compliment

compliment
com|pli|ment1 [ `kamplımənt ] noun count *
1. ) something nice that you say to praise someone:
It is a compliment to be compared to her.
pay/give someone a compliment: He kept paying me compliments on my cooking.
take something as a compliment (=consider it to be a compliment, even if it was not intended to be): Mom says I'm stubborn, but I'll take that as a compliment.
a ) something that shows you approve of someone or respect them:
pay someone the compliment of: He paid me the compliment of inviting me to sing at his wedding.
─ opposite INSULT
2. ) compliments plural OLD-FASHIONED used for greeting someone, or giving them your good wishes
compliments to someone
used for praising someone:
Compliments to the chef, that lobster was delicious!
fish for compliments
to try to make someone give you a compliment, without asking them directly
return the compliment
to do something for someone in return for something that they did for you
with someone's compliments or with the compliments of someone
used for showing that you do not have to pay for something:
Please accept this wine with the compliments of the management.
with compliments
used for showing that you do not have to pay for something someone has sent you
compliment
com|pli|ment 2 [ `kamplı,ment ] verb transitive
to say something nice to or about someone:
Her parents never praised or complimented her.
compliment someone on something: Everybody complimented her on the way she handled the emergency.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:

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  • compliment — [ kɔ̃plimɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1604; esp. complimiento, de cumplir con alguien « être poli envers qqn » 1 ♦ Paroles louangeuses que l on adresse à qqn pour le féliciter. ⇒ congratulation, félicitation. Faire compliment (vieilli), des compliments à qqn de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • compliment — COMPLIMENT. s. mas. Paroles civiles, obligeantes, pleines d affection ou de respect, selon les diverses personnes et les diverses rencontres. Compliment sincère. Compliment affectueux. Compliment de remercîment. Compliment de félicitation, de… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • compliment — COMPLIMENT. s. m. Paroles civiles, obligeantes, respectueuses, que l on dit à quelqu un selon les diverses rencontres Compliment de remerciment. compliment de conjoüissance, de condoleance. compliment bien froid, bien sec. un compliment ennuyeux …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • compliment — COMPLIMÉNT, complimente, s.n. 1. Cuvânt de laudă, de măgulire, care exprimă o atitudine prietenească, de stimă, de respect sau de consideraţie. ♢ loc. adv. Fără compliment = fără exagerare, fără gândul de a măguli; pe faţă, sincer. 2. (La pl.)… …   Dicționar Român

  • compliment — n Compliment, flattery, adulation all denote praise addressed directly to a person. A compliment is a courteous expression of commendation and may be either sincere or merely formal {in the noble dedication ... to the Duchess of Ormond we have an …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Compliment — Com pli*ment, n. [F. compliment. It complimento, fr. comlire to compliment, finish, suit, fr. L. complere to fill up. See {Complete}, and cf. {Complement}.] An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compliment — ► NOUN 1) an expression of praise or admiration, either in words or by an action. 2) (compliments) formal greetings. ► VERB ▪ politely congratulate or praise. ● return the compliment Cf. ↑return the compliment …   English terms dictionary

  • Compliment — Com pli*ment, v. t. To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to. [1913 Webster] Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . Should compliment their foes and shun… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compliment — (n.) An act, or expression of civility, usually understood to include some hypocrisy, and to mean less than it declares [Johnson], 1570s, complement, via Fr. compliment (17c.), from It. complimento expression of respect and civility, from V.L.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Compliment — Com pli*ment, v. i. To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect. [1913 Webster] I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another. Boyle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • compliment — [n] praise, flattery acclaim, acclamation, admiration, adulation, applause, appreciation, approval, blessing, bouquet*, buttering up*, cajolery, commendation, comp, confirmation, congratulations, courtesy, encomium, endorsement, eulogy, favor,… …   New thesaurus

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