compliment

noun

/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

/ˈkɑːmplɪmənt/

Idioms

[countable] a comment that expresses praise or approval of somebody赞扬；称赞
- to pay somebody a compliment (= to praise them for something)对某人表示赞扬
- ‘You understand the problem because you're so much older.’ ‘I'll take that as a compliment!’“您是能理解这个问题的，因为您年纪大那么多。” “就当你这是夸奖吧！”
- It's a great compliment to be asked to do the job.获聘请做这项工作是一项极大的荣誉。
- to return the compliment (= to treat somebody in the same way as they have treated you)照样回敬
- He returned her compliment by saying how well she looked.对于她的称赞，他回报说她很漂亮。
- If Mark's wearing a suit, that'll be a compliment to you!如果马克穿套装，那就是对你的尊敬！
- Please don't misunderstand me—I meant it as a compliment.请别误解我的意思－我这是赞美之言。
- She acknowledged their compliments with a big smile.她喜笑颜开地接受了他们的赞美。
- She received several compliments on her speech.她的演讲得到了一些人的称赞。
- To listen to someone is the greatest compliment you can pay.用心倾听就是对别人最高的尊重。
- She always paid me compliments on my hair and my clothes.她经常称赞我的头发和着装。
Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- great
- tremendous
- …
verb + compliment
- give
- pay somebody
- mean something as
- …
preposition
- compliment on
- compliment to
compliments
[plural] (formal) polite words or good wishes, especially when used to express praise and approval致意；问候；祝贺
- My compliments to the chef!请向厨师代为致意！
- (British English) Compliments of the season! (= for Christmas or the New Year)谨致节日的祝贺！（圣诞节或新年时的贺辞）
- Please accept these flowers with the compliments of (= as a gift from) the manager.请接受经理送的鲜花。
- Please give my compliments to your wife.请代我问候你的妻子。
Collocations Dictionary
verb + compliments
- give somebody
- present (somebody with)
- send somebody
- …
compliments + noun
- slip
preposition
- with somebody’s compliment
- compliment to

词源mid 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隐含讥讽的恭维
- In a backhanded compliment she said he looked very good for his age.她说他比实际年龄年轻许多，其实是有言外之意。

compliment

verb

/ˈkɒmplɪment/

/ˈkɑːmplɪment/

动词形式

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/

compliment somebody (on something) to tell somebody that you like or admire something they have done, their appearance, etc.赞美；称赞；钦佩
- She complimented him on his excellent German.她夸奖他德语棒极了。
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:这两个词拼写相似，但意义完全不同。compliment 指赞美、称赞：
  She complimented me on my English.她夸奖我的英语好。
  If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together:complement 表示相辅相成、相配合：
  The different flavours complement each other perfectly.不同的味道搭配在一起，可口极了。
- The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary:
  She made some very complimentary remarks about my English.她对我的英语赞赏有加。
  It can also mean ‘free’:该词亦含免费赠送之义：
  There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room.我们房间里有一篮免费赠送的水果。
  Complementary:
  The team members have different but complementary skills.队员技术不同但能互补。
词源mid 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).