compliment

compliment
noun
1 expression of praise
ADJECTIVE
big, great, tremendous, ultimate

To listen to someone is the greatest compliment you can pay.

biggest, highest
nice, wonderful
unexpected
backhanded, left-handed (AmE)

In a backhanded compliment she said he looked very good for his age.

VERB + COMPLIMENT
give, pay sb
mean sth as

Please don't misunderstand me—I meant it as a compliment.

get, receive
accept, acknowledge, take

She acknowledged their compliments with a big smile.

appreciate
regard sth as, take sth as

I'll take that as a compliment.

fish for

She's always fishing for compliments about her looks.

repay, return

He returned her compliment by saying how well she looked.

PREPOSITION
compliment on

She received several compliments on her speech.

compliment to

If Mark's wearing a suit, that'll be a compliment to you!

2 (formal) your compliments good wishes
VERB + COMPLIMENTS
give sb, present (sb with), send sb

Please give my compliments to your wife.

COMPLIMENTS + NOUN
slip (BrE)

The only enclosure was a formal compliments slip from the accounts department.

PREPOSITION
with sb's compliment (= free)

All guests will receive a bottle of champagne with our compliments.

compliment to

my compliments to the chef

(= to show that you like a particular dish)

Collocations dictionary. 2013.

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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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