɑːmplɪmənt/

Idioms

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[countable] a comment that expresses praise or approval of somebody
- to pay somebody a compliment (= to praise them for something)
- ‘You understand the problem because you're so much older.’ ‘I'll take that as a compliment!’
- It's a great compliment to be asked to do the job.
- to return the compliment (= to treat somebody in the same way as they have treated you)
Extra Examples
- He returned her compliment by saying how well she looked.
- If Mark's wearing a suit, that'll be a compliment to you!
- Please don't misunderstand me—I meant it as a compliment.
- She acknowledged their compliments with a big smile.
- She received several compliments on her speech.
- To listen to someone is the greatest compliment you can pay.
- She always paid me compliments on my hair and my clothes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- great
- tremendous
- …
verb + compliment
- give
- pay somebody
- mean something as
- …
preposition
- compliment on
- compliment to
See full entry
compliments
[plural] (formal) polite words or good wishes, especially when used to express praise and approval
- My compliments to the chef!
- (British English) Compliments of the season! (= for Christmas or the New Year)
- Please accept these flowers with the compliments of (= as a gift from) the manager.
- Please give my compliments to your wife.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verb + compliments
- give somebody
- present (somebody with)
- send somebody
- …
compliments + noun
- slip
preposition
- with somebody’s compliment
- compliment to
See full entry

Word Originmid 17th cent.: from French compliment (noun), complimenter (verb), from Italian complimento ‘fulfilment of the requirements of courtesy’, from Latin complementum ‘completion, fulfilment’ (reflected in the earlier English spelling complement, gradually replaced by the French form between 1655 and 1715).

Idioms

a backhanded compliment

(North American English also left-handed compliment)

a comment that seems to express approval but could also be understood as expressing a poor opinion of somebody/something
- In a backhanded compliment she said he looked very good for his age.

compliment

verb

/ˈkɒmplɪment/

/ˈkɑːmplɪment/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they compliment	/ˈkɒmplɪment/ /ˈkɑːmplɪment/
he / she / it compliments	/ˈkɒmplɪments/ /ˈkɑːmplɪments/
past simple complimented	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/
past participle complimented	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪd/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪd/
-ing form complimenting	/ˈkɒmplɪmentɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ/

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compliment somebody (on something) to tell somebody that you like or admire something they have done, their appearance, etc.
- She complimented him on his excellent German.
Which Word? compliment / complement
compliment / complement
- These words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them:
  She complimented me on my English.
  If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together:
  The different flavours complement each other perfectly.
- The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary:
  She made some very complimentary remarks about my English.
  It can also mean ‘free’:
  There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room.
  Complementary:
  The team members have different but complementary skills.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from French compliment (noun), complimenter (verb), from Italian complimento ‘fulfilment of the requirements of courtesy’, from Latin complementum ‘completion, fulfilment’ (reflected in the earlier English spelling complement, gradually replaced by the French form between 1655 and 1715).