praise with faint damns: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  General EnglishBritish Englishformalliterary
  • To offer praise that is qualified, minimal, or backhanded; to commend while simultaneously expressing mild criticism or reservation.

  Examples

  Beta

  • John praised her cooking, but with faint damns, mentioning the meal was a bit salty.

    John complimented her food but subtly criticized the saltiness.

  • The review praised the film with faint damns, noting its strong visuals but weak plot.

    The critic commended the visuals but cautiously criticized the story.

  • You seem to be praising the proposal with faint damns—do you actually support it or not?

    Your praise seems half-hearted; do you truly agree?

  • She praised the team's effort with faint damns, pointing out that some deadlines were missed.

    She acknowledged the work but noted some delays.