'You are impossible to underestimate': 30+ Backhanded compliments and insults in disguise

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 29, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

These people shared their favorite "insults that don't sound like insults," and it's giving us some great ideas! 

There's no need to be mean when you can just be honest. As the people below wrote, there are plenty of ways to roll your eyes at someone without being overt about it, and they're very funny. From "It's impressive how you manage to stay so confident," to "There is beauty in simplicity, and you are truly beautiful," these are some truly excellent insults in disguise. 

Scroll down to check out people's replies to the prompts. Then, click here to read the tale of a Karen who was so entitled, she tried to steal some food right out of another grocery shopper's food cart. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/AskReddit Posted by u/curvyinfiltration36 What is your favourite insult that doesn't sound like an insult?
    via u/curvyinfiltration36
  • 02
    Font - FelixCulpa01 7 hr. ago S It's impressive how you manage to stay so confident.
    via u/FelixCulpa01
  • 03
    Gesture - Warlitz 5 hr. ago "There is beauty in simplicity, and you are truly beautiful"
    via u/Warlitz
  • 04
    Font - burgher89 5 hr. ago I feel like that's similar energy to what my buddy's dad said to him after he got a digger stuck, then got a trailer stuck trying to free the digger, then got both un-stuck with a truck: "You know, I really admire your ability to get out of these kind of situations... most people would just avoid getting into them in the first place, but I really admire your ability to get out of these kind of situations!"
    via u/burgher89
  • 05
    Font - Appropriate_Day2144 8 hr. ago You continue to meet expectations.
    via u/Appropriate_Day2144
  • 06
    Font - Elbonio 11 hr. ago I once made a moderately humourous remark among some friends and one person said to me: "That's the funniest thing you've ever said" I think they meant well but it really was quite the burn.
    via u/
  • 07

    The middle-school insult of choice for many!

    Eye - konoiche 4 hr. ago "I didn't know you were funny!"
    via u/konoiche
  • 08
    Gesture - Library Easy 12 hr. ago edited 4 hr. ago it's hard to underestimate you
    via u/Library_Easy
  • 09
    Human body - kolarisk 7 hr. ago "You're at the top of the bell-curve"
    via u/kolarisk
  • 10
    Font - TheBIFFALLO87. 7 hr. ago S -"see you later" -"not if I see you first" This has become so common in language that people don't realize it's an insult. You're literally saying if I see you first, I'm going to avoid you.
    via u/TheBIFFALLO87
  • 11

    This is great for cashiers and waiters who have to deal with crabby customers all day long

    Font - Astramancer 12 hr. ago I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you are.
    via u/Astramancer_
  • 12
    Font - nabuhabu 5 hr. ago. edited 50 min. ago You help me work on my self control. edit to add my other favorite: You remind me of the importance of a good education. In the right context this is definitely not a compliment.
    via u/nabuhabu
  • 13
    Font - cafwen 7 hr. ago I will give your suggestion all of the consideration which it deserves. ;-)
    via u/cafwen
  • 14
    Font - Shatter44686 hr. ago You constantly find ways to surprise me. (Sounds very much like a compliment but can easily be an insult)
    via u/Shatter44686
  • 15
    Art - whyunoletmepost · 6 hr. ago I wish I had the confidence to wear that.
    via u/whyunoletmepost
  • 16
    Font - curvyinfiltration36 OP. 12 hr. ago My personal favourite? Wisdom has been chasing you but you have always been faster.
    via u/curvyinfiltration36
  • 17
    Font - SirMook 5 hr. ago I had a coworker come up to me when I was new and say, "You know. I don't care what all the other guys say, you're a of a worker man." And he had like a mischievous smile and I was just like thank you man, appreciate that. I didn't realize till break that he was saying everyone talks s about you and started cracking up that I just took it as a compliment.
    via u/SirMook
  • 18
    Facial expression - mck2018 7 hr. ago "I've been called worse by better people"
    via u/mck2018
  • 19
    Font - WeirdIndependent1656 5 hr. ago I'm certain you tried your best.
    via u/WeirdIndependent1656
  • 20
    Font - JishBroggs 7 hr. ago I once called someone too stupid to insult and they said thank you
    via u/JishBroggs
  • 21
    Font - AtomicPizza 7 hr. ago A friend of mine once dominated in a game and got:"I hope you have a warm pillow tonight." I kinda like this one...
    via u/At0micPizza
  • 22
    Rectangle - New_Trick_8795 - 5 hr. ago Idk why but hitting people with a really dry "Good talk." Does the job real wells
    via u/New_Trick_8795
  • 23
    Art - Quiet Monkey8.5 hr. ago Your brain is smooth as silk
    via u/QuietMonkey8
  • 24
    Font - stuckinPA 12 hr. ago Bless your heart
    via u/stuckinPA
  • 25
    Font - OneQuadrillionOwls. 4 hr. ago I once listened to a relative-in-law go off for quite a bit of time on some far-right conspiracy mongering tangent about all the "research" she'd been doing, which no one asked for. After she finished and there was a pause I said, "well, the important thing is that you're having a good time."
    via u/OneQuadrillionOwls
  • 26

    Some of these sound so poetic that they'll never know you're dissing them

    Product - Sikte 7 hr. ago I admire a man that can draw so deep from such a shallow well of wit.
    via u/Sikte
  • 27
    Mammal - HeadingToSollaSollew. 7 hr. ago You are impossible to underestimate.
    via u/HeadingToSollaSollew
  • 28
    Mammal - beretta_9267 hr. ago You inspire others to reevaluate who they interact with.
    via u/beretta_926
  • 29
    Human body - Sasarai 11 hr. ago I envy everyone you've never met
    via u/Sasarai
  • 30
    Organism - Xolarix 7 hr. ago You have a face for radio work. 187 Reply Share kjm16216 6 hr. ago And a voice for print.
    via u/Xolarix
  • 31
    Human body - Angela_grey13 hr. ago Well you have a great personality!
    via u/Angela_grey1
  • 32
    Human body - huiscloslaqueue . 6 hr. ago "Aren't you precious" is my go to
    via u/huiscloslaqueue

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compliment petty insults insult funny
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