compliment
B1Neutral to formal. Common in polite social and professional contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A polite expression of praise, admiration, or respect.
A remark or action that expresses approval, appreciation, or flattery; or the act of giving such a remark or action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Note the difference between 'compliment' (praise) and 'complement' (something that completes or goes well with something else). As a verb, it often takes an indirect object (e.g., 'She complimented him on his speech').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use it identically as noun and verb. The phrase 'with compliments' (as on a complimentary copy) is slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
Universally positive, though context can imply sincerity or superficial flattery.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to compliment someone on somethingto compliment somethingto be complimented for somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “return the compliment”
- “a left-handed compliment”
- “with the compliments of (someone/ the management)”
- “fish for compliments”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to acknowledge good work or positive attributes in colleagues, clients, or presentations (e.g., 'The CEO complimented the team on the successful launch.').
Academic
Less frequent; used in discussions of social interaction, rhetoric, or feedback (e.g., 'The reviewer's comments contained few direct compliments.').
Everyday
Extremely common in social interactions regarding appearance, achievements, or possessions (e.g., 'I must compliment you on this delicious cake.').
Technical
Rare. Might appear in fields like psychology or linguistics studying politeness or positive speech acts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- That was a lovely compliment, thank you.
- He paid her a rather extravagant compliment on her hat.
- My greatest compliment is when students tell me they feel inspired.
American English
- She took his remark as a genuine compliment.
- The best compliment I ever got was about my work ethic.
- He blushed at the unexpected compliment from his boss.
verb
British English
- May I compliment you on your excellent taste in wine?
- The inspector complimented the chef on the kitchen's hygiene standards.
- They were complimented for their prompt response to the crisis.
American English
- I just had to compliment her on that dress—it's stunning.
- The teacher complimented his essay's clear argument.
- Don't forget to compliment the host before you leave.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Thank you for the compliment!
- She gave me a nice compliment.
- He complimented my pronunciation.
- It's not a compliment if you don't mean it.
- The review was full of compliments for the actor's performance.
- He has a knack for giving sincere compliments that feel unique.
- The proposal was accepted with the compliments of the board.
- Her backhanded compliment left him feeling uneasy rather than flattered.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I LIKE your COMPLIMENT' – both words contain 'I' and are positive. Remember 'compliment' has an 'i' like 'I appreciate you'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COMPLIMENT IS A GIFT (you pay/give/receive a compliment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'комплимент' which is a direct cognate and correctly translates the noun. The verb form 'compliment' (делать комплимент, хвалить) must be learned separately from the noun.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'compliment' with 'complement'. Misspelling as 'complement'. Incorrect preposition use (e.g., 'compliment for' instead of the more standard 'compliment on').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'compliment' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Compliment' is about praise. 'Complement' means something that completes or goes perfectly with something else (e.g., 'The sauce complements the fish').
Yes. It means to politely praise or admire someone (e.g., 'She complimented his cooking').
It means 'with our good wishes' or 'as a gift from us', often found on free items (e.g., 'Please accept this book with our compliments').
No, it's an insult disguised as praise (e.g., 'You're surprisingly smart for a blonde').